please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday as two of the unbeaten sides in the Premier League clash. This game will be the first London derby for Arsenal this season and the atmosphere should be electric. Both these teams go into this game on the back of convincing wins in midweek against feeble opposition in the League Cup. Chelsea dispatched Wolves 6-0, while the Gunners destroyed Coventry 6-1 to book their place in the fourth round of the League Cup. Chelsea have had a great start in the league after winning four of their five league games this season, and that has seen them top the current Premier League table. Their last win in the league came against Stoke at Stamford Bridge after a late Ashley Cole goal broke Stoke’s stubborn resistances. Chelsea are again showing their ability to win despite not actually being at their best or anywhere near it. Arsenal got a hard earned point against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in their last league game. Joleon Lescott, gave City the lead with a header in the first half but the Gunners struck late on through Laurent Koscielny to level the scores and earn the Gunners a crucial point, which has meant that they are still undefeated this season. Arsenal and Chelsea played out a very dull 0-0 at the Emirates last season as Chelsea came and defended deep. It felt like Chelsea used that game as a training exercise ahead of their trip to the Nou Camp. This season, Chelsea have shown a more attacking intent with the likes of Hazard,Oscar and Mata creating and dazzling with their brilliant skills. Arsenal have also shown the same attacking intent this season, but that is nothing new. So we could be in for a cracking game if both teams play some of that attacking brand of football they have displayed this season. Chelsea had a busy transfer window as they went about transforming their squad and brining in young and exciting attacking players. Chelsea spent a lot of money to achieve this objective and out of the many players they brought in, Eden Hazard and Oscar seem to the two stand outs. Hazard was voted as the best player in Ligue 1 in the previous two seasons and at the age of 21, that was an amazing achievement. The transfer fee was believed to be in the region of £32 Million and Hazard has had an impressive start to his Chelsea career, he has provided four assists in the five Premier League games he has featured in and also has one goal to his name. Hazard's speed and trickery makes him a difficult player to defend against and Carl Jenkinson will have to be at his very best to quell the threat of Eden Hazard. Oscar has been the other stand out newbie for Chelsea and although he has not featured for them as much Hazard, he has in flashes shown why he is so highly rated. Against Juventus in the Champions League he scored a goal that will long in the memory and his general attacking play also caught the eye. In Hazard and Oscar as well as Mata, Chelsea will pose Arsenal a new threat that they have previously not had to deal with when facing Chelsea. In defence, Chelsea look impressive and Arsenal can’t afford to be as wasteful in front of goal as they were against Manchester City. Chelsea will be without the one man that they would love to have in their side especially against Arsenal. That man is Didier Drogba, he tormented Arsenal over the years. In 13 games against the Gunners he scored 13 goals and many of them were either game winning or game changing goals. Without Drogba, Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal in 13 attempts, so he has been the key man in this fixture between the two sides over the years. The man that has replaced him in the Chelsea team is Fernando Torres, who is still not at his very best. But Torres has shown signs of improvement and he has scored three goals so far this season. But he certainly does not strike the same fear into the hearts of Arsenal fans as Didier Drogba did. In central midfield, Chelsea have had their problems this season. After selling Raul Meireles and loaning out Michael Essien, they have used the trio of Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Ramires in the league fixtures. Frank Lampard has been converted to playing in the deeper midfield role and he has not convinced everyone about his ability to play in there, John Obi Mikel is still an inconsistent player who has not filled the Chelsea fans with much confidence this season. While, central midfield remains one of Chelsea’s weak spots, it most certainly is where Arsenal’s strong points lies this season. In Mikel Arteta, Arsenal surely have one of the best deep lying midfield players in the Premier League and he was at his best against Manchester City last week. He completed over 100 passes in that game and he spotted the dangers and cut them out to help his defence. The midfield three of Arteta,Diaby and Cazorla have been able to boss the midfield this season. But