please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday, in what will be a huge game in the race for the champions league places. The Gunners will need to bounce back after suffering a shock home defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic. The Latics raced to a two goal lead inside 10 minutes thanks to goals from Franco Di Santo and Jordi Gomez. Thomas Vermaelen pulled one goal back with a header but Arsenal could not add to their tally and in truth never looked like they would in the second half. Arsenal had the chance to pull clear and stake a huge claim for that third spot but they fluffed their chance and now have a real fight on their hands against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Chelsea for those champions league places. The Gunners still have a seven point lead over Chelsea, but they have played a game more. Chelsea did not play any league matches last week as they had a date with Tottenham in a FA cup semi-final. Chelsea trashed Spurs 5-1 in what was an enthralling game. The Blues took the lead thanks to a wonder hit from Didier Drogba. They went further ahead thanks to a very controversial goal which should not have been given as Juan Mata's shot did not even cross the line. Spurs pulled one back through Gareth Bale, but Chelsea responded and put Spurs to the sword, by scoring three more goals. And it sealed their place in yet another cup final. The earlier league game between Chelsea and Arsenal was arguably one of the games of the season. It ended with the Arsenal coming out on top in a 5-3 win. Robin Van Persie got the first and last two goals to seal a fantastic performance by him. Chelsea's high line cost them and Arsenal exploited it with their pace. If the game on Saturday is as half as good as that game, then we are in for a treat. Chelsea started the season with a young manager at the helm and they began the process of rebuilding their squad. That man in charge was Andre Villa Boas, and he got off to a steady start. He oversaw Chelsea's progress into the knock out stages of the champions league, but his record in the league is what undid all his other good work. Chelsea under the ownership of Roman Abramovich have never found themselves struggling for a top four place until this season. Villa Boas was sacked after his team suffered yet another defeat in the league and this time it was at the hands of West Brom. Villa Boas did not have the backing of the key senior players in the Chelsea squad and because of that he was always going to struggle. Abramovich decided to find a stop gap internally and he appointed Roberto Di Matteo as the interim manager. Di Matteo, a former Chelsea player who once scored the winner in a FA cup final. Di Matteo was the assistant to Villa Boas and his previous spell as manager came when he was in charge of West Brom. But he was sacked after a poor run of results with the Baggies. But in that spell Di Matteo did guide his West Brom team to a famous win at the Emirates. Since being appointed as manager of Chelsea, he has guided them to a place in the Champions League semi-place and also a FA cup final. Chelsea overcame a two goal deficit against Napoli to progress to the last eight of the champions league and that game was the turning point in their season. In the league, he has managed to get 11 points out of a possible 18. In that run, Chelsea lost to Manchester City away and could only manage a goal-less draw against Tottenham at home. Chelsea could also only draw their last league game, which was against Fulham away. With the distractions of the cups, it has not been easy for Chelsea to find the correct balance. And they will have the same problem going into the Arsenal game, because they have to face Barcelona before and after the Arsenal game. How Di Matteo rotates his team will be vital in this run of games. Chelsea brought Juan Mata from Valencia and the left footed play-maker has been one of Chelsea's stand out players. Under Villa Boas, Mata was used on the wings, but he has now been moved into the middle and plays between the lines, so the likes of Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey will have to keep a close eye on him. Because Mata does not lack an end product when he gets in good positions, so far he has scored 10 goals in all competitions and has got 18 assists to his name. Frank Lampard is Chelsea's top goal scorer in the league with 11 goals. The midfielder has again found his shooting boots this season. Daniel Sturridge is second with 10 goals, and the young Englishmen has done well cutting in from the right and using his left foot to find an end product. But Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres only have eight league goals between them. And that is a very shocking stats, considering how highly rated the two forwards are in world football. But Drogba showed against Tottenham that he still has the brilliance in him and he has bullied the Arsenal defence in the past and will be looking to do it again if he gets the chance to start. Branislav Ivanović will miss the game after getting banned for violent conduct and his absence could be important, as the Gunners will be looking to attack down the wings. Chelsea have had a punishing schedule and an early kick off on Saturday is only to get make their job that more difficult. Arsenal will be looking to take advantage of potential tiredness and they will have to react after the shocking defeat to Wigan. Arsenal went into that game as heavy favourites and they slipped up badly and have opened the door for their rivals. Laurent Koscielny returns from