Chelsea vs. Arsenal

The fourth Big Four head-to-head of the season.

Will Arsenal turn it on like they did against Man United earlier in the month?

Can Scolari earn his first scalp over his three alleged title rivals?

Chelsea flying in the League. Arsenal in crisis.

But for some strange reason I fancy Arsenal to get a point here. Chelsea's home record isn't great this season and Arsenal might rise to the challenge, much like they did against Man Utd.

I'll plump for a 1-1 draw.

eh who knows which Chelsea will turn up and which Arsenal will turn up? It's near impossible to call.

Chelsea must be huge favourites for this, they have a point to prove and the players with big game experience.

2-0 to Chelsea imo.

well with a draw with newcastle and in the midweek fixture champions league

im thinking chelsea are going to win to prove to the fans that they are the real deal this year, and to make up for last weekend

We're hardly in "crisis".

Should be a good game. I think we'll step up to the mark and if our new Captain puts in another strong performance like his debut game as Captain midweek then we could gain the dominance in Midfield that we've sometimes lacked. Denílson must focus and if he plays poorly then we might struggle a little defensively.

But I think we have the technical skills and pace to really get at Chelsea. Nasri and Sagna coming back are huge boosts as well. Adebayor is apparently fit but I doubt he'd start so it'll probably be Bendtner & van Persie again, although I do think we should give Vela another chance as it's a game like this in which he could really excel.

With the way Chelsea are playing this year ... free flowing and attacking unlike their style from the Mourinho days. I feel this will be a cracker of a game similar to the Arsenal v United match-up a few weeks ago.

It really can go either way. Depends on which team(s) show up. I figure both teams will turn it up a notch and bring their A games for this clash.

i think we will prove to everyone this weekend that all talk of a crisis is nonsense ....Arsenal will come storming up the Chelsea end to score within the first 5 mins ....Robin Van Persie scoring a screamer of a goal ..

We will then come very close to a second when John Terry makes a uncharactersistic mistake and Bendtner just slots the ball wide . Just before half time we will sadly concede an equaliser when Anelka nutmegs Gallas and fires past Almunia to make it 1-1 .... Fabregas will be spotted patting Gallas on the back as he tries to gee up the former Arsenal captain .

Wenger is seen complaining to the official about a foul on Nasri before the Anelka goal .....but the whistle goes for half time .

The second half will start badly for us as Gail Clichy races down the left and as he tries to cleverly flick the ball up over his head will instead smack the ball into his own face and fall down ...this results in Lampard nicking the ball and sending a beautiful 30 yard pass to Anelka who is too fast for Almunia rushing out of goal ....Anelka round him and calmy side foots the ball home 2-1 to Chelsea ...

Then follows a 15 minute spell where Chelsea have most of the play .....Wenger decides to bring on Adebayor for Bendtner ....the two look the other way as they pass each other ...

The game then erupts in controversy when Van Persie is brought down in just inside the penalty area ....Terry and others surround the referee but a penalty is given ..Adebayor takes it and fires home 2-2 ..

Withe just 8 minutes left the game could go either way .....Chelsea are very unlucky when Frank Lampard hits the bar with a 20 yard strike ......with just over 3 minutes to go Fabregas is fouled outside the penalty area ....Van Persie takes the ball but Fabreags seems to have told him to back away and places the ball down to take the free kick ..

The new captain runs up and pops a stonker right in the top right corner of the net ...leaving Cech stranded ....Wenger is jumping up and down on the touchline and has to be told by the official to go back to his dugout . The Arsenal players are delirious and Fabregas is seen gesturing `calm down` and indicating they still have a few minutes left to play .

A frantic final 4 mins ensues with Chelsea throwing all at Arsenal .....Almunia makes one tremendous save to deny Anelka a hatrick ....the final whistle then goes ...a famous 3-2 win for us and with Liverpool beating West Ham means they are now 3 pts clear at the top ....

Conner, if any of these matches went exactly as your predictions state (this one and many others), they would instantly become classics in the history of football.

.... one day i may be spot on .....

He won me over with the bit at the end. I could swear i sensed a "and Liverpool get demolished by West Ham to leave Arsenal back in the title race" coming.

Anyway. Personally i reckon Chelsea will win. When we famously annihilated them some weeks ago, we stopped Bosingwa and Ashley getting to the byline which meant the ball's were either going right through the middle or coming in from deep - we were extremely organised in defence and remained concentrated for 90 minutes, to pull off a well-earned cleansheet. And United similarly stifled Chelsea, if not to the same perfect ending. I'm just not sure Arsenal have that about them and of all the three sides i'd expect Chelsea to play their game to good effect it'd be against the Gunners.

Question is, can Arsenal outplay Chelsea? Maybe. But i don't fancy them to with players still out and the side totally off form having inside problems to boot. Even though they beat United, it was a game that could've gone either way extremely easily and some of the chances they gifted their opponents would be a concern.

2-0. But closer than the scoreline suggests.

I'm rooting on the Gunners to at least steal a draw on this one. Key of the game will be shutting down the flanks. Force Chelsea to work through the middle and make Lampard beat you. As Ben said, Bosingwa and Cole must be stopped. If you can keep then occupied with constant coverage on them, you may very well have a chance. I think this will come down to which midfield decides to control the game. I think Chelsea will control possession and it will be down to Arsenal to disrupt the passing and use the speed of Nasri and co. on the counter attack to keep the Chelsea back 4 deep and therefore make Bosingwa and Cole tentative when they want to dart forward. Whatever the result, I can see goals being scored. Best strategy for Arsenal would be to score early and keep the ball for the rest of the game; however I doubt that will happen. High octane stuff.

