Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping that an attacking game at Stamford Bridge will enable his team to produce a performance as well as a result tomorrow.
With seven wins out of eight the Gunners’ form is good but in terms of performance we haven’t quite hit the heights. Wenger puts this down to a team finding its feet and facing opposition whose approach is more defensive than offensive.
“The teams against us defend well, in numbers, and in Chelsea we’ll face a team who will try and attack”, he said. “And we’ll try and attack so the game might be a little more open. I believe as a team we have grown, considering one month ago, and now we face the real tests about our quality. And that’s where we want to show we have improved, that we have the quality, because that’s what is at stake at the moment”.
With Arsenal yet to win away from home in the league this season, the manager is aware of the importance of the game, and the quality of the opposition.
“First of all a win would of course install us among the top teams in the league, but what is very important is that it would strengthen the belief inside the team and would continue our progress. I feel we are getting stronger and Chelsea is a big test – a test of strength, a test of resolve, a test of commitment.
“We will have a go and we’ll give absolutely everything in this game to do well. Sometimes the big games are decided by small details, sometimes a bit going for you or against you. What is important is that we put a top class performance in and then you have more chance that those details go for you”.
Chelsea will be without perennial thorn in Arsenal’s side, Didier Drogba, after his red card against QPR. It’s good news for the Gunners as our stats guru Orbinho points out on Twitter:
Arsenal record v Chelsea with Drogba W1 D3 L10. Arsenal record v Chelsea without Drogba W2 D1 L0.
You reds.
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They got spanked last time, so why not?
If we play our fast game…. we will win. If we pause and “fat about” we will lose.
If we take our opportunities we will win. If we hestitate we will lose
If we play Kosser was right back, we may have problems with Mata. if Jenkinson plays, we will have balls in thier final third…. if. if A draw would suit me.
We will have balls in the final third but a weaker defender when Mata gets the ball during attacks.Yeah, sound logic. I’m surprised Wenger hasn’t asked you to be his defensive coach…….
Fuck the draw let’s crush the bastards
Should be “Fart About”…. but you all know what I mean
[…] is also important to take points off potential Champions League opponents. Arsene hopes it would be an attacking game and that it would play to our advantage. Considering our porous defense, I am sure the game would […]
Slightly off topic… but Wenger should sign Mitch Nichols of the Brisbane Roar (who play the exact same system and style as Arsenal, and just extended their unbeaten run to 32 games tonight with a 7-1 win!) He had 3 assists in this game.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdGwGJGBbeQ I’m certain he would be a warrior for Arsenal. He’s a big strong playmaking midfielder with an eye for goal and still young. Think Parlour with the gile of Wilshire and some goal scoring ability. He’s definitely not any worse than Ramsey at a similar age, and he already has consistency. Seriously good player. I… Read more »
So he plays in the A-league which is weaker than a number of leagues and will have to work up to playing well enough in the EPL.
We have Wilshere already, we have Ramsey already and “IT’S ONLY RAY PARLOUR!!!!”
I’ll text him
The Brisbane Roar = Play Arsenal-like football and are several levels above any other team in Australia.
Mitch Nichols = A fine young player who has the potential to play in the Premier League but is nowhere near good enough for The Arsenal.
I think the full backs will both be crucial in this game. A massive game for Andre Santos in my opinion. If he has a good game attacking as well as he can, and defending well, it could make the difference
Also, I know he’s injured, but if Diaby could come on and kick John Terry in the face again with a minute to go that would be tremendous.
oh. my old name’s still on my fuppin iphone.
stupid iphone.
I was gunna say I thought you’d changed it!
me too Merlin’s.
That was without a doubt, the greatest moment of diabys career.
Maybe he said something definitely not racist to Diaby..?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5hd-RJUHIg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
We’ll surely win, comon’ gunners yeaah!
I would take a draw against the Chavs tomorrow. Sadly, I think that we are going to lose. Many people in the media seem to think that we have made a great recovery and we can get something out of tomorrow’s game, but if you look at our recent victories then you have to ask: who have we beaten?
The only really tough match we’ve had recently was against Spuds – we lost. And even in the games that we won against shit sides like Stoke and Bolton our defending has been dodgey. It won’t hold out against Chelsea.
I’m sure you will hide your face after the match. Everything is good except that which is yours. Who told you chelsea do not have their own problems? There’ll be no ‘I told you so’ from you. The least we’ll get is a draw but I see us winning.
I hope that you are right and that I’m wrong.
That’s the spirit. Stoke are a good side and we have been improving. I don’t think our defending has been as bad recently. Every team has some ‘dodgy’ defending in every game if you over analyse. Our defence is, probably deservedly, under intense scrutiny at the moment. That means any slight mistake is construed as dodgy and shaky defending. It is not entirely fair!
too true. everyone has a point where they’re not dominating.
Thanks for the spelling correction, Ali. I’m sorry but our defending has not been great. Tomorrow, Chelsea will expose the lack of defensive organisation of our side (we actually have decent defensive players but they are badly coached).
We will score (we always do) but we will lose.