a two game suspension and his return will be very important. Koscielny has without a doubt been Arsenal's best defender and he will steady the defence. Mikel Arteta picked up an ankle injury against Wigan and he is major doubt and his absence will be keenly felt. Mikel Arteta was brought in from Everton on the last day of the summer transfer window. It was seen as a panic buy, but Arteta has shown his class, especially in recent weeks. His ability to read the game is second to none and he keeps the game ticking with his passing. The Spanish midfielder has found the net six times this season in the league. His long range shooting has added a much needed element to Arsenal's attacking play. Arteta has also formed a very good partnership alongside Alex Song in the heart of the midfield. But the Gunners will have to adjust and Aaron Ramsey is expected to replace him but Francis Coqulien and Abou Diaby are back in training and Wenger could yet spring a surprise. Yossi Benayoun can't play against his parent club and he will be missed, as Wenger has often given the nod to Benayoun for the big games. Robin Van Persie has only scored one goal in four games and he was left frustrated at the lack of service against Wigan. But Van Persie has come good when the Gunners really need him and they will look towards their captain to produce yet another match winning performance. Theo Walcott was horribly off form against Wigan, but his pace worries Chelsea and he has scored against them in the two previous encounters against Chelsea. Arsenal will also need Walcott to make sure Ashely Cole is pinned back and is not allowed to go forward and provide Chelsea with more attacking threats. This game is huge and with only four games to go, Arsenal will need to bounce back and make sure that they get back to winning way against a Chelsea side who will be looking to close the gap on the Gunners. This should be a cracking game and as we have seen this season, anything really can happen when the big teams face off. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Chelsea: Played: 177 Wins: 70 Draws: 51 Losses: 54 For: 255 Against: 227 Goal Difference: 28 Last 6 Meetings: Chelsea 3 - 5 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 1 Chelsea Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 0 - 3 Chelsea Arsenal 1 - 4 Chelsea please log in to view this image Managers View: Arsene Wenger on the blip: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Also before anyone says it, I know Wenger will never pick the team I have and it's probably way too attacking. But, Ramsey and Gervinho are just off form at the moment and that is why I picked the team I did. Santos on the wing gives extra protection and he can slot into the midfield more in order to cover the lack of defensive players in the midfield. But that midfield trio did start against AC Milan at home, maybe not in those exact positions. Like that game, lets go for it and really unsettle the opposition.
Massive game for both clubs and it wont help us having to play some little Spanish club first. I really thought you guys had 3rd sewn up but a win for us would close it all back up again if we were to win the game in hand as well,BIG IF THO.
Shezny Gibbs TV Kosh Sagna Song Rosicky Ramsey OXO Walcott RVP The only reason Ramsey starts is because there's no one else, Benayoun can't play in this game, Arteta, Diaby, and Coqualan are all out injured.
What do think will happen about Yossi ? Back to us or would you like to buy him ? I think he's a good player who didnt really get much of a chance with us.
I'll be happy with a draw and then a win at Stoke. Or vice-versa. Aslong as Chelsea don't beat us, we should be okay.
True.. with Spurs expected to drop points at QPR, a draw is not a disastrous result... we have to win against Stoke City next week though. One of these two games must be a win if we are to stay in the top four. Newcastle are also another worry now.
replying to someone else, i would buy benayoun. decent squad player who puts in a shift every game he plays. my line up for chelsea is as everyone else says, but i would play Gervinho instead of Oxo, as he will be a surprise. chelsea will either play Bosingwa (who can't defend) or ivanovic (who is slow on the wing) at RB, and if we bring on the ox when one of them has been slaughtered by gervinho (hopefully) he will be able to shine.
The thing that worries me is the way Chelsea set up against Barcelona is EXACTLY the right way to beat this Arsenal team. Also I would play Benayoun in the middle. Cant afford to play an out of form Ramsey. --------------------Sczezney-------------------- Sagna----Koscielney-----Vermaelen----Gibbs -----------Song---------Benayoun-------------- -----------------Rosicky------------------------- Walcott-------VanPersie-----------Chamberlain
Indeed. Our only hope is that they rest a few players. Also, they'll find more space against us than they did against Barca.
I think had you been playing at Stamford Bridge on the back of Chelseas win over Barca, you could of been in for a bit of trouble. But with it being at home you have a big advantage and can make the most of tiredness within the Chelsea squad. I expect they'll most probably play Sturridge, Kalou and Torres as opposed to Ramirez, Drogba and Mata. Especially with those 3 looking likely to be involved in the CL 2nd leg, which no matter what, Chelsea will have one eye on. Also Bosingwa will most probably start, or feature in the second half. I expect Arsenal to bounce back from the Wigan game with a win, although not if Ramsey plays. He's been awful this season
