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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Chelsea – Saka starts

Arsenal travel across London this evening to face Chelsea, and this is the starting eleven that Mikel Arteta has chosen.

Arsenal has had a good recent record at Stamford Bridge and will be looking to maintain that dominance. However, Chelsea, after a shaky start to the season, has started to find some form and will no doubt be eager to secure a positive result in this match.

That being said, Arsenal is the deserved favourite, and a win would propel them to the top of the Premier League, providing extra motivation for Arteta’s team.

It won’t be an easy match for Arsenal, as Chelsea has a strong defence, having conceded just seven goals in the league so far this season. However, if the Arsenal players perform as we know they can, they should be able to defeat Maurizio Pochettino’s side and secure all three points to take back to the Emirates.

Feel free to share your thoughts on Arteta’s team selection and your predicted score in the comments below.

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179 Comments

        2. Oh I didn’t observe he was not on the bench. My response was not an attack at you mate. I apologize if that seemed to be to you.

      3. Ramsdale is a better bet than Raya – Raya looks like a liability for Arsenal. It was piss poor goalkeeping that allowed Chelsea their second. Absolutely piss poor.
        Raya is not the answer to anything..

  3. Those central midfielders played very well against Man City, so we could expect them to win the midfield battle tonight

    Maybe Arteta will use his super-subs again if there is no goal after seventy minutes

    1. Not sure Gai why Partey is not in team??
      He is much better holding player than Jorginho….
      His ball playing ability is also much better than Jorginho
      Keeping ball in tight areas
      I am bit surprised

        1. GAI, doesnt mean it is Arsenal’s midfield. Any midfield without Thomas Partey in midfield, is not Arsenal’s strongest midfield. Maybe Arteta just giving him another week.

  4. I’ve just checked some background info pj and Ramsdale’s just become a dad so probably on paternity leave

    1. That’s good news Sue. Still no excuses for Syle having a shot at you like that. I had noticed he wasn’t named on the bench, but I wasn’t too concerned. I didn’t think the baby was due for another couple of weeks

    2. Awe perfect timing, how much the kid needed this, always an awesome feeling with newest member of the family entering this world

  5. To Sue.
    I read somewhere that Ramsdale’s partner just put to bed.
    So he may be baby sitting 😀

    1. Based on Chelsea’s attacking line-up with Sterling in the CF position, they would likely park the bus to launch counter-attacks

  9. Messing with a winning team is something managers don’t like especially when they are meeting a big team.. and remember this is a derby. The momentum of the team that beat man city should be maintained. Saka is the only change because he’s our star boy… The game will be done and dusted by first half because Chelsea are rebuilding and we are already built. Chelsea 1 Arsenal 4

  11. I’ve been very optimistic about this game and trust me I’m more afraid of a loss than a win. I hope the guys will not be approaching the game as an easy one, because it’s going to be tough. They have the Ukrainian boy, Sterling, Enzo, Caisedo with point to prove.

    I must confess I’m afraid of going to watch the match honestly.

    1. Referees are corrupt and that needs addressing but that was clear even though the ball would of gone miles wide. Saliba pushed his hand out there, it’s deliberate. Stupid. Have faith in the result though.

  16. Referees are corrupt and that needs addressing but that was clear even though the ball would of gone miles wide. Saliba pushed his hand out there, it’s deliberate. Stupid. Have faith in the result though. Let’s go.

    1. Will add had they wanted us to win they would of 100% claimed too close to the ball not clear and obvious no decision. That is where the corruption exists. Stop buying the clear and obvious nonsense, we don’t want to re-referee games. It’s nonsense an excuse for corruption.

      1. Var is great it stops corruption if used properly. Clear and obvious allows for interpretation and on top of that claims of oh he get the interpretation wrong. Still harder than doing it on the pitch direct but that’s the reason they pushed var is delaying games, ruing game etc so they could have the excuse for clear and obvious. At that point it’s win win if fans revolt at var they get more control as they had before. Anyone here watch man utd break out unbeaten wrong when everyone was scared Wenger might dominate the pl and Europe every mainstream news outlet had this coverage prior to the season that Wenger would dominate Europe.

  18. Have long call for the assistance from the legendary Pierluigi collina to assist premier league incompetent officials

  19. That Silva tackle on Martinelli two footed, out of control – thought that was as a red card, as the one on Jesus by Pamer should’ve been.

  22. We’re visibly missing Partey in this match.
    No solidity in that midfield.
    Jorginho is not closing down Chelsea player the way Partey would and a couple of times now is has been displaced.

    1. Jorginho works in matches where we are in control, this ain’t one and our midfield is struggling with him. Bad call from arteta unless partey isn’t fit for 90min.

