Arsenal take on Chelsea this evening, seeking an unlikely three points after a difficult couple of weeks.
Here are the official line-ups.
Chelsea: Mendy, James, Christensen, Sarr, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Alonso, Mount, Lukaku, Werner
Subs: Kepa, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Barkley, Jorginho, Saul, Pulisic, Ziyech, Havertz
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Holding, Tavares, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Nketiah
Subs: Leno, Cedric, Swanson, Azeez, Lokonga, Hutchinson, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette
Really strange lineup, anyway COYG!
We needed a bit of a shake up after the last few games. COYG!
True, and at least dropping Cedric should skip so many crosses Blogs was fuming about
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Talk about a retrograde step.
This lineup could have been 2 years ago
If I see Cedric take another bloody free kick I’m going to free kick my tv out the ground
Scratch that he’s on the bench. But gues who else is? The only two forwards in our entire club who take risks and take shots
You took the words right out of my mouth
3 at the back or White as RB?
I guess white at RB.
Sambi hasn’t been bad but maybe wise to put a more experienced head in the middle there. Smash and grab
Presume back 4
Not particularly excited by this lineup, but I can see how it could work. Let’s see what we can do.
So Tavarez, Xhaka, Nketiah all ahead of Pepe, lokonga, Martinelli…actions speak louder than words Mikel.
What a weird comment. What kind of formation/team are you looking for? It sounds very square pegs in round holes if you’re wanting to replace the first 3 with the latter 3.
You mean a LB, CM, CF instead of RW, CM, LW? This is a very fine straw man you’ve made for your argument.
Actions definitely speak louder than words when your words make no sense 🙄
After 3 straight defeats, most managers would think of shaking things up.
I’m just the oppsite.
I hope I’ll be wrong, but I think our main problem is our inability to score. And I just can’t see ourselfs turning this trend around without Partey, the link-up play of Lacazette and the pace/creativity of Martinelli and Pepe…
A back three or White at RB? Wow, this is really defensive when we need to score.
Come on Eddie, time for a hat trick! A guy can dream
If we can’t score, make sure we don’t concede.
Fair point, if we aren’t going to score anyway, throw the farm in defense and hope