Per Mertesacker says Arsenal are feeling confident ahead of Sunday’s visit to Stamford Bridge as the Gunners look to inflict a first Premier League defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho’s table-topping Blues.
Arsene Wenger’s men were back to their attacking best last night as they overcame Galatasaray with a 4-1 win and the German international believes the result can provide a foundation for a performance that banishes memories of last season’s 6-0 defeat.
“Obviously [it’s a] good lift [before the Chelsea game],” the BFG told Arsenal Player after defeating the Turkish champions.
“We’ve got good confidence at the moment and will try implement that into the game on Sunday. We know we can do better than the two consecutive seasons [there] before and I think we’ll try new things on Sunday to get a better result than last year.”
The stats against Chelsea really aren’t very pretty. We’ve now gone six games without a win over them since the memorable 5-3 victory on their own turf back in October 2011 and worse than that have won only four of the last 24 games against the West London outfit since Wayne Bridge knocked us out at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League over ten years ago.
Given that was preceded by a 17 game unbeaten run against the Blues, it’s a horrific swing.
Turning back to the demolition of Galatsaray, Per reflected, “Yes, it was almost [perfect].
“I think in the second half we tried to relax too much, especially when we won the ball, and then we lost it immediately. That caused some trouble at the end as you could see [with] the penalty, plus we conceded one goal and a red card.
“I think that kept us alive, on our toes, and we tried to finish that off. At the end we did well and I’m pleased with the performance, especially in the first half.”
I think we need to keep it tight and use our pace to get them on the counter. Our forward line has the ability to be frightening, especially when Theo returns! I would love us to wipe the smirk of The Classless One’s face.
Come on Arsenal, let’s do these shower of ****s. I’ve hated them since the 80s when Scumford Bridge was National Front and Nazi central. I hate this lot as much as spurs and actually despise them all the way from their owner to their tea ladies. We can’t deny that they’ve had the better of us for basically a decade now, since that Wayne Bridge game but let’s do them this weekend. Come on the Arsenal!
I am certain the **** in the word ****s you use begins with the letter c, but can’t quite make out the rest of the letters…
Chavs?
Those stats make me feel sick.
… Those stats against Chelsea are absolutely horrific. We need to get a result against them on Sunday, its going to be a really big ask with our injury list. We need to be 100% switched on for the whole 90 minutes, in all of our previous encounters with them recently we’ve self destructed in the first 20 minutes and given them all 3 points. Maureen and his load of c*nts will be so predictable on Sunday, everybody knows how they’re going to play. Sit back absorb the Arsenal possession in their own half, then capitalize on a sloppy pass… Read more »
You are right. We need to be airtight. We can take heart though. Two of the teams we got hammered by last season we have drawn with, so we do seem to have learnt something from last year. I don’t think it will be a mauling this time round, even if we do lose. It will be a much tighter game. We got to park the bus and use our pace to hit them on the break. Play like they did at Anfield last year. Just take the piss with literally everything, just frustrate the shit out of them and… Read more »
Yeh we have to utilise all of the dark arts of the game to really frustrate them.
Run the clock down at every opportunity, every time they attempt a counter attack just foul them.. get stuck into Fabregas don’t give him any opportunity on the ball.
Get at Costa, get his back up, get him to make a stupid mistake and lash out, try and get him sent off.
I’d love to see a really un Arsenal performance, just all grit and fight,.. then try and grease them with a set play or something.. just a 1 nil job.
He does seem to be to temperamental doesn’t he?
that grit and fight are “unArsenal like” these days, says it all really.
Lauren and Parlour, Gilberto, Vieira. Those guys won’t let the team be fucked with. And neither did Henry and Bergkamp.
I’m going to watch, but not looking forward to it. Hope springs eternal though.
Those stats are pretty depressing. And we beat them 3-5 is 2011, not 2012…was that the last time we beat them? Three years ago?
Man…why can’t we beat them???? Ha…
Right you are. Made the correction. Cheers.
Made the correction thumb up yaaaaay!!
Wow 2011? that long ago! I remember that game distinctly because I had to watch it on a shit stream on a laptop whilst hiding in the toilet because it was late at night and my Mum had already come into my room telling me to shut up and go to bed.
Terry ‘tripped’ over that day. Cunt.
Come on Arsenal beat this awful, awful group of humans. Chelsea makes me want to vomit.
Just knock Terry out please.
I rather he stay conscious to witness us mauling them 7-0…
Or hand him a tv as he regain consciousness to see us maul them 7-0. Then we can give him permission to be dead again.
im pleased with yesterdays performance..just dnt expect welbeck to do the same at stamford bridge..if he does,then great.
Yeah, the stats against the “big” teams is pretty fuckin woeful to be fair. Has to change some time, sunday would be a good time to start. We’ve got some big game players in the team now, hopefully they can impose themselves on the game and we can gub those horrible racist cunts!!!
I f*cking hate chelski. It’s not just John Terry who is a c*nt ( btw john terry IS a c*nt) it’s all of em!
Cesc can f*ck off too.
Rant over. Cmon you gunners!!!
Come on arsenal let’s shut mourinho up and put this horrible club and their racist fans in their place
Can they stop with all the big talks before these matches. Before every big game, they always say similar things. It’s all good and all, being confident, but prove it with your performance. Let your play speak for yourself. Beat Our big rivals on the pitch. Don’t care if we rout them or win ugly. Just a win will be nice for a change
It’s a bit hard to stand there in silence when asked about it. And I’d imagine it’s easier / more acceptable to talk of being confident than report that the squad are shitting themselves.
Arsenal Player should agree not to ask those sort of questions….especially before major games like this upcoming one. Leading up to a big game, all players should be banned from any media engagement (excluding official Arsenal media – where questions/topics are agreed in advance).
