Friday, December 20, 2013

Chelsea Vs Arsenal: Do this and Chelsea will easily win at Emirates, again!



I am looking forward to watching a beautiful match on Monday night and I confidently say so since I regard Mou highly when it comes to big matches. Chelsea has beaten City, drew at United, drew at Tottenham and its now facing Epls inform team.
He has also beaten Arsenal before. I know he can do it again. Thirdly, he has never lost a match to Wenger or Arsenal and that gives our team a psychological advantage.
However, Arsenal is finding hope in Chelsea’s inconsistency this season, something that is giving them belief that for the first time in many years, they may cause an upset. Yes, I am calling it upset since Emirates is one of Chelsea’s favourite stadiums. We rarely lose there!

(a) The Juan of Mata Matters

Some of us have called Mata, the new Drogba when it comes to facing Arsenal. The lad has four in four starts. If you give him a fifth start against Arsenal, I see a fifth goal. I would wish for him to start.

(b) Ramires rhymes with Ramsey, or does it?

Arsenal’s box to box player Ramsey has been their player of the season so far. He needs to be checked, not that someone famous will die when he scores, but it has now been confirmed, that no one scores after Ramsey. If you score a goal after Ramsey, he will score a second one. Just ask Flamini at Cardif. The boy is equally good in providing crucial assists for his team mates. Against a faster more energetic Ramires, life wont be as easy. Operation stop Ramsey from scoring!

(c) Obi Mikel or Arteta Mikel? Someone shout Obiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!

Against City, when Chelsea’s midfield couldn’t cope because of Yaya Toure and company, Mikel came in for Lampard to tidy things up, thereby shifting the balance of play in Chelsea’s favour. Now, Chelsea have a huge task of stopping one of the most dreaded midfield combination, that is not only creative but equally speedy. On his day, Mikel’s calmness on the ball is useful to break and frustrate opposition attacks.
Besides, if Mata starts then Chelsea needs a more consistent holding midfielder who sits back unlike both Ramires and Lampard who like surging forward, leaving a gap in midfield. This is what cost Chelsea at Stoke by the way......

(d) Ashley Cole but they call him Cashley Cole, and he cashes on that!

I have watched several Chelsea goals against Arsenal. 73% of them have come from the left wing and either Cole had a hand in them or assisted. Emirates Stadium has been very hostile to Cole since he moved to their London rivals. They boo him loudest, but quite frankly, that has never bothered him.
And against a midfielder like Walcott, I would rather Ashley Cole starts on the left at the expense of Cesar who has been good too but not as good as Cole. In his press briefing last evening, Mourihno indicated that Cole would not start. Am not buying that for now.
(e) Central pairing of JT26,GC24

Well, there has been no clean sheet in the last 11 matches. I am not sure but was the last clean sheet against Arsenal in the Carling Cup? Or was it Shalke 04 in the Champions League? Its one of those. In as much as Chelsea has been leaking in goals carelessly, I would still fancy a central pairing of Terry and Cahil.

(f) Forward line
With Etoo missing open chances against Sunderland in midweek, with BA falling down carelessly at every opportunity, with Torres playing like he did last time out, why don’t you play Islam Feruz?  Oh wait, Torres scored in his last match against Crystal palace and also against Arsenal in the Epl last year at Emirates. He is the best among the worst. Against tougher opponents, he has been really good. As usual, he may score, provide an assist, miss an open chance or get sent off. What a complete striker we have here!
Anyway, I expect an explosive entertaining match.

Until Tuesday 1am, pass the salt!

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