Arsenal vs Chelsea preview: No other way to describe this, it’s do or die + favourite line-up
First of all, I would like to start by showing my gratitude to all those who e-mailed me to ask why I didn’t provide any ratings on Tuesday. I really appreciate the fact that many of you look forward to the ratings and choose our website to discuss games but as I said in the Liege preview, I was away and it would have been unfair to judge players based on the last 20 minutes I saw via streaming.
But that was then. On Sunday, we will face Chelsea in what is this season’s biggest game so far and although I agree with Thomas Vermaelen when he says that we could still go on and win the title if we lose, well, it’s also true it would be mighty difficult to do it if that happens.
But I’m confident.
Not because we won quite comfortably against Standard Liege because I’ve seen this sort of behaviour last season, believing that a win against an easy side should cancel a very disappointing defeat, in this case Sunderland. No, that’s not the reason for my optimism, it’s because we play at the Emirates that I believe we can grab all three points from the game. Again, it’s our away form that worries me and not what we can produce at the Emirates where it’s all been smooth sailing so far.
Chelsea
Contrary to what many of us thought a week or so ago, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will not miss all the key players they were supposed to as it is rumoured that Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will both recover and face the Gunners. As for their current form, there’s no need for me to tell you they are leading the Premiership and already qualified for the next stage of the Champions League.
Favourite line-up
If William does not recover from his eye injury, I don’t think Mikael Silvestre or “Drogbaphobic” Philippe Senderos are up to the job so I hope to see Alex Song back there if that happens.
Also, I hope Emmanuel Eboue starts on the left as with Kieran Gibbs unavailable, I believe he’s the most experienced player to fill the gap. Traore didn’t convince me against Sunderland and I feel Sunday’s is too big of a game for him.
Sagna – Gallas(Song) – Vermaelen – Eboue
Song
Nasri – Fabregas – Vela
Eduardo – Arshavin
In midfield, Denilson should start if Alex Song goes at the back, if not, I would opt for an offensive midfield, just like Sunderland, but with some changes. Forget what you’ve heard, Carlos Vela is not a striker, his preferred position is on the left and that is where I would want him to see him start. On the right, I would start with Samir who I believe is in a better fitness level than Tomas Rosicky.
Finally, as I’ve been saying for weeks and weeks, this will be Andrey Arshavin’s game, he must have kept the best for this game and I want to believe he’ll delight us with a big game, just like Liverpool last season.
Pre-match Interviews
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes a win for his side would not kill Arsenal’s title hopes, also adding he likes the style of football of the Gunners.
The Italian said:
This is not a decisive match for Chelsea or for Arsenal. It’s an important match. Arsenal will want to win the game, and Chelsea also, but it’s not decisive for the title.
It would be 11 points if we won, but Arsenal would have a game in hand. It’s not so important for the title.
It is a very important game because Arsenal are one of the most important teams in England and Europe.
They’re playing very well. I like their style – they try to play and attack to create difficulties for the other teams. It will be a very good test for us.
Arsene Wenger believes our “moment” has come. In his pre-match interview, our boss declared we have a point to prove on Sunday, game in which we have to show our strength and not focus on too much on Chelsea.
He said:
There is a period for any team to come out and show its strength. For my team, this moment has come.
We have the strength and we want to show we’re strong enough to beat them.
I believe for us the most important thing is to stick to our game, do not focus on any special individual on the other side.
We are not anymore a team that has to be considered to be young.
I believe for us the most important thing is to stick to our game, do not focus on any special individual on the other side, because you win these kind of games by dominating the game.
If we focus too much on Chelsea it won’t help us.
The Gunning Hawk Coverage
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This match in my opinion is a huge turning point for Arsenal. Lets be realistic guys! This Chelsea team are clearly in contention for not just winning one trophy this season but maybe even two or three.
However, saying that I am an Arsenal fan as I believe that this team play some of the most beautiful football to have ever blessed this earth. Arsenal’s style of play is not just dynamic but stylish with an essence of tantalization.
Chelsea have the ability to grind out an away victory. Something which I believe we need to become more capable of. Please lets hope to God this does not happen.
I have the feeling that fans of other teams watch these individuals every week and wish that they could convert to support the best team in the world!
My line up:
Sagna – Gallas – Verminator – Eboue
Song
Nasri – Fabregas
Arshavin – Eduardo – Rosicky
Bench: Fabianski, Traore, Silvestre(Get rid of him and get better cover), Denilson, Walcott, Vela.
We need to play players with experience for this match!
Vela is an amazing player but I feel he would not step up to this challenge.
Song plays central defence for Cameroon, while Gallas use to play left back for Chelsea.
