Morning all.
I hope you’ve all enjoyed the last seven days of basking in the defeat of Totts for a second time this season. Viktor Gyokeres and Ebe Eze must be high on confidence, just waiting to have a go at another London club this afternoon. Whether or not both start today remains to be seen, especially with Martin Odegaard back fully fit but how can Eze drop to the bench after his performance last weekend, especially as he and his teammates have all had a week off. I’m glad I’m not the one who has to make that decision.
I think Mikel Arteta will be criticised regardless of who he selects IF things don’t go well. After all, the player not playing is often considered a better option when someone has an off day.
This will be the fourth time of playing Chelsea this season so Arteta and his players should know what to expect although I hope it’s not another sit back and defend approach from Rosenior’s side. Arsenal’s record against Chelsea has been pretty good in recent years, certainly under Arteta but history means little really. The present is what matters.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
It will be fascinating to see if Rosenior replicates the 3-5-2 he deployed in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, or sticks with his usual 4-2-3-1 which sees Cole Palmer or Enzo Fernandez rotate between a narrow wide position and the No.10. However, playing one out-and-out winger, with the other inverted, makes their shape a little lop-sided.
The Blues enjoyed a 55% share of possession on their last visit, and average 58.7% in the Premier League as a whole. When they play out from the back, they prefer to go through central midfield, drawing opponents inside, before switching the ball quickly to the flanks. No side has a higher xG than the Blues. Fernandez’s late runs into the box are laced with danger, Pedro Neto is quick and direct in the wide areas, Palmer’s left foot must be respected from anywhere inside the final third, and the in-form Joao Pedro, with seven goals in his last nine games, is strong in the air.
However, in our previous three meetings, Chelsea have been shaky when defending set pieces, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez not too confident dealing with in-swinging balls sent into his six-yard box. Will Rosenior leave three players upfield for corners, just as he did in N5 last month? It would aid Sanchez but may leave the box clearer for our players to attack the ball.
Chelsea squad news:
Estevao, Gittens, Colwill, Essugo and Cucurella are ruled out of this game through injury and Fofana is suspended.
As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta gave little away in his pre match press conference other than Max Dowman playing for the under 21’s a couple of nights ago. A game Arsenal lost by the way. Kai Havertz was due to train yesterday and his availability depends on how he got on. Anyway, we’ll find out in just a few hours time.
As good as last weekends result was, it cannot be a one off. City fluked a 1-0 win away at Leeds yesterday evening to close the gap to just two points with both clubs having played the same number of games.
Whilst every opponent in this league is a tough one, other than our away game against Man City, this is the only other fixture we have against a top six club. City too have to play Chelsea and Newcastle (we play Newcastle too) but both of those fixtures for City are away from home. Games like today are important for Arteta and his players to win because we are at home. The Emirates faithful will be behind the players. The players need to perform for the fans, it’s as simple as that. Start the game as we mean to go on and be on the ball from the first whistle to the last. 100% commitment, 100% focus.
However Rosenior’s team sets up, we have to get round it and find a way to win.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
No matter who Arteta picks, they better be switched on, as Man C are only 2 points behind us, which means we need to win tonight to help take some pressure off the team next week against City
Morning Geoff, all.
It’s gearing up for an exciting run in, very nervous one too..
Good morning, just, all. Good pre-match Rico thanks.
Hope our lot are switched on from first to last whistle, no Cucurella to kick whichever of our players get in his vicinity, hope the officials have all charged their coms up and tested them too.
Family lunch today so I’m recording the match to watch after they’ve gone home.
C’mon The Glorious Gunners!!!
Thanks Cicero, enjoy..
Afternoon all!
Come on Arsenal!
What a wonderful goal from Iwobi to give Fulham a 2-0 lead against Totts.
Manchester United, as is their custom, have already taken steps to alter the balance of the game.
Arsenal team news
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly
Didn’t see the decision Jm, I take it it was suspect?
White must be injured, Odegaard too.
Well done Fulham, should have battered them though…
I think so
The family have just left, I can watch live.😉
Typical Utd Jm.
