Chelsea Vs. Arsenal
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday 20th January
Kick-Off: 13:30
Coverage: SkySports1
Result Last Season: Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5
Chelsea welcome Arsenal to the bridge tomorrow, hoping not to have a repeat of last seasons result.
The blues were ‘outgunned’ 5-3 courtesy of a Robin Van Persie hat-trick.
Chelsea will be favourites but the European champions have struggled of late. Since thumping Aston Villa 8-0 back in December, the blues have failed to win at home in three attempts.
Midweek, Rafa Benitez’s men let a two-goal lead slip to Southampton, which resulted in a 2-2 draw. Whereas Arsenal won 1-0 against Swansea in their FA Cup Third Round Replay.
There are no new injury concerns for the Gunners who are currently eight points behind the Blues with a game in hand.
Laurent Koscielny is back from his one-match suspension. The French defender was sent off last Sunday for a foul on Manchester City’s striker, Edin Dzeko.
It has been reported Mikel Arteta may return tomorrow. The Spaniard was expected to be out with a calf strain for three weeks but may return ahead of time.
My Arsenal XI Vs Chelsea
Szczesny
Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Cazorla
Walcott Giroud The Ox
The midfield is going to be crucial tomorrow. If we go by my team line-up, it’s going to to be Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla Vs Hazard, Mata and Oscar (possibly). All six players are capable of changing the game.
Both defences have been guilty of losing focus when it matters most; Chelsea conceding a two-goal lead to Southampton and Arsenal not switching on for Man City’s first goal.
My Prediction: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 2
@jak_star
Diaby for me in dm role. Arteta starting on the bench especially if not fully fit. Jack with free reign as last week. Coquelin in central mf. Cazorla on the left and theo of the right. Giroud up front. Leaves us the ox, poldo, and arteta to liven it up if we need to and option to switch theo to central role if giroud is struggling and pace can swing it for us. With mata and hazard we need to be closing down and working hard in mf. The Chelski cb’s (unless terry plays) won’t give theo the room to get beyond them and will overpower him. We need someone up front who can mix it up. Def Sagna, kos (need the pace), verminator and gibbsy.
IF ARTETA IS NAMED, HE SHOULD PLAY, WELL THAT’S HOW WENGER WILL SEE IT. WE MISSED HIM BIG TIME AGAINST CITY. YES DIABY AND LE COQU PLAYED WELL VS SWANSEA BUT WE ARE UP AGAINST MATA, OSCAR, HAZARD & POSSIBLY LAMPARD. ARTETA AND WILSHERE WILL BE COMFORTABLE TO HOLD UP AND FREE CAZORLA. PACE WILL BE A KEY FACTOR FOR ME. THE OX AND WALCOTT CA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHELSEA’S SLOW DEFENCE. GIROUD MUST START, HE IS A GAME CHANGER IN MY EYES, AERIAL THREAT AND ALWAYS CHASES THE BALL, SOMETHING WALCOTT HASN’T DONE OF LATE. WHEN WE ‘HOOF’ THE BALL, GIROUD CAN KNOCK THE BALL TO THEO, WHO IN MY OPINION IS MORE EFFECTIVE CUTTING IN. WILL BE AN ENTERTAINING GAME. JUST WANT ALL THE PLAYERS TO GIVE A PERFORMANCE WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
Totally agree. Could try Pod on the left and Santi on the right? Jack Diaby Coquelin/Arteta. that Swansea performance showed a new level to Arsenal
The line-up is good and my prediction is chelsea 2 Arsenal 3