The games aren’t getting any easier for Mikel Arteta’s men right now as they head to (previously) second place Chelsea with their eyes on restoring their 7 point lead over Manchester City, following their win over Leeds yesterday. Chelsea have been in good form themselves lately, including an impressive midweek win over Barcelona, which only demonstrates further the size of the challenge ahead for Arsenal. Arsenal though, have been in good form themselves, and will no doubt see this as another opportunity to set a marker down to the chasing pack that they mean business this year and they are the real deal.
Areas of encouragement
Chelsea aren’t the only team that come into the game on the back of an impressive European victory as Arsenal swatted aside the apparent best team in Europe, in Bayern Munich, and were particularly dominate in the second half which will give the team great confidence going into this one. There are also more and more returning players adding to this squad given Arteta plenty to think about and making the competition for places fiercer than it has been all season, which can only make the team stronger as a whole.
Areas of concern
Chelsea are no mugs and have historically been very strong at home so Arsenal will need to be at their absolute best to take all three points at Stamford Bridge. Estevao appears to have announced himself on the main stage with his spectacular goal on Tuesday and will be keen to further his reputation in another big game, so Arsenal will need to get to grips with the young Brazilian to stop him from doing so this afternoon.
What I’d love to see
The one thing I’d love to see if a similar performance to the one that we did a few years ago when we beat them 1-0 through Gabriel’s goal from a corner, where we kept them at arm’s length all game and limited Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to about 4 touches all game. If Arsenal put in that sort of performance, I think that should be enough to bring home the points. I’d love to see Declan Rice put in the same kind of performance against Chelsea as he did against Bayern in the week as well. When he’s in that kind of form, Rice is unplayable and capable of turning games on his own.
What I’d hate to see
Arsenal have put in a lot of effort in the past two games, specifically more so against Bayern it has to be said, so I’d hate to see a really lethargic, leggy performance from the Gunners. I’d also hate to see us lose that midfield battle. We can’t give Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez any encouragement in that area or they will run all over us.
Key Battle
There’s been an awful lot of talk about Caicedo and Rice in the build up to this one, in terms of who is the Premier League’s top midfielder, so that battle will be in key focus throughout. However, I think the key battle actual lies outwide, between Bukayo Saka and Marc Curcuella. Saka usually struggles against Curcuella and will be looking to put that right this time around and despite all of the other attacking talent that Chelsea have at their disposal, I think Curcuella is a key man in creating chances and generally causing a nuisance of himself further forward. Therefore if Saka wins this battle and really puts Curcuella on the back foot early doors, I think that could have ramifications for our defence as well as our attack.
Lineup and Team News
As I mentioned above, I am a bit worried about the number of minutes and the effort some of these players have put in over the past 7 days however, I don’t think we’re in a position to rest anyone at this stage. I think Arteta will go as strong as he possibly can which leaves three key decisions for me. Who plays in the number ten position, who plays on the left and who partners William Saliba in defence. We have an embarrassment of riches in all of those positions so I don’t think any of the choices are bad options however, I expect Arteta to go with Eze over Odegaard in the 10, Madueke on the left ahead of Martinelli (assuming Trossard is not fit) and Piero Hincapie in defence.
Eze mainly because I don’t think Odegaard is ready to start a game of this size right now, Hincapie as I believe he did enough against Tottenham last week to retain his place and Madueke as Arteta is a big fan of playing players in game states that really suit them and where they have a point to prove. Madueke’s first game against his former team fits that situation to a tee, so I think he’ll unleash the England winger and see what he can do to prove why they should have kept him.
Rumours of an apparent return of Gabriel Jesus and Vitkor Gyokeres have been mooted and I see them both taking up their places on a particularly strong looking bench.
Predicted lineup:
Raya
Timber
Saliba
Hincapie
Calafiori
Zubimendi
Rice
Eze
Saka
Merino
Madueke
Substitutes:
Arrizabalaga
White
Mosquera
Norgaard
Odegaard
Jesus
Nwaneri
Martinelli
Gyokeres
PREDICTION
Another huge game, another really tough game, another game where a clean sheet appears vital to take all three points. I can see us getting a goal so if we manage to keep it water tight at the back, I think we’ll bring home the points. I’m going for 1-0 to The Arsenal. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!