It’s one of the big games in the Premier League calendar. A battle between the two most successful London teams of the Premier League era. A rivalry that grew in intensity during the Jose Mourinho era but still burns strong today.
Arsenal trail Chelsea by 8 points (and has a game in hand), so a victory Sunday buy the Gunners will put them right back in the title race. A lose Sunday and Arsenal are 11 points back before Christmas and Arsenal fans will begin to wonder when Arsene Wenger’s young guns will win another trophy.
Arsenal Team News
Injuries have really hit Arsenal hard recently, with Van Persie, Clichy, Gibbs and Galas all out.
In midfield I expect Arsenal to play a combination of Song, Walcott, Febregas, Nasri, and Arshavin. That midfield group has the chance to compete with anyone midfield in the world, and I expect them to hold their own Sunday, and not let Chelsea’s midfield stars boss the game.
The problems I see for Arsenal are at either ends of the park. The loss of RVP and Bendtner means that Wenger is forced to go with either Eduardo or Vela up front. Both are nice players, but I don’t believe that they can handle the physical play of John Terry and I give the advantage to the Chelsea back-four here.
At the other end of the park, Drogba and Anelka have been terrorizing defences all season and without Gallas in the middle, I struggle to see how Arsenal backs-four can cope with these two. Vermaelen gives Arsenal a physical presence they have been lacking in recent seasons, but he cannot handle both Chelsea strikers by himself.
Prediction
This will undoubtedly be Arsenal’s sternest test of the season so far and will be a good measuring stick for how good this young Arsenal team is. But with Chelsea at almost fill-strength and Arsenal under-strength I fear that we will not see the best Arsenal performance on Sunday, and unfortunately that is what will be needed to be.
I expect it to be tough weekend for Gunners fans as I expect Chelsea to win 3-1. I just hope I am wrong!!
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My prediction is the exact opposite 3:1 in favour of the gunners. I believe we will miss W. Gallas but neither Drogba or Anelka has faced a defender as well balanced as T.Vermaelen, believe this guy will not be bossed by anyone.
In the middle of the pack,A. Song has a chance to prove he has matured into one of the best mid-fielder 2day.I mean what better occassion than against much celebrated M. Essein.
Finally, upfront neither of the mentioned strikers has the physique to match defenders like J.Terry.This might just work to our advantage as J.T’s over confidence may just force mistakes which we all know Eduardo will pounce on in a flash,J.T may even cause a penalty.
Provided we do play the way we know how, Arsenal will come out on top. Arsenal 3 : Chelsea 1,though I believe Chelsea will score the first go.
From time immemorial, when the task ahead has been near hopeless, Arsenal have raised their game and come through victorious. I see the same result today…….the winning score being meaningless.
Tough loss by our boys yesterday, they just didn’t seem to connect. But one positive that came from the day was that Arsenal donated their days wage and raised money to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital! If you are interested in donating please visit the Arsenal Be a Gooner Be a Giver web page, http://www.beagoonerbeagiver.org/
Any amount helps out a great cause!
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