My line up will be
Sagna – Song – Verminator – Gallas
Denillson
Nasri – Fabregas
Arshavin – Eduardo – Rosicky
same here ,i think rosiscky should start instead of vela
this would be my line up
sagna-vermalen-gallas-eboue
song-denilson
fabregas
rosisky-nasri
arshavin
yeah i agree with toni silvers team i just really hope gallas is fit because i think he could be the differance against hes old club.i do think we’ll win it tho i just hope we can get our away form sorted and get chamakh or carlton cole in in january as i think we’re missing that sort of player with bendy out.best bet odds wise i think is drogba and arshavin both to score 9/1 paddypower..COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
love that line up,mate.that ll do the job i reckon
My line up would be:
Sagna Gallas(Song or Silvestre) Verminator Eboue
Song(Diaby, if he can play)
Fabregas Nasri
Walcott Eduardo Arshavin
Right now, im concentrating more on the forwards, but im not sure if Song played central back Diaby would be a good replacement for him as a defensive midfielder, but there arent many good players who could be there.
Wish Clichy and Van Persie were back. And the others of course.
well it’s crunch time gentz. This is where we put up.. Or shut up.. This may not be a *title deciding* game but it is a game that’ll show who may have the potential to go on and win a few trophies and it’s also gonna be a test to see if , even with a whole host of injuries, we can still go out there and compete with the best.. If we do that tomorrow.. That’ll send a clear message from us. lets go who it boys!
almunia
sagna-song-vermaelen-eboue
walcott-fab-denilson-nasri
eduardo-arshavin
I agree with your eleven starting line-up Chris. But I would swicht Vela and Arshavin placings.
Almunia
Sagna – Gallas(Song) – Vermaelen – Eboue
Song
Nasri – Fabregas – Arshavin
Eduardo – Vela
Spot on George..Excpet I would play Traore at LB..That would be the line up I go with..A flexible fluid front three with Arshavin, Rosicky and Nasri inter-changing constantly. We will struggle to play around terry and co. if we go with a fixed central striker like eduardo. The inter-changability will make our front 3 impossible to pick up and mark…
I think Vela and eduardo should start
I’ve seen some highlights of the game and Carlos did indeed make some nice runs but the problem was that his team-mates didn’t pass the ball, they just took advantage of the space he created to go for goal themselves.an explanation can be that some of the regulars are not use to playing with him so they haven’t built a good understanding with Vela in terms of knowing when and where Vela likes the ball. But, for me it was more selfishness and players playing with their head down to even noticed him open.
Eduardo ad Vela udertsand themselves better in the only game they have play together
…………………………………almunia…………………………………………….
………………..sagna…gallas…vermaelen…eboue…………………………..
……………………………………song………………………………………………
…………………………..cesc………….nasri……………………………………..
……………….rosicky……………………….arshavin……………………………
…………………………………eduardo……………………………………………..
Subs:…mannone…traore…silvestre…senderos…denilson…walcott…vela…
Hopefully if we play our quick game and our team step up the game, we’ll win the game so I’m gonna go with a 1-0 win anyway, with arshavin scoring.
BY THE WAY IS THIS A COINSCIDENCE THAT EVERY TIME WE PLAY A BIG GAME FOR EXAMPLE 1 OF THE TOP 4, WE SOME KEY MEN MISSING, AND THE OTHER TEAM NEVER DO, LOOK AT US AT THE MOMENT, NO CLICHY OR GIBBS, NO DIABY AND NO VAN PERSIE EITHER.
CANT WAIT TILL 4:00PM COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone think the height of drog, anelka etc will be a huge determiner? Press is getting worked up on that. I’m not. Anyone?
4-4-2 : ALMUNIA; SAGNA,GALLAS,VERMAELEN,EBOUE ; WALCOTT,ROSICKY,FABREGAS,NASRI ; ARSHAVIN EDUARDO. SUBS : SONG,RAMSENG,SILVESTRE,VELA.
You dont have a clue mate. How can you not play Song?
4-4-2 : ALMUNIA; SAGNA,GALLAS,VERMAELEN,EBOUE ; WALCOTT,DENILSON,FABREGAS,NASRI ; ARSHAVIN EDUARDO. SUBS : ROSICKY,SONG,RAMSENG,SILVESTRE,VELA.
Hello Great gunners fans ! ! !
Chech this out
Almunia
Sagna…………………………….Song………………………..Vermealen…………………….Eboue
………………………………………………….Denilson………………………………………………….
…….. ……..Fabregas……………………..Nasir…………..
Walcott………….. ………..Ashavin
……..Eduardo……..
Subs: Rosicky..in for Walcott..
Vela..in for .Eduardo/.vela ashavin inter swiched
Manoune…traore…silvestre…senderos
Hello Great gunners fans ! ! !
