The only way for us to beat Chelsea is to attack. With our defensive record they WILL score agianst us we just have to make sure we exploit their own dodgy defending like we did earlier in the season.
We dealt with Drogba well when beat them 3-1 last season at home. Just need a repeat of that performance.
I swear it was Djourou who played really well against Drogba last season in the 3-1? Another one of those and we'll be alright hopefully.
Yes. He was in great form back then. In fact, he was very good for most of that season. Funny how things change though, because some of us do not even think he is good enough as our fourth choice, now.
Fair enough If was RDM I would rather play Drogba against Barcelona and keep Torres for Saturday. At least this is what I am hoping will happen.
We will still have to play very well in order to pick up the result. Chelsea are no pushovers. However they will be fatigued and that will work in our favour. Torres, Mata, Lampard, and Sturridge can all still cause us problems so we will have to be at the top of our game. I think we can do it if I'm honest... we have shown a lot of character this season when faced with big games. It's in the smaller games we have messed up.
I think we will lose if wenger plays ramsey and song just because song seems incapable of playing the holding role. But without arteta he will have to. If he doesnt we will be too attacking again. This has been a problem since flamini left but wenger never fixes it. I really dont understand wenger sometimes...
I don't think we should underestimate Chelsea. Even with our game sandwiched between both Barca ties, they will still be dangerous. That said I'm hoping for a morale sapping 0-2 victory to Barca tonight, so that Chelsea know that they have to go all guns blazing for the second leg and will hopefully take their eye off the ball
I think we need to play a different game against Chelsea now that Arteta is out. If we just try to play the same way we will suffer in the midfield. I would play OXO and Walcott wide in a 4-5-1, not worry too much about possession and hit them on the break. Considering our dip in form I would happily take a point (Chelsea are right in form at the moment - back to being difficult to play against)
Pace pace pace. I want to see us use pace against Chelsea. They should be knackered after that effort last night and they're not the quickest to begin with. I want to see Oxocube and Theodore bombing at their clunky defence as often as possible and keep them on the back foot. If we give them too much respect as we have done in the past then I can only see them grinding us down as they've done so many times in recent history. Pace.
I'm in agreement with you here. They will employ a simular tactic against us, pack out the centre of midfield and defence and attack us on the break. We should go wide and use the pace of OXO, Walcott and Gervinho. Also we need to get Song on Drogba's case if he plays! Otherwise we need to look out for Mata and Ramirez....
whats all this worrying ? The last time we played Chelsea , we had a great time . Have you all forgotten ? dear me, have a little faith. Barca played worse than i have ever seen them last night.
Doesnt mean we can take them lying down. Also they have improved considerably sine the last time. Having said that we are definitely capable of beating them.
I think its Chelsea who will get 3rd. They are hitting winning form when it matters. For us, I think the Wigan loss and the loss of Arteta will be a major problem for the last 4 games. I am just not sure we have another City type performance in us.
If we play with the same intensity as we did against man city then drogba will be ineffective anyway especially if we are to retain possession as well as we did against man city. Despite our poor performance against wigan i wouldn't be surprised if we beat chelsea by 2 or 3 goals because thats the way our season has gone, its hard to predict whether or not we will turn up but i do expect us to because it is a big game. Especially because we play a high line drogba's touch will have to be on point because he will have very little space to manuvere in between the defence and song. Good to have cos back and hopefully gibbs will be fit aswel because i fear for santos against mata. And ramsey will have to step up and make sure we dominate the midfield, if he isn't up to the task then oxo should be brought on sharpish.
Ox should be played in midfield for this one. Either that or Diaby if he is fit. I am predicting now, if Ramsey plays in midfield we will not be able to get the required result. You can thank me or villify me later.
