If managed properly, our forward line can tear their slow CBs apart. But that being said, their forward line could tear ours apart. All depends on who controls the midfield better imo. And who has their shooting boots on.
I think we need to park the bus against you, soak up pressure (we're actually very good at defending when we don't leave a massive hole in our midfield) and hit you on the break. We have Sanchez, Oxo and Welbeck who can tear Terry and Cahill a new arsehole when it comes to pace. The mistake we make against Chelsea is that we play too open, thinking we can just attack and win the game, when what actually happens is that we leave ourselves wide open in the middle and get turned around very easily. Last season we got mauled with this approach, let's hope Wenger has learned from that and sets up properly this time.
Spot on. Except the part about hoping Wenger has learnt, as I hope he hasn't. My hope is that his stubbornness will shine through and he will take the exact same approach he always takes.......I can hope
Chelsea win all day long. Matic is a monster and he is going to destroy our CM's. Ramsey on form could have got the better of him but he is injured and Wilshere is simply too weak to deal with Matic and also Mikel or Rameries. Going to be a blood bath in that central midfield.
Sad to say this is true. Ozil will have a very tough time in there particularly. He clearly doesn't like the rough stuff and with minimal protection for him, I can only imagine that he won't fancy it much. I just hope Flamini has a blinder, otherwise we will get overrun. This game will be a good indication on how well we are progressing as a team. As long as we give a good account of ourselves and made it a close tough game for Chelsea, then I'd say that was progress. If this follows a similar pattern of previous games against Maureen, then we will be at the receiving end of a hammering.
I think this is a good point. I'd like to see a performance from us even if the result doesn't go our way in the end. A spineless capitulation will mean that absolutely zero progress has been made since last season (and in recent years). If we do well it's a good barometer of where we are at as a team.
Looking at the provisional squad - I'm worried we may have to choose a similar team to the Gala team. We've got no Diaby, Arteta, Ramsey, and with no other physical central midfielder other than Flamini, I'm worried that Chelsea will be carving us open. I hope Wenger goes for a midfield of - --------Flamini ----------------------- -----------------Rosicky--------------- Oxo--------Ozil-------------Sanchez- As at least Rosicky has energy and likes to tackle, but I'm not sure he will - and it's a big ask of Rosicky. Our other options are having a 4-1-4-1 with Cazorla and Ozil in the centre, or having a 4-2-3-1 with Oxo in the centre with Flamini
With our current fit personnel, well find it difficult to go all out defence. We should aim to maximize possession instead, without committing too many men forwards. Back 5 picks itself. Flamini and Wilshere holding, Sanchez, ozil, cazorla in front behind welbeck. Chamberlain on the bench to be brought on to add pace if we need it in the second half
That's why for me Flamini will have to be at his best and read the game very well. Wenger has to counter their strong midfield. Our best bet is to keep compact in midfield, get men behind the ball and break at pace. With Welbeck, OXO and Sanchez, we should be able to inflict damage. I just hope we don't get too adventurous and leave our defense wide open.
Drudeboy - not sure that midfield has the physicality or speed to match Chelsea, I think we're inviting them to swamp us. I agree Lazarus, we need to stay compact, not leave ourselves open to a counter attack, while breaking at pace ourselves.
This 100% for me too. We tried to go and attack Chelsea last season and we got murdered. Park the bus and hit them on the break. Ox, Sanchez and Welbeck can skin Terry and Cahill on the break.
We can get something from the game if we play the right way against Maureen. If we can close down, harry and keep a disciplined shape without making any silly mistakes, then Chelsea will find it tough to break us down. Against Maureen it will be tactical and i believe we have the players to get something, it will depend on how we setup as a team on the weekend. If Wenger gets it right strategically, then we can get something. If not, then we're in for a torrid time.
Lazarus reckons it's Redknapp, you reckon it's Hill. There's only one way to find out .................
That is one real **** head to head record we have on them, 6 games, 0 wins. I'm wondering as well if we've only beaten them once in our last 10? that 5-3 victory in 2011.
