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Official Arsenal team to face Chelsea – Aubameyang on the bench

It is not inconceivable that Arsenal will win today, we are not talking about teams that are that far apart and it would not be a stunning upset if Mikel Arteta guides the team to victory over the Blues.

Are Chelsea favourites? Of course they are and on balance they should leave the Emirates with three points, however, the same was said when Liverpool played Aston Villa or even Burnley against Arsenal. This is the Premier League and any team can beat any other team on any given day.

Obviously, a lot will depend on the team that Arteta puts out, he really needs to get it right.

Well, has he?

Can this team get anything from the game against Chelsea or has Arteta got it wrong, yet again?

Leave us your comments below and maybe predict the score at the same time.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal predicted Arsenal team (for comparison) here
JustArsenal match preview here

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341 Comments

      1. orry to hear Gabriel is out for covid concern, thought he was on,

        would pair Mustafi to another CB as he has more experience of such games.

        Niles is even more so needed instead of xhaka to lock that Center defensive area.

        lets go all for it!

      2. According to all our fans we have already lost. The only negatives from me would be xhaka and bellerin as they both have been underperforming but please change my mind both of you. Would have rather see niles next to elneny and cedric at Rb

    3. I feel like MA is setting up ESR to fail to get fans off his bCk. Why not start him against medium to lower ranked teams? He gets no EPL time then gets thrown in to start against Chelsea…

      To me this seems like Arteta giving fans what they want to try prove a point if a game where he may see little of the ball…very unfair IMO

  2. Good to see the young attacking trio all starting! bit nervous about holding and mari partnership though

    1. Holding and Mari have no pace and Bellerin can’t defend too. We are screwed.

      Chelsea will utilize that position well.

        1. Quite the opposite actually our defence is clueless about defending positioning and vulnerable on set pieces/crosses. Guess who’s main qualities are heading and attacking positioning ?

          1. So you think were actually good at defending against pace lol!? Also abraham isnt exactly bad with positional awareness or heading.

  3. Bellerin and Xhaka again? 😲

    It’s all on Arteta now!!!

    I will say this again, Bellerin and Xhaka will get MA the sack.

    2. When Bellerin goes forward to attack, some one should cover him. He is a good player but leaves the defence exposed. Hope Elneny will do that.

  4. Feel so good to see this line up..
    Really the selection…
    Only Xhaka and Mari is worrying
    Love to ESR Martinelli

    2. I’m not too worried about Mari, he’s capable. What matters is whether him and Holding will make a good partnership, and whether they get decent protection.

  7. It looks like 4-2-3-1, but I’m just worried about Xhaka. He didn’t seem to want to play for us anymore, yet his left foot, forward passes, aerial ability and positioning are indispensable to double-pivot formations

    1. Xhaka Aerial ability? What do you mean?
      Letting the ball bounce in and trying to compete for it and then committing fouls is what i know of him so far.

    2. Hi GAI, is that a 343 formation? Also, can’t wait to have Partey back. We should buy 2 creative midfielders in January. Isco and Eriksson

      1. Hi, I think it’s just 4-2-3-1. I’d prefer Arsenal to get a towering target man in January, since we already have plenty of players who can play at CAM position

  8. Looks a good frontline ,saka Martinelli and smith Rowe ,shame Auba wasn’t fit to take Lacas place .
    Again though the midfield 2 do not fill me with confidence.
    If Partey and Gabriel had been playing I would say a win but I think a draw might be a good result here

  11. Wow- AMN must have seriously pissed off Arteta to continually not get a game in that
    “midfield”. Two very very average players with not an ounce of creativity between them. Just what does an regular England International squad player have to do to get a game in what is by far the worst midfield this club has had in my lifetime supporting Arsenal, and there are a number on this site that goes back as far as I do who I’m sure will agree.

    1. I’m a big AMN fan but to be fair, he was horrible against City. He has always run a fine line between coolness and seeming disinterest and versus City he was on the wrong side of it.

      Having said that, he’s been one of our better players recently and would be nice to see Arteta give him the same rope he gives to others when they underperform.

