This is it for Arsenal fans. Arsene Wenger has a great chgance of recording a win against his new arch enemy Jose Mourinho and the Gunners simply have to take all three points to keep the very slim hopes of this season’s Premier League title alive.
The Chelsea boss has signalled his tactics loud and clear by failing to start with a striker, leaving Drogba on the bench and with Diego Costa and Loic Remy not even in the squad due to fitness issues. So I wonder whether the Arsenal boss might just be regretting his choice of Per Mertesacker over Gabriel in central defence.
The Frenchman’s other dec isions were at full back, where he has brought back our talented attacking young Spaniard Hector Bellerin but gone for the more defensive Nacho Monreal over Gibbs. And Danny Welbeck has to be content with a place on the bench as the boss sticks with his more technical ball playing stars Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.
Ospina
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Coquelin
Ozil, Cazorla, Alexis
Giroud
subs: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Wilshere, Walcott, Flamini, Welbeck
What Arsenal would not give for an early goal today to make Chelsea come out rather than parking the bus. If not though, the Gunners must be patient and not leave ourselves exposed. COYG we can do this and we must do this!