  24. We have 0 creativity in the middle of the park
    Chelsea are shutting doors efficiently in the centre of the park and not allowing Zinchenko and Odegaard to dictate any play
    Arteta need to think and need to think pretty fast

  26. We have no control in midfield and are so exposed on the turnover…please bring Partey on bofor its to late.

      1. I don’t think unless we see more of the quality possession for Zinchenko and Odegaard…
        They both have always been instrumental in pulling the strings through Midfield but today they have been taken out of the game
        I hope I am wrong but we are loosing at least by 2 goals margin

  30. It’s not only about Jorginho
    Chelsea are shutting the door in the middle of the park very efficiently
    Zinchenko and Odegaard are not able dictate any play

    1. Jorginho isn’t the only culprit but he can be the domino effect which destabilises our midfield. I see partey coming out in the 2nd half. His ability to run with the ball and breaking down play means Rice doesn’t have to rush back to cover Jorginho.

      1. We are loosing because Chelsea has managed to take Zinchenko and Odegaard out of the game for efficiently
        Both are unable pull any strings though midfield

    1. Zinchenko and Odegaard is being shut down by Chelsea very quickly and efficiently so we are unable to dominate any proceedings…
      Also Saka is completely taken out so far by Chelsea’s LB
      So far Pochettino is spot on about his tactics and schooling Arteta

      1. Saka is too static, we need more interchaging between our front line, this is more a game for Tomi as opposed to the Ukrainian

    1. Are footballers thick? 30 seconds to go to half time and we are fannying about with it instead of putting the ball in the area. 1/10 for effort in the first half absolutely awful 😖. Let’s hope they show some pride in wearing our badge In the next 45 minutes otherwise this will be a complete disaster. For me you have to except losing but not when the players are so obviously not putting in 100 percent

      1. Sure, but the ball is moving sooo slow, it has to be quicker. Every second ball is theirs, there’s no urgency.

  38. Saka was owned by Cucurella. If I were Arteta, I would replace him with Jesus and bring Nketiah in to play CF

    Zinchenko would likely get his second yellow card against the very tricky Sterling and Palmer. I would replace him with Tomiyasu or Kiwior

  39. So much for Arteta to discuss and change at half time. That first half was so poor. Chelsea look like the team with a wining mentality. We look lost. No creativity going forward. Saka and Martinelli are forced out of the game because we’ve got nothing to worry Chelsea in the middle. This is like Arsenal of Artetas early days. It’s pretty lame tbh!

  40. This a very winnable game, our cohesiveness will prove a little too much for them over ninety minutes

    1. Hope ur right, Gunsmoke but we will have to change our approach drastically if we want to beat this poor Chelsea team. That first half was painfully meak and mild from us.

  41. I must admit i’m dissapointed, unlike some peopl i expected a tough game from chelsea but not a poor display from us, really feels like a 1 nil annihillation thanks to chelsea’s wastefulness. And i have’nt even mentioned the so called officiating. hopefully things change at 2nd half.

    2. Less officiating and everything to do with how bad we are today. Nothing from the midfield, Jesus looks poor, and Saka and Martinelli double teamed and locked out.

      About rather see Havertz replace Jesus and Partey replace Jorginho. Zinchenko was poor and did nothing, and Raya looks more error prone than Ramsdale.

      Honestly, Raya has been a downgrade and lesser player so far than Ramsdale. Time he gets dropped.

  42. I said it earlier, and trust me, we’ll be lucky to come out of this game with a draw. Sometimes I feel MA is overhyped.

    1. ? Based upon a lot wanting him sacked or coming withing a hares width of the title last year with the youngest team in the league perhaps bar relegated Southampton?

      It’s a weird comment. His legacy will be based on what he does in the future good or bad, he could fade. Right now your comment is insane especially given the absolute opposition to Arteta he has never enjoyed a big ange love in.

  43. We need an early goal in the second half.

    Partey has to come in to replace Jorgihno. We can still win this match

  44. I don’t know if our comments are taken seriously. I’ve always said that THOMAS PARTEY is the “shock absorber” of the team, yet many have not realized that.

  45. Been poor, genuinely the most disappointed I’ve been all season. Have faith we are going to see a 2nd half reaction but if it carries on the same it will be one of the times people that love to moan will actually be right.

  46. The more I see of that “penalty” the worse it gets. Saliba’s arm was in a totally natural position, didn’t benefit him at all to have his arm there, was used to jump, and he had no chance to move it

  47. Rather pathetic all round. You can’t blame it on the weather. It’s the same for both teams. As a defender, Zinchenko is as mobile as a garden gnome. He’s such a liability back there. Odegaard only seems to show up when it’s time to sign new contracts. Maybe time for Thomas Partey to make a guest appearance. Tomiyasu has to come on as well

    1. Agree, Zinchenko is a net liability, he is weak link defensively, and only moves the ball around. He offers nothing in assists or goals, doesn’t even help Martinelli from being double teamed.

