Arsenal v Chelsea – points needed.

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.