With these kinds of player comments we are just making a rod for our own backs.
COYG!
Two DM for this game please. Hit them on the counter. We have blistering pace up top even without TW14 back.
The stats do frighten but a big reason is we’ve been missing speed up front. We now have Alexis, Welbeck, Ox and with also Theo to return we can be maybe just a little bit more confident. I just hope we don’t concede an early goal and we keep 11 men on the pitch!
Before tt russian mob came in, we ve been whipping them all over the place. Even when tt mob took over, we still kick their butt every season. only the last few years hasnt been great for us. Form is temporary, class is permanent. We will rise again. COYG!
I think our best bet is to have a real crack at them, if you score 6 we’ll score 12 type of a thing.
Would be pretty sweet to grant Chelsea their first loss of the season and send them into a downward spiral where Costa fights Terry and the club eventually ends up folding.
Roll on Sunday!
After the game between Arsenal and Chelsea, there will only be one unbeaten team left in the league.
We have a disappointng run against Josè and I cant help but feel strongly that it’s gonna end this weekend.
Admittedly chelsea appear very strong at the moment, but im sure the gunners are fired up.
Welbeck is turning out to be a good buy.
Let’s do this shit!
i remember feeling the exact same way before Arsene’s 1000th game 🙁
The law of averages suggest we are due a victory over Jose’s team, but honestly i’ll take a draw.
Unless its a draw..
Am I the only one who’s irked off by the fact JM always has us without breaking a sweat! It’s annoying.
I’m still sentimental about Cesc. Fuck! Deep down, i think he doesn’t mind if we win.
Come on you, Gooners! Do it for the shirt!
I hope Flamini goes through Fabregas like a train.
Dirty little turncoat.
Per-flections on Life & Football
Here’s your coat
I’d buy that book in a heartbeat.
Its high we won against Chelsea.
I want us to rip the chavs on Sunday so that I can sing/chant: You’re a 19th century bus, you’re a 19th century bus, we know you are we are sure you are a 19th century bus
Or to the tune who let the dogs out… Who let the chavs out, who who who
What would be cool is if, on the sly, Wenger and Cesc actually have been James Bond-like skype buddies for the last few years, constant contact. Maybe Wenger explained to Cesc that he couldn’t hire him back to the team, but could hire him in a devious double agent kind of way. And now that plan comes to fruition. “oops, sorry for running into you Diego….oh dear, did I accidentally tramp on your foot with my cleats, Eden?”, “I actually meant to slide tackle Welbs, not you JT…”….Mwahahahaha….
Diaby to kick Terry in the face again?
6 point match. must win.
Not overly confident about the weekend if the last ten years are anything to go by, but I have been pleasantly surprised in the past. I will not get my hopes up, though. We need the 3 points because we haven’t won enough games this season, but will happily take a draw. As long as we keep composed and the world class players we have show up on the day, we really do have a chance. Chelsea do look unbeatable, more so than last year, but we’ll see.
Let’s do our talking on the pitch this time.
Let’s hussle and close them down fast in the middle of the park and go forward with power and pace when we win the ball. Same front 3 as last night please.
Please please please please please please please please please please
Please please please please please
Please please please please please
Let’s not lose this
Up the gunners
Crush the fking blue bus !!!!!!!!!!!
Slight hope with the gala win making things look more optimistic than it seems. But it’ll be down to the team Wenger picks, airtight players in the midfield, preferably same lineup that played against Gala to start with, then if 1 goal up at 60 minutes, sub ozil, cazorla off; put in rosicky and the coq…
Cannot lose this game, 9 points behind chavs, game over for title race…
To all fellow away fans going to Stamford Bridge Football is also about psychology. Do not abuse Cesc Fabregas. Use strategy. Praise him. Make him feel sorry. Make him sentimental. Do not abuse him, swear at him or show any ill feelings towards him. Caress his ego and let Mou boil in anger when Cesc finds it impossible to play against the club and manager that formed him as a footballer. If you abuse him and make him feel angry and make him want to punish us PLUS mournho who will be drilling his mind to forget us and how… Read more »
We need to play Maureen at his own fucking game, compact, press them constantly, hustle the ball off Costa and Fab at every possible opportunity, don’t let them settle for a second. Everyone needs to be switched on for 90 mins and give 110%. And then use our pace to nick a goal on the break!
Would play pretty much same team, perhaps give Diaby a start or as a sub?
We absolutely must NOT go gung ho like last year. Get to half time without conceding first priority.
1 nil victory and how about Costa getting injured with a ‘strong’ Flamini challenge? Out for 3 months.
Nothing would make me happier than to see Diego Costa twang his hamstring like a guitar string and sub off in 10th minute.
I hate Mourinho more than Chelsea. Why is he revered so much? Can anyone name a player he’s developed or nurtured?
He’s a quick fix manager. Will get short term results by creating a siege mentality and park the bus mentality but after a few years all that negativity and confrontation inevitably turns onto him and even his own players start to realise what a twat he is, then he’s on to the next.
Wanker
Have to give credit to Mourinho. He is a better tactician Wenger’s approach is more hands off, he tries to get the maximum team effect from the individual attributes at his disposal, if it clicks, it could be an explosive cocktail hard to handle Chelsea will not be as easy defensively as Galatasaray. Wenger spoke about getting the balance between attack and defense right. No more will this be more crucial than this weeken We have the firepower to hurt them but must be wary of over committing or conversely being too careful. We need the win, we need to… Read more »
Diaby on as a late sub kicks terry in the face, forcing him to score an
Own goal and concussing him into the bargain, 0-1 tk the Arsenal COYG