EPL | Arsenal vs Chelsea | 24th of September at 17:30 (GMT)

[James Bond]

Last time Wenger had a huge milestone for Arsenal (1000 matches) we happened to play CFC and we got absolutely humiliated 6-0.

Now its 20 years at the helm for Arsène and CFC is the club we face sharing the headlines with his achievement...hopefully this go around things will be different and we don't allow them to spoil it.

 

[Bergkamp120]

The starting eleven I want to see:

----------------------Cech
Bellerin----Mustafi---Koscielny----Monreal
---------------Elneny----Xhaka
Theo/Iwobi--------Özil----------Alexis
----------------------Lucas

But we're going to get the same starting eleven as last weekend and they're going to run circles around our midfield just like PSG did because of Coquelin's inability to control a game. We're also never going to be able to retain possession against a good team with him in the side, it's one of his biggest weaknesses.

 

[Aevi]

 

[RUS arsenal]

Those M. Oliver stats are something else...

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Here I was thinking Oliver was the best ref in the league. Turns out he's the worst.

This knowledge brought to you by #stats

 

[celestis]

Here I was thinking Oliver was the best ref in the league. Turns out he's the worst.

This knowledge brought to you by #stats

Oliver got us the big one at OT though , break through game for our fortunes v the Manchesters , maybe this will be a reversal of fortune against these clowns as well .

 

[ArtetaCognition]

If we want to win the league and we want to show we've turned the corner, we have to win this game. It's almost as simple as that. We have the better team and are in a better vein of form and we are in front of our own crowd. Let's support the lads, not worry for them.

Cech
Bellerin
The Boss
Mustafi
Nacho
Cazorla
Elneny
Alexis
Özil
Iwobi
Perez

 

[bojed]

We won't win this match but we'll win the league with at least 6 games to spare.

 

[Rain Dance]

the stars are not aligned for us it seems..

 

[redwhiteAustrian]

So Oliver is our new Mike Dean......oh well, Dean hasn't even retired yet so we have two of these.
However,Oliver Old Trafford 2015....that took some balls.

 

[RUS arsenal]

So Oliver is our new Mike Dean......oh well, Dean hasn't even retired yet so we have two of these.
However,Oliver Old Trafford 2015....that took some balls.

Oh, wasn't that the game where Wayne-dive-in-the-box-Rooney got completely ignored?

 

[tap-in]

Forget past stats, this is a new game, new players. I want this team. I wont see the game but will check in after the game to see if its tears of joy or sadness.

We can win this!

----------------------Cech
Bellerin----Mustafi---Koscielny----Monreal
---------------Elneny----Xhaka
Alexis----------------Özil---------------Iwobi
----------------------Lucas

Iwobi is more familiar on the left so keep him there. Alexis can cut in and Bellerin can handle the right with Elneny mopping up when Bellerin is forward.

 

[razörist]

Oh, wasn't that the game where Wayne-dive-in-the-box-Rooney got completely ignored?

I like Oliver. I only have to read the last pages of this thread to know I'm on the right path. http://www.redcafe.net/threads/michael-oliver.381321/page-21

 

[razörist]

Forget past stats, this is a new game, new players. I want this team. I wont see the game but will check in after the game to see if its tears of joy or sadness.

We can win this!

----------------------Cech
Bellerin----Mustafi---Koscielny----Monreal
---------------Elneny----Xhaka
Alexis----------------Özil---------------Iwobi
----------------------Lucas

Iwobi is more familiar on the left so keep him there. Alexis can cut in and Bellerin can handle the right with Elneny mopping up when Bellerin is forward.

I think this is my favorite line up. Won't happen though.

 

[say yes]

Here I was thinking Oliver was the best ref in the league. Turns out he's the worst.

This knowledge brought to you by #stats

Oliver is the best ref in the league - says it all that we've got that record under him and there's no bad feeling.

Delighted he's the ref for this as it reduces Costa's threat a bit.

 

[Iddi]

I'd drop Walcott personally. He's got a good record against Chelsea and could be useful in pinning back Azpilicueta, however think this is the kind of game we need to load up on playmakers for.

Chelsea like to flood the midfield to stifle the opposition and think Iwobi will need to drop in between the lines to help out Özil. I'd even consider starting Ramsey as well if fit - try and do what Liverpool did to Chelsea.

That is making me uneasy, it means Iwobi has to do 3 jobs; Attack, help out Monreal defensively against Hazard or Willian as well as help out Özil in the middle? Iwobi still struggles to help Monreal, but then you add another job on him.

And to this day i am still confused about what Ramsey specialises in. What footballing aspect does he bring to the team?

 

[4R5Emaniac]

This game, the performances and outcome could very well be season defining imo. We haven't been great during such a test over the years. There is a positive momentum and vibe around the team and from us. @tap-in 's line up would be my choice as well. Would be surprised if it happened. Pleasantly, surprised.

 

[say yes]

That is making me uneasy, it means Iwobi has to do 3 jobs; Attack, help out Monreal defensively against Hazard or Willian as well as help out Özil in the middle? Iwobi still struggles to help Monreal, but then you add another job on him.

And to this day i am still confused about what Ramsey specialises in. What footballing aspect does he bring to the team?

Nah not really - just needs to do what he normally does. Chelsea will flood the midfield, probably starting Oscar/Matic/Kante with Willian and Hazard both putting pressure on Coquelin/Cazorla in possession. We'll probably be outnumbered 4/5 vs 3 in the centre all game. Best way of countering that I think will be exploiting the spaces out wide/giving our midfield an out-ball there, which is why I think playing playmakers in those positions will help us.

Shouldn't need much of a change in style from Iwobi given that dropping into those half spaces to receive the ball is actually one of the most impressive things about his game anyway. Ramsey out wide would do a similar thing on the other flank, coming deep to receive the ball and thus helping us move it away from Chelsea's press, rather than looking to run in behind/being useless in possession like Walcott.

Xhaka should definitely be starting this game for me. He's the best passer from deep in our squad, and he has the physicality to square up to Chelsea. Cazorla also tends to get bullied against them.

 

[Iddi]

Form says we should do them comfortably but it's Chelsea ffs.

So annoying that form seems to go out of the window against United and Chelsea.

I don't think it's to do with form out of the window against United and Chelsea.. It is to do with our mental / psychological aspect, wenger does not seem to give his players that confidence anymore against the likes of United/ Chelsea etc.. We the fans and our players go into these games with a lot of doubt.

 

[Mark Tobias]

I don't think it's to do with form out of the window against United and Chelsea.. It is to do with our mental / psychological aspect, wenger does not seem to give his players that confidence anymore against the likes of United/ Chelsea etc.. We the fans and our players go into these games with a lot of doubt.

EssentialEssentially that is exactly what he mean by 'the form goes out the window'. We get nervous and therefor it doesn't matter how we've been playing