My ode to Conner's prediction:
Anelka to take the game early to Arsenal scoring in under 10 minutes. The game will stay congested but we'll be treated to many counter attacks and close calls. Half time will be relief for Arsenal. They come out firing with Robin Van Persie scoring off a deflection from a Chelsea player leaving Cech going the wrong way at around 47-50 minutes. Arsenal will now be in complete control of the game doubling their tally with captain Cesc scoring a screamer from 35 yards leaving Cech on his knees and John Terry begging his team to get possession. That's when Chelsea decide to take it to 3rd gear. Complete control this time for the Blues with Deco, Lampard, Anelka, and Bosingwa hitting shots off the post or being just tipped by Almunia. Time is running out, and Arsenal seemed to have weathered the storm. They're confident. Nasri and Van Persie get rested. Big mistake. Disgruntled defender Gallas sends a deep pass right to Frank Lampard by the center line. 1-2 passes with Deco see them beating the entire Arsenal midfield. It's down to the back 4. Deco dribbles past Gallas who can only watch on the ground as he misses a tackle. It's one on one with the keeper. Deco goes for glory but is spoiled by Almunia. Loose ball. Almunia struggles back to his feet as Deco tries to run for the rebound. From out of nowhere, it's Frank Lampard who manages to get his feet to the ball first, exploiting an open net. Chelsea equalize a minute after 90. Game slows down and the final whistle goes.

2-2

Really don't know what to think about this game. Arsenal are so up and down, just think that this game may shape up the rest of our season to be honest...unless it's a draw.

I think Arsenal fans should be optimistic.

The team always rises to the ocassion and we'll see what Chelsea are made of. They've had a good run with everything going their way. I sense a smash'n'grab here for Arsenal.

0-1 Gallas to score off a corner.

for someone who has consistently criticized Arsenal i can't understand why you think they have a chance with so many key players out ,against a side that have the best form in the league!

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0

Chelsea have only conceded 7 goals in the past 20 or so games. They've kept like 14 clean sheets in those run of games

They have never conceded a 2nd half goal in the League this season.

I dunno how this can be broken by our team. I want us to score early and then stifle their midfied and their flanks. Yes it'll be tough. But its the best way IMO. If they are stifled and they get frustrated, we have more chance of scoring in the 2nd half. This is just the kinda game for the lads to rise up to the challenge. Most people are not going against Chelsea and we are under-dogs. Its situations like this where we've done well.

Nasri, Sagna and Adebayor are back from Injuries as far as I know.

You know what would not be good? If Wenger plays Fabregas and Densilson together in the centre as is his preferred pairing. Chelsea, in effect, play with 5 central players in the midfield at times with Malouda and Cole coming inside very much. It'd be dangerous if you don't give your defence some protection. Suicide i would actually describe it as.

Possible Arsenal Line-Up:

--------------------------- Almunia -------------------------

----- Sagna ------ Gallas ---- Silvestre ----- Clichy ----

---- Denilson -- Fabregas ----- Song ------- Nasri -----

------------------------ Van Persie ------------------------

------------------------- Adebayor ------------------------


Diaby (abdominal strain), Toure (calf), Eboue (knee) and of course Walcott (shoulder) are all out. Meanwhile Chelsea have Belletti (ankle), Carvalho (knee), di Santo (hamstring) and Essien (knee) out themselves. Joe Cole (ankle) is too doubtful after suffering the injury versus Bordeaux.

Possible Chelsea Line-Up:

----------------------------- Cech ---------------------------

--- Bosingwa --- Ivanovic ----- Terry ----- A. Cole ----

----------------------------- Mikel ---------------------------

----- Ballack ------ Deco ----- Lampard -- Malouda ----

---------------------------- Anelka --------------------------

I would personally try and incorporate Ballack into things anyway, ahead of say Kalou.


I think it could be a great game in all honesty and have been waiting for it for a while. I'm fascinated to see what sort of game these two can produce now Chelsea's style is somewhat more based around the offensive. I still think it'll be a blue victory however.

I think Scolari might play this, if he is missing a right sided player. Ballack has never played there (to my limited knowledge about Ballack)

----------------------------- Cech ---------------------------

--- Bosingwa --- Ivanovic ----- Terry ----- A. Cole ----

---------------- Mikel ------ Ballack ----- Lampard --

-------------------Deco ---------------Kalou ---

---------------------------- Anelka --------------------------

I seem to remember this formation being played in one of Chelsea's earlier games this season to great success. Maybe replace Lampard with youngster Woods and replace Kalou with Lampard? Like this:

----------------------------- Cech ---------------------------

--- Bosingwa --- Ivanovic ----- Terry ----- A. Cole ----

-------------- Mikel ------ Ballack ----- Woods --

-------------------Deco -----------------Lampard ---

---------------------------- Anelka --------------------------

I'd personally play Vela on the left with Nasri on the right instead of playing Denilson wide. With Ramsey and Wilshire coming off the bench in the latter stages. Bendtner looked a bit decent when he comes off the bench. But FFS, I don't want him to start...

What do you guys think of a 5-man midfield??? Nasri, Vela, Denilson, Song and Cesc??? But for this to happen, only 1 striker can play. So either V.Persie or Adebayor have to sit in the bench for this to happen...

Chelsea wont let arsenal play the ball around and it will be very tight in the middle of the park.

Arsenal will be stretched by Chelsea which will see a midfielder bagging a goal from a long run into the box untracked. Arsenal wont hack the tempo.

2-1 or 2-0 to chelsea.