Chech this out
Almunia
Sagna…………………………….Song………………………..Vermealen…………………….Eboue
………………………………………………….Denilson………………………………………………….
..Fabregas…………… Nasir…………..
Walcott…………. . ………..Ashavin
……..Eduardo……..
Subs: Rosicky..in for Walcott..
Vela..in for .Eduardo/.vela ashavin inter swiched
Manoune…traore…silvestre…senderos
I’m Adebola Yobo from Nigeria, i’m an Arsenal fans to the core but what i want from Prof for todays line up is almunia
sagna gallas
germalin eboue songito
fabripas rosicky nasri
ashavin wallcot
hahaha who’s Germalin?? I see some of us are going for the 4-2-2… I think we should start with the 4-2-2… And when of start getting our rhythm we should switch to the 4-3-3 , that’ll give us an extra man up front and once we’re really flowin.. The 4-1-4-1… But only if we’re like on fire today! Even though i say we should tease around with 4-2-2 and 4-3-3…
still think Wilshere wouldn’t go a miss if Rosicky gets tired though.. I’d love to see him play, watching him at the Emirates cup.. amazing
too many bad news for the gunners….arshavin’s morale is very low,gallas uncertain, lampard and drogba fit, van persie out….but that should add more depth to the squad to prove something and give their best…they must win this game at any cost!
GOOD LUCK !!!
Tough game ahead Goons! A Win would be so great men Keep the faith
.It is indeed a massive loss to lose RVP and considering he has formed a telepathic partnership with Fabreagas,he will be a huge loss. I can’t say I am filled with confidence for today’s game,as I am sure the plan will be to stifle our midfield added to the fact that Eduardo,Rosicky,Vela and Walcott have played little football this season.it’s not an excuse but a fact that we are understrength for this game,and we tend always to concede which may make the task even harder.Hopefully no more injuries and I am more interested in the body language of our team,to see if they are up to the occasion.An early goal by Chelsea would make it an uphill struggle, but as they say “football is a funny old game” and so often when we are the underdogs we produce an outstanding performance.Key men for us will be Cesc,Nasri,Arshavin,Vermaelen,Song and Gallas,and it will be interesting to see how Vermaelen deals with either Drogba or Anelka,as he is no Senderos.I am a realist and a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world,but the onus is firmly with us to show we are really title contenders.
i think wenger will go with this line-up:
almunia
sagna – gallas – vermaelen – silvestre
song
fabregas – denilson
nasri – eduardo – arshavin
silvestre as a left-back firstly because he’s got the experience (even though he’s not good). secondly due to his ability to defend in set-pieces.
gallas… of course he will start.
finally denilson because he’s fit enough to play and is defensive-minded player which allows fabregas to do what he wants.
i do think that Denilson should start instead of the disappointing Rosicky or the dangerous Diaby.. SOmetimes i wonder if he forgets who he’s playing for on the field.. But today it’s all up to The Russian Assassin.. Arshavin.. If he’s in form.. bye bye Chelski.. Hahahaha
Unlike you its not do or die but for sure it is very important for the team spirit to win it
Almunia
Sagna-Gallas/Song-Vermaelen-Silvestre
Fabregas-Song/Nasri-Denilson
Walcott-Arshavin-Eduardo/Nasri
if Gallas is fit so I’ll favour Fab, Song & Denilson at the midfield & Walcott, Arshavin & Nasri up front. Nasri could help Silvestre who is the better possibility at the left in my opinion. Sadly, Vela is too soft (yet) for such a game.
if Gallas aint fit then I agree we should play Song who is capable of coping with Chelsea pair.
then play Nasri at midfield & there you have a room for Eduardo at the left wing.
Altough i like to see Eboue play (one of the most underrated lads) i rather see Silvestre at the left. He has the experience & the right leg to play there. especially when Deco, Jo Cole (still not in full run) & Ballack are not that fast runners.
I know I might be considered as an optimistic but i believe we’ll win it 3-1 with Fabregas, Arshavin & either of Walcott, or Nasri, or Vermaelen netting the Goals.
The way I see it:
…………………………………almunia…………………………………………….
………………..sagna…gallas…vermaelen…eboue…………………………..
……………………………………song………………………………………………
…………………………..cesc………….denilson……………………………………..
……………….rosicky……………………….nasri……………………………
…………………………………arshavin……………………………………………..
25 mins to kick off.. Here we go people! Get your lucky y-fronts out it’s time to kick some blues!
”I believe for us the most important thing is to stick to our game, do not focus on any special individual on the other side, because you win these kind of games by dominating the game.”
AW
Eat your words Arsene, we dominated the game… and lost 3-0 at home.
Time to bite the bullet and make some wholesale changes this January