      1. Agree Phil ,we have seen Elneny at his best with a work horse next to him and AMN is the next best thing to Partey that we have ,not sure what countless managers see in Xhaka ,especially after his throat grab to fck us up last time out

    1. how you people rate AMN higher than Xhaka in DM /cm position is beyond me, so here is the question : how many games has he played there to be rated that high? I can tell both of them are known to loose concentration easily and, AMN physicality and passes are below Xhaka. so where is the base for comparison

      1. Yeah I don’t necessarily rate him higher, I’d just like to see him given a chance (not necessarily today though).
        Xhaka is a capable of being an excellent passer but he’s been trash this year. At least AMN has pace and good close control, which can help break a press. On his day Xhaka has shown he can achieve this as well with intelligent shielding, but he has plenty of offdays where he gets caught in awkward positions (concentration?), This often leads to him giving away cheap fouls and bookings, or just giving dangerous positions to the other team.
        AMN can also tackle pretty well – baffles me how Wenger could say Xhaka can’t tackle (rightly!) shortly after signing him, as though that was ok.

      2. Admin, I know during Wenger’s reign AMN dominated United’s midfield and he recently dominated a game I can’t remember the opponent.

        Here is your question?
        Tell me a single game Xhaka dominated the opponents midfield?

        2. He doesn’t have the pace to play like AMN, so it doesn’t show up as clearly, but Xhaka has controlled plenty of games in his time with his passing.
          Not a fan of GX, but just saying he is good on his day – problem is that his day doesn’t happen often enough.

        3. I can give you numerous games Xhaka played well. AMN only played 1/2 well right?
          How come AW, UE, MA and England coach didn’t rate him

      3. Quite easy PAL- exactly what does Xhaka do with all those touches? How often are those passes sideways or backwards? How creative is he when in possession?
        We need transition from back to front and Xhaka fails to do this. He is slow, cumbersome and totally unreliable. He cannot tackle. He cannot beat a man. He is unable to do anything that helps us offensively.
        Other than that what else do you need to know PAL?

        2. Granit actually rarely plays backwards. Since he started being blamed for it, I’ve been watching with concern to see how many times it actually happens . It rarely happens.

    3. The three Brazilians out of the match day squad 🤔
      Talk of trouble
      Where is Nelson?
      Last week it was Eddie now it’s Alexander
      Who next Aubameyang?🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

  16. Loving the front.4, good.luck ESR!

    @PHENOM
    at least out.of bellerin and xhaka only xhaka is trying to get arteta sacked, bellerin is just C*ap atm.

    Partey cant come back soon enough, it shouldn’t be underestimated his creative passing ability as well as his skills at breaking up play.

  17. The three Brazilians out of the match day squad 🤔
    Talk of trouble
    Where is Nelson?
    Last week it was Eddie now it’s Alexander
    Who next Aubameyang?🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

  19. This is just about the most bogus lineup you’ll ever find any serious team picking…..

    Chelsea to wallop us 5 – 0.

    All these English kids are just a bunch of jokes. Please for Christ’s sake just Chase this guy before we go down.

    This is now pure gambling to get public sympathy that he played players from the academy.

    1. Herbz: I think the Arsenal board is far too inept to make bold decisions. There is not one player in our starting line up that will get in the Chelsea side. So I expect a win for Chelsea. If the board still sticks with Manuel Arteta, we are defo going down.

  20. Gabriel is apparently still banned eh? (Dos Santos obvs)
    If so, it’s probable that he’ll be out of our club sooner than expected. Just like Paulista.

  22. Reminds me of Freddie’s lineup before he gets sacked…

    Don’t see arsenal winning. Good bye arteta. Such a fool for benching auba and Pepe.

  23. Xhaka bellerin elneny … arteta will never learn … we need a 4 man defence with Cedric a better defender and AMN and ceballos in middle … interested to see how laca Gabriel and saka link up

    1. I really would have loved Arteta to play Cedric at right back for a long while. I am worried with the way Bellerin leaves spaces behind.

  25. Article seems to suggest we have a good chance in this game. While it’s true we CAN win, the likelihood is low

    To people complaining about selection – can you even pick 11 players from our squad that you’d be happy with? And if you can, do you really think it would make that much of a difference? I think MA has to start using players like ESR and GM to freshen things up (very happy to see that!) and hopefully spark an improvement, but he has to balance that with experience. Unfortunately our experienced players aren’t great, but that’s where we are.

  26. Pleased to see Saka, Martinelli and ESR on stage together for the first time?Interesting to see how Mari performs with Holding.He may lack pace but in that respect he is no different to all our other CBs.The absence of AMN disappoints me and I hope Arteta impressed upon our full backs that their primary function against Chelsea, is to defend.2-2 draw.

    2. @Hill. From reports, those who watch U-23 matches say they understand why Saliba has not started playing in the first team.

      Reports say his performances are nothing to write home about.

      1. They can’t be worse then what we have custom to from Mustafi, Luiz, Holding ..list goes on. Atleast he is young and talented, he can be moulded into a really amazing CB but then you needs good manager for that not a championship manager like Arteta.

  30. Here is to hoping our overpaid their royal primadonas will have a decency to regard the fans feelings and put in an effort to ensure gunners worldwide start a (happy?) new year with high spirits.

    Good luck to Mikel, good luck to Martinelli (please be our saviour) and good luck to their royal primadonas.

    A comfortable 2 goals win at home.

  31. Wow…When I said I was taking a break from arsenal I never realised we were going to be shit for so long..Sue warned me though..
    I wish today was the day we start firing again..But I’m sorry it’s not..
    A 2-0 home defeat is my prediction
    Pulisic and Mount to score..

    1. Hey Jimmy 🙂 It’s been painful…. we have to turn it around at some point though, however, I’m not entirely sure if it’ll be tonight…

  32. I think we might win but a loss is more likely. But I am no genius at probability so let’s roll the dice and see!
    Also Thank God for the 11pm kickoff!
    COYG!

  35. whoa, finally.

    Auba benched means he is too short to start.

    We obviously have options in CB podition, either Mari, Mustafi chambers or holding paired with Gavriel is fine.

    In muddle Rowe is finally given a chance as 10, he is our only real 10 option after all, Ozil not there, he should and finally starts.

    Now, partey being out Niles is most natural defensive midfield to fill in.for
    Partey.

    Xhaka can defend but not best at it, unless Elneny protects his back..

    Would feel more secured with Niles instead of or with Xhaka.

    Martunell laca Saka dies sound great and im all for it, but not best option which is to play the best players in each position

    Saka is our and probably EP best Left winger.

    Mzrtinelli prefered position is CF, but good on wing. Like a young Sanchez, harrassing and a tgreat all game long.

    Nelson or Pepe are better option we have on right wing even if Saka or anyone can play there.

    But, indeed, this is best formation in ages… We can beat them by controling game, xhaka is good choice to do do.

    We have options on bench….We have a very talented squad Looking forward yo see Rowe and co.

    Let’s gun dem down!

  36. A 10-man Aston Villa won 3-0 against C. Palace ?

    Unbelievable !

    That’s (red card) enough reason for my darling Nowaday’s Arsenal to lose scandalously and blame it on Christmas falling on Friday.😫

    But because I had seen my Real Arsenal putting Blackburn Rovers to the sword, on away ground, with Denilson sent off. Yet we came up victorious.

    God, please, 🙏 help me return my “once-upon-a-time” formidable Arsenal team.

  37. Going through the comments, it’s amazing to me how everyone seems to have a completely different opinion on which of the players should be playing and which ones shouldn’t. Usually I swear the vast majority agree on 90% of it at least, but now it’s like there is no agreement at all.
    To me, that just emphasises what a poor bunch of players we have and no one really knows how things can improve.

    1. Davi,
      I do tend to agree with your comments. Illness and Covid have given Arteta less to work with today, but there really is such a diversity of opinion.

      1. Thanks SueP. Yeah I think I’m just used to it being 2 factions (Wenger knows best Vs Wenger out etc) where the faction-members collectively agree on most things. It’s interesting

      2. Everyone is in same situation SueP. All around the world and all the football clubs. Arteta is not unique to this. So why keep bringing this point up?

    2. @Davi- unfortunately this seems to include Arteta. He seems desperate now, and this shows in the line-up he is sending out. I’m hoping there is a determination from these players to prove me wrong, but I just cannot see us dominating midfield, and we all know that’s where the game is won. Martinelli is a young kid with amazing ability, as is Saka. But it sums up where we are when we are hoping, rather than expecting, a good performance.

      1. Well one thing that really hasn’t happened since Wenger times is Arsenal dominating a midfield. Don’t see it happening without Partey and right now.
        It’s really hard to now. I like the lineup (it will take a special performance and luck to win this game, but I thinks it’s about as good as we can do) but as SueP alluded to, it’s probably largely because of illnesses to other players.

      2. Also, i have to say it’s been well over a decade since I’ve been anything but hopeful of a good performance in a big game from arsenal. Probably since 2008 it’s always been a knifes edge between a good performance and being completely taken apart. It’s not unique to this season at all.

    1. So we have our best three youngsters on the pitch today… Martenelli, Saka and ESR. Best of luck guys and go make us proud.

  39. I am afriad I dont see us winning this game, if we do get a result then good for us but bad in a way that board and pro Arteta will again make him into a saviour, everyone will forget the disaster of season we have had and his short comings. It will just be used as paper over cracks. So for me we win or loose it’s pointless unless we see managment change, football director booted and dead wood we acquired including ones this summer shipped off. Untill all this happens, nothing will change we are bound to win a match now or then, it’s not possible to loose every single match but my fear is as soon as that win comes along we will be back to same ways again. So sometimes change requires things to really get ugly.

    1. Well it’s true that a win would only be a derby-day/big game performance. Win or lose, this is a different type of game, so the judgement needs to come in the games that follow.

    2. Mohsan,

      I read a comment posted by A1 on the article about Mustafi being wanted by Barca. (Only a day or so ago) Scroll back and if you can read the link. It shows from the opinion of the journalist what a terrible owner that we have in Kroenke. It really is a good read but also deeply depressing.

    3. I see sense in our ‘papering over the cracks’ statement, but maybe just maybe the executives and MA have talked about a proper plan for january? Like today’s lineup kind of indicates slight change from what we usually see from MA, especially that attacking lineup. So while MA has made me seeiously doubt my stance off backing him, I think we might see a change starting about second half of season.

        1. Yup, Madame SueP! Finally changes! That is what was missing in the squad. Now Partey and Gabriel comeback and we will look even better I hope.

      1. I have never heard of you doing any coaching so your opinion maters little to me..
        And I refer to the AFC team

  43. One thing I note in our games is that the left side crosses more but also wastes more crosses. While Bellerin has underperformed too, I think KT wastes more crosses, not missed inside the box but cleared by the first defender. It is something which has developed this season, because last season his crosses were more on point. Maybe the stint at LCB?

      1. Yeah maybe. I also noticed that he passes back a lot these days, even when promising runs were made. I hope he reverts back to the amazing player he was when he joined us (he is still amazing, but slightly less..).

        1. Sad you may not read this, but I wrote an article after the return of covid where I mentioned that people were only viewing Tierney as they did because they were simply excited. Soon , people would start to notice that he’s not what they made him out to be. He’s good. don’t get me wrong . We are lucky to have him. But he has very few ideas in attack , and really doesn’t give the options Bellerin does.

          1. I like him cause of his attitude and his defending. The only thing I would like him to do more is to cut inside like he did today, and some ground crossing practice. Bellerin has been very effective as an attacking outlet from the right this season.

    1. I think MA should introduce Mustafi after half time..
      There won’t be much change quality wise but at least he wouldn’t be under pressure of that Yellow card

    1. Mari just put up a great defensive block on Abraham, so I guess you are criticizing him for that yellow card?

  51. Sometimes it’s really unfortunate for Mari
    Last time he started PL was against Man City post lockdown…
    He went off injured…
    And after that he is starting and again against tough team

  56. So far we playing little better compared to our recent performances
    Hopefully we will get something from this game

    2. Just don’t want any catastrophes. Chelsea also look capable of scoring from distance, which is difficult to stop

          2. I think his last one was at Crystal Palace away, two years ago. What a return from a suspension to be honest!

        1. Yup, he has been the poorer of the 2 midfielders. Xhaka has been Imperious. But I doubt Ceballos can sustain pressure from the Chelsea midfielders.

      1. Reminds me of Shikhar Dhawan (an Indian cricketer), when you start thinking about dropping him from the squad gets a brilliant century.

        1. I remember his debut test hundred😁😁 187 or something like that. And to think he was mainly classified as a white ball player.

    3. Aubameyang killed our attack by being ineffective as a CF. Martinelli is more skillful and tenacious than him, probably because he’s much younger

    2. Happy for the first half.
      Sorry for the Arsenal betting generation.

      Hoping the referee doesn’t jinx it at the end with their usual RED.

  78. There were several misunderstandings in both teams, but Arsenal played more as a team than Chelsea. Our wingers were more lively and more connected with our fullbacks, as compared to when Aubameyang and Pepe played there

    Chelsea’s runners tactic was almost successful with Pulisic and this is what Arsenal should be worried about in the second half. Great goal by Xhaka

    1. Pepe need to learn from Saka, simple things he tried to make complex. I guess their patterns are different

      1. I reckon Saka to be more skillful than Pepe. Pepe is faster and taller, but he still needs to learn a lot

  79. It’s frustrating to watch our forwards press Chelsea into going long but time and again our players don’t win said long ball. Always seem to set the catalyst for another Chelsea attack.

    Happy for the 2 – 0 though

  80. All I want is 11 hungry players committed to fighting for the ball. I always maintained Arteta is not the problem but the players.

    He only needs the backing of the club to select youth like he did today. I still maintain the Aubameyang is suspect based on his languid body language and lack of application. He needs to stay out of the starting lineup until he shows more captainship traits before starting again.

    1. I agree ! No idle player, no matter how much talent he has should EVER play ! Basic common sense as today is proving with younger hungrier players.

    3. Our defenders were nervous before the first goal, but they became more composed afterwards. It’s understandable since we just had a losing streak

      Great spirit from the team and Xhaka’s beautiful free kick put the icing on the cake

  84. Arsenal is gonna spoil squads bet but do we care and its against chavs. Well nice shot from Xhaka, I’m sure he made most of us eat our words which I’m part of. Gabi is playing great so is Tierney and everyone.
    The line up made me watch this game Sue so I started from 25th going or so. I learnt we wasted some early chances but is it important ATM.
    Arteta should go on and play the kids they have firepower COYG gunners for life.

  85. I love what Im seeing, pressing urgency and fight, and Xhaka on the scoresheet, there really is a God 😄

  86. MA has always been trying to play defensive tactic because we were leaking goals, but today he threw cautiou to the wind and allowed mf join attack

  87. WE ARE FAR HUNGRIER THAN THEM! That always makes a crucial difference. Why does anyone think I constantly bang on about working 100%?

    We are doing so today and the various idle ones are all missing thank God and look at the huge difference! No more lazy coasters in our team or club ever, please GOD!

    That is exactly why I have faith in MA, as he will not keep them there long term as Wenger did with Walcott. LAZY PLAYERS ARE POISON!
    Today we are, for once, poison free! How many more times do I have to remind folks of this reality!

    1. How about the Xhaka screamer Mr.Fox! I think you might have disliked his immobility a little less today, seeing as he was the better of the 2 midfielders and was quite forward thinking.

    2. What are on about, why bring Wenger into it. This is the problem with you one win after 8 defeats and all of sudden you are back at it. Now Arteta is the best manager again with prediction to achieve greatness??? What sort of delusional logic is this. When we win it’s Arteta’s brilliance but when we loose it’s the players. Wiat for more losses to come from same team and you will be backt k blaming players again branding them dead wood.

  88. Now you that to make some changes can help a team to do better. I liked how these younger players played as team

  89. Good positive football. Martinelli, Tierney and ESR are linking well.

    Concerns are Mari’s yellow and Elneny gifting the ball.

    Xhaka might get away from criticism (gave away a free kick just outside the box and a kick which completely missed the ball which fortunately Elneny got cleared).

  91. I agree with Jon. Lazy players who stroll around the field and avoid taclkes are POISON to the team.

    It’s a crippling situation for any coach. I’ll rather watch 11 youthful players who play with hunger than 11 professional mercenaries who just do not care.

    1. Completely agree, but I think you still need to blend experience, even if the experienced players aren’t great. Takes time

  92. I am not watching the match but I have read some comments on sky sports, looks like our youngsters are doing great. Very good to hear that … 👍

    1. Bro, Xhaka has had a mercurial game! Absolutely brilliant goal balanced by a usual free kick conceded and a horrible misskick😂😂

      1. Happy birthday to our very own celebrity killer! Though I hope no one kicks the bucket with the year just about to end😂

    1. We should keep Seniors on bench only
      Saka, Lacazzett, Martinelli and ESR are tremendous
      More importantly Xhaka is absolutely amazing

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