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PREVIEW: Chelsea v Arsenal, Team News, Likely Line-Up + Prediction

By on October 3, 2014

Jack-Wilshere

Arsenal face a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon to take on league leaders Chelsea.

The game brings back memories of last seasons 6-0 humiliation and I hope the players use that result as motivation to ensure we come away with a far more positive scoreline this time around.

Thankfully we head into the game off the back of an excellent performance against Galatasaray where Danny Welbeck stole the show with a superb hat-trick to secure a 4-1 win.

While the Turks were dreadful at the back, we took full advantage with our pace and incisive movement causing them all sorts of problems. If we can replicate that sort of intent in attack on Sunday, I’m sure we can cause Chelsea problems too.

The game sees us line-up against a certain former captain with Cesc Fabregas set to face Arsenal for the first time since making his controversial move to Chelsea. Personally, I hope he gets a good reception from the travelling support as I think he’s made it pretty clear by now his first choice was to return to the Emirates. It was our decision not to re-sign him, so let’s give the lad a break.

Chelsea have started the season in formidable fashion and defeat on Sunday would see them move nine points clear of us. Even with 31 games to go, that would be a huge tally to overcome against such a strong side, so fingers crossed we can come away with something.

Team News

Nacho Monreal is the only player who could return to the squad with the Spaniard overcoming a back injury that’s kept him out for three weeks. He won’t start but at least he’ll give us another option from the bench is he’s passed fit.

Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy, Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo, Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry are all still unavailable.

I expect Arsene will go with much the same team that demolished Galatasaray. There have been calls for Szczesny to be dropped after his clanger on Wednesday but I think that would be harsh.

The one change I do think we’ll see is Jack Wilshere coming in to the midfield. The big decision for Arsene is who to drop. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Sanchez or The Ox, but I’d personally leave our Cazorla.

He did play well on Wednesday but I think The Ox will give us more defensively and there’s no way I’d leave Alexis out. So this is the team I’d play…..

Preferred line-up

Prediction

Let’s be honest, our record against the big boys is dreadful, especially away from home, and Arsene has never beaten Mourinho in a league game. We also have our injury problems to deal with while Chelsea will field arguably their strongest eleven.

I’d bite your hand off for a draw now and my heart is telling me we can get something from the game, so my prediction is a 1-1 draw, but my head just keeps screaming that Jose is going to get the better of us once again. If that turns out to be the case, let’s just hope it’s not Cesc who scores or sets up the winner!