Did you usher them out Cicero? 😜
A gentle hint only Rico. 😉
Two own goals, 1 – 1.
Enough to do the job Cicero 😜
This ref is awful.
Ref doing his job , thats twice he has called the game back as we were breaking
Thats 3
Two goals scored, one conceded, three points. That’s all that matters.
https://dubz.co/c/d31c8b
just about got away with that
https://dubz.co/c/80b2ad
According to the pundits and all have you, Set Piece FC have got away with it again, neglecting the fact that since January the dippers have scored more set piece goals than any other side. Infact the majority of their goals have been set pieces.
Good evening Rico and all.
The points needed have been delivered. And the clock is ticking. In a way, I am glad that City are breathing down our necks since it keeps Arteta and the club on their toes, concentrating on everything. I hope they keep pushing us although I would feel more relaxed if we have two or three more points.
Timber and Saliba scored, Gabriel had an assist and Hincapie with an unfortunate og. Seems that today’s script was written by the defenders.
A lackluster victory, a hard-fought one. The coach didn’t refresh the team and unbalanced them in the last 15 minutes. Anyone who wasn’t watching would have questioned who was playing with 10 men. Next Wednesday, it’s best if he doesn’t start with the same 11.
We’re moving forward…
A week is a long time in football. Next game will see different opposition, different mentality, different tactics. So the most important thing is we won, by hook or by crook, beautiful or ugly it doesn’t matter JM.
As Cicero pointed out ……………………… wo goals scored, one conceded, three points. That’s all that matters.
I simply love it when he writes that. That assures me that we really made another step in the right way.
Really makes my day that Arsenal lives rent free in so many peoples heads!
going around on blogosphere the comments border on the hilarious.
Hi Devil.
Not sure I can cope with Arsenal testing my nerves as much as they are..
Chelsea had nothing to lose though Jm because they were losing.
I didn’t realise it’s St Totts Day today..
Yep Rico. It has never been so early. Its a record being on the 1st March. The problem is that Spuds are not in the bottom three.
They might be soon Devil. Just need Forest and West Ham to go on a good run.
Fingers crossed we won’t help WHU in the way we helped Forest and Wolves.
City still have to play Chelsea. I feel that they will take points off each other.
Of course, we don’t want to help them..
Top Premier League Teams by Set-Piece Goals (2025-26)
Arsenal F.C. — ~10 goals from set pieces (including corners, free kicks, throw-ins)
Aston Villa F.C. — ~9 set-piece goals
Crystal Palace F.C. — ~9 set-piece goals
Liverpool F.C. — ~8 set-piece goals
Manchester United — 8 set-piece goals
Chelsea — 8 set-piece goals
Arsenal have scored 10 goals out of 58 set piece goals. That is 17.2%
Chelsea have scored 8 out of 49. That is 16.3%
Villa have 9 out of 38. That is 23.6
Liverpool have 8 out of 47. That is 17.02%
United have 8 of of 50. That is 16%
Palace have 9 out of 30. That is 30%.
And yet we are the ones killing football with all those set pieces.
hilarious.
Does anyone really care what others think? Personally, I couldn’t give a hoot.
The more they snipe the more I like it, it’s preferable to them laughing at us, so bring on the sniping, right up till after Budapest and beyond, in fact I hope they snipe at us for the next 10 years…
I hope that Declan is ok… 🤞
Declan always looks absolutely knackered by the end of the game and the reason is that he works socks off throughout the whole match. I hope to see more of Norgaard on in his place and earlier in the second half, perhaps even starting occasionally.
Gyokeres put in a proper shift and the Chelsea defenders knew it.
Nice to see Havertz back too…..and Saka did the whole 100 minutes without getting clobbered.
In my relief at the final whistle I forgot the 🔔🔔 😉
ahhhh Kev. for the next ten years?? brilliantly articulated my feelings.
If we win something this season many will feel an upset stomach. if we win more than one most will call work telling them they’re sick. if we win the EPL and CL they will be crapping themselves with diarrhoea. Fingers crossed we will continue that for the next ten years as you said
Morning all
New post up now.