against Chelsea, they come up against attacking players who can do a lot of damage in the lines between defence and midfield. The likes of Oscar,Mata and Hazard can be dangerous if they are afforded the space and time to create. The midfield battle in this game is where the game could be won and lost. Olivier Giroud has not started in the two previous League fixtures and after getting his first goal in an Arsenal shirt against Coventry he will hope to try and regain a place in the first team. Gervinho showed against Manchester City why he is a player that frustrates Arsenal fans. He is a player that is always involved in the game and with his ability to beat people he can be dangerous. But as shown against City, his inability to remain calm and composed in the final third will always let him down. Having said that, he has managed to score three goals this season but against a team like Chelsea, Arsenal can’t afford to be wasteful in front of goal. Theo Walcott started against Coventry in the League Cup and he bagged himself two goals after two neat finishes in front of goal. This week, Walcott has spoken about his wish to play as a forward and if Gervinho continues to frustrate, then Walcott could get his chance to play the role he thinks is his best position. Walcott has caused Chelsea a few problems in recent years and has scored against them in each of the last two seasons. Thomas Vermalen returns from illness and as Arsenal captain, he should get straight back into the team. Laurent Koscielny or Per Mertesacker can count themselves unlucky if they have to make way for the returning skipper. Carl Jenkinson put in arguably his best performance as an Arsenal player against Manchester City, and his progress continues to impress everyone at Arsenal. He will to have display that sort of form when he comes up against Eden Hazard this Saturday. There are plenty of great individual battles in this game and hopefully it makes for a great game. Arsenal go into their first London derby of the season unbeaten and they hope to end this game unbeaten but against table topping Chelsea, that is going to be easier said than done. Two of England’s best team clash and hopefully it makes for a truly great game. 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: 178 Wins: 70 Draws: 52 Losses: 54 For: 255 Against: 227 Goal Difference: 28 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 0 - 0 Chelsea Chelsea 3 - 5 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 1 Chelsea Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 0 - 3 Chelsea please log in to view this image Managers Views: Arsene Wenger on Arsenal's start to the new season: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Oxo was taken off against Coventry. So I think he will be involved, but for me, Ramsey deserves another start after his performance. We could drop Gervinho for Oxo and play Podolski through the middle.
Done. With merging, it seems the thread that was posted first will automatically be the front page now. I swear it was different before.
"Hazard has had an impressive start to his Chelsea career, he has provided four assists in the five Premier League games he has featured in" I swear everyone was going on about he had 6 assists or something like that
ESPN says four. Maybe they are not counting winning pens as assists. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/101390/eden-hazard?cc=5739
I'd have Walcott ahead of Ramsey, Walcott has done well against Chelsea recently, and will be high on confidence after scoring 2 in his last game. I can see Cazorla causing lot's of trouble for Mikel.
True, also playing him on right will mean that Cole will be pinned back and not causing problems in our half.
Yup, I'd start Walcott. He better just track back and support Jenkinson. Too often last season did I see Walcott not supporting Sagna in the RB position which left us exposed. He can learn a lot from what Podolski does on his respective side. Mannone Jenkinson Mert Kosh Gibbs Diaby Arterta Carzola Walcott Giroud Pod Have Arshavin, Gervinho and Oxo/Ramsey come on for plan B if needed. The pace of Gerv and Oxo would be good against tired legs and throw on Arshavin if we need to unlock the Chelsea defence (if they park the bus again).
Team I want :- Mannone Jenkinson Mert Kos Gibbs Diaby Arterta Carzola Walcott Gervinho Pod Team that will be out Mannone Jenkinson Mert Kosh Gibbs Diaby Arterta Carzola Ramsey/OXO Giroud Pod
Judas i think you watch a different Walcott to the rest of the world... The defensive side of Walcotts game is very solid, he constantly tracks back and actually gives very good cover. Far better than Oxocube who positionally is poor when defending or Ramsey who doesnt get back quick enough. I found myself over and over again praising Walcott for the defensive shifts he puts in. I think it is just seen as acceptable to Walcott bash when infact he is far better than he is given credit for.
