We are in a dip and the sooner we get out of it the better. But Chavs away is a difficult fixture, and the European champions have a formidable team. Yet I feel we can get something from this game if we play it right and have a bit of luck along the way.
Tuchel’s Chelsea is all about high energy pressing and running and I expect them to be tired tonight. The games against Real Madrid and Vieira’s Palace were intense, and if we can avoid an early goal we will have a chance to tire them out and pounce later in the game.
Our big hope is that Arsenal find their shooting boots in this game again, and then we can get something from it.
We need to be solid in midfield and this is a big challenge for Arteta. This is made even harder by the injury of Tierney and the lack of progress his first replacement has made since arriving at the Home of football.
Surely Xhaka needs to start in midfield again, but who should partner him? Who can make us forget Partey’s all round performances in that crucial area?
I am tempted to move White up next to Granit. We need a player with presence and ability to burst forward and Big Ben can do it. Holding is a good replacement in defence. If not White then it should be Elneny in a 4-2-3-1.
I would also play ESR and Ode with Martinelli to lead the line.
This would be my starting eleven tonight:
Ramsdale
Soares, Hold, Gab, Tava
White, Xhaka
Saka, Ode, ESR
Martinelli
Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners!!
By TotalArsenal
Bergkampesque 
They look like good choices Total. Chelsea have the capability of overrunning us so we need, as best we can, to have a defensive stance and hope for luck on a breakaway.
It’s not often that I have doubts about our chances but today is one of those times, but I will be watching – and hoping.
Cheers GN5, I feel more positive than you today. But on paper this is a tough game for us.
Ramsdale, White(!), Hold(!), Gab, Tavares, Xhaka, Elneny (!), ESR, Saka, Ode and Eddie.
PEPE, Laca, Martinelli on the bench. EXPECT two to come on in second half.
CoyrrGs ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
Hutchinson, Azeez and Swanson are also on the bench, but I don’t expect them to play.
Morning gentlemen. Lets hope Big Rob can do to Lukaku what he did to Costa…
One thing I’d do is really encourage Ødegaard to attack the goal more aggressively. We need somebody to take control up front.
I am loving the effort we bare putting in lots of mistakes being made but both teams are vulnerable to pressing but its being played like a cup game so makes for great entertainment.
Eddie is putting on a good shift as is Elneny and Granit
Was not Mounts challenge on Tavares a straight red? Two glorious goals, two sloppy goals.
Yes, really good attacking play and a bit unlucky with the goals against us. But we are in the game and they will tire as the game goes on. All to play for 🙂
They have a lot of quality on their bench to bring on I suppose we will see Martinelli and possibly Laca at some stage
We certainly are in it and that wasn’t the script, as written by those who know it all.
We’ve really risked it with not having an experienced CB on the bench but it is a game that needed a good defensive performance and I’d say we are giving it and starting to frustrate Chelsea. More of it. I thought it was a foul on White for their second but other than waiting to issue Xhaka his customary red card, Moss wasn’t going to give us anything not clear cut. Just keep the shape and tactics going lads.
Good that we have gone ahead twice. Bad that we have been pegged back twice.
Ben White has to cut out some of the sloppiness. We cannot afford too many loose/turnover passes in such a game.
Holding, and Elneny suffering from long periods out without action. They are coming good though.
Eddie going for a hattrick now is what dreams are made of lol
But again we seem to almost concede right after scoring
Just need to frustrate the Chelsea side is all. Xhaka has been good tonight and not fallen for John Moss’ goading; even when the ref tackled him for a pass.
What’s with our footwear and the Chelsea box? We could have scored on two occasions but for unfortunate slips.
Holding is just a Trojan warrior in defence. I’d drop Ben White for a bit for him, but I don’t make the decisions.
Need to look after the better, Ode and company! Not much longer to go.
Oooooooooooooooooooh Arsenal We Love You!!!!!!
This one for GN5! 🙂
wow Saka what balls he grabbed the ball and wanted the responsibility
Moss for once with a favorable decision for us
Great team performance but special praise must go to the squad players Elneny, Rob and Eddie for standing tall when needed most
That was intense!
Well done, boys. Huge result. Big performance Eddie. 2-4!
I wasn’t surprised of Holding and Nketiah, but Elneny played well beyond my expectations.
Nice victory, boys!
Hats off to Mikel too he had to be brave and oh almost forgot Tavares did his job well while getting support from ESR, Granit and Big Gab
Elneny has come through for us in some big games before one that comes to mind is the win at Old Trafford where he partnered Partey and they dominated the midfield in what I believe was one of Thomas’s first games for us
The sun has risen, the birds are singing, God is on His throne and we have four goals at the Bridge. Rob, Granit and Eddie all superb. Mo had a quietly effective game, his positional sense reminds me of Gilberto. Excellent substitutions. Let’s do the same at the Lane.
That was the big win against a top club that I wanted to see.
Fringe players involved and doing well.
Good mix of subs and tactics by the boss.
Goals and confidence in the team again.
Now we need to carry this on against utd
What a result and we squandered quite a few chances too. Once one or two of the fringe players got rid of their rustiness that was a great performance. Let’s hope for more of the same on Saturday/
I agree with Stuart that Mount should have had a red for his tackle on Nuno and he then went studs up on Cedric and only got a yellow.
Yeah guys. The more I see that Mason Mount tackle on Tavares, the more I wonder how VAR hasn’t given that as a red card. If that were Granit, John Moss will oblige promptly.Anyway, it is all water under the bridge now. We won.
I also thought there was a foul on Ben White for their second goal too, but nothing given. The sooner men like Moss retire, the better.
Massive. Inject that hopium straight back in.
The arsenal way – lose the one’s we should win, and win those we shouldn’t.
God i hope they bottle this and continue against united!
COME ON TOP 4!!!
Wow what a result. I didn’t see it coming but iam so happy for the players and managers. Credit where it’s due. This one is on players and manager. This result doesn’t change anything of what we have discussed this past week but that’s for another day. As a lifelong Arsenal fan this is a top draw result. Can we use this as a launchpad for hiring the next 6 games unbeaten? Do that we have top 4. But this is a young team and they will be inconsistent. But let’s hope something changes after this game and we can remain unbeaten till the end. Thanks Arteta and the team makes life so much better. Massive massive result. COYG
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