      Says something when opponents double Martinelli and give Zinchenko space, not worried about him scoring. Glad he was subbed at halftime too.

      Unfortunately Odegaard disappears when it’s tough in the midfield and the press is in full effect.

  57. Put it down to poor positioning concerning David Raya. That’s what we call it, “Sunday School” goalkeeping

  59. Expect my article decrying the new law of ballhand, from which we were cheated today, which some time ago replaced handball. What a total farce this new interpretation is.

    For countles decades handball was easily defined and easy to see.
    But suddenly, for no apparent reason, the idiotic and completely out of touch football authorities changed handball to ballhand and ruined our game. IDIOTS AND CHEATS!

  63. This is a really poor performance from Arsenal.
    Raya was shaky against City and also shaky against Lens.
    I don’t see why he is considered an improvement over Ramsdale.
    He just seems like a bag of nerves to me – you need a solid keeper and not be in a situation where you have to worry whether he will balls it up.

  65. WOEFUL RAYA AT LEAST THREE YARDS OUT OF HIS NEEDED POSITION FOR THEIR SECOND GOAL

    BRING BACK RAMSDALE NOW!

  70. Tomiyasu should start ahead of Zinchenko, if there was competition in the team.

    The Raya experiment has been disappointing, simply can’t justify him starting over Ramsdale now.

    We definitely need a striker more than a backup RW. Jesus is overhyped; runs a lot, presses, all over the pitch. DOES EVERYTHING BUT SCORE GOALS.

    We have been outplayed for 65 minutes, and Ponch has absolutely schooled Arteta in managing this match.

  71. Bad performance by players but worse by Arteta. Odegaard is half asleep and saka is almost uninterested. Make those substitutions

  72. The penalty against us was a penalty because letter of the law arm raised means it’s a penalty despite it going wide. Chelsea GK clatters his own teammates and Jesus not a penalty because the ball got touched 1st. Either it’s letter of the law or neither are penalties. Knew it would happen in some regard this game or they never would of given the var penalty because that was a moment they’d decide otherwise if they wanted to.

  73. From that City performance to this?
    Unbelievable!
    No will, no hunger, no drive at all.
    The midfield just can seen to hold themselves together.
    And our full backs? They’ve been atrocious today.

  74. Raya looks nervous. Good substitutions. No matter the outcome of this match, the players need to work on their mentality.

  77. Losing our unbeaten start to this Chelsea team with THIS performance after beating M city is a disgrace but not that much of a surprise.

  78. Apart form Martinelli our forwards have been awful .
    Least said about Raya the better
    Would have bought Havetz on for Odegaard who’s done a disappearing act again agaist a tough opponent.

  79. Fact is, Chelsea have given it all today. We’ve not give anywhere near enough (as the stats prove). Can’t remember when we performed this badly. Shocking!

    1. Hat’s off to Chelsea they have been good very good, they were also strong vs Liverpool before. I can understand losing but not that performance.

  80. There are a few minor issues that are holding this club back.
    1. Ramsdale is the No 1 – this creating competition in the goalkeeper position is nonsense.
    2. We need a top striker even if it means selling Jesus or Eddie
    3. We need a long-term replacement for Partey who seems to be made of straw.

    It is a disappointing result if we go on to lose it but its only one game..

    2. Some players are good coming off the bench. It is good to have top players you can bring from the bench to change a game. No matter what, let us support the team. Let us support the manager

  95. That referee should’ve been wearing a blue shirt. Yellow card give to Ben White for treading on a foot, yet Trossard has his foot trodden on, 5 minutes later and nothing.

  97. Take the draw, ref suck. Imagine either penalty shout goes the other way and the game changes. We saw that with our goals. Refs going to keep cheating, people don’t realise if your cheating you don’t target a side exclusive you just target when convenient and if that is too much you counter with the same in games this teams would be expected to win even then you can’t even it out enough to be invisible just rely on naivety and some peoples need to seem above the fray. Easy.

    Good draw. Not the best performance. Refs still corrupt.

  98. We should not be blaming the referee after such a performance. We survived one there. The subs came in too late but will take a point. Such games have to be won if we want to win the league. Too many goal keeping errors. A team aspiring to win the league cannot have this.

    2. Disagree we can blame the ref. Carbon copy fouls should be given carbon copy punishments, although we didn’t play well in the first half.

  99. Refs suck and the pgmol at large* not ref I’m not on one with us being robbebd it’s mostly Liverpool’s recent history that is annoying me (heavily favoured today and atrociously not favoured against spurs, interesting to see the money spinning narratives that have arisen from it all in terms of league position.)

    2. Angus, there is a reason no EPL referees are appointed to officiate at major football tournaments. Sanchez takes out the Arsenal attacker nowhere near the ball and no penalty. Where is the consistency in rulings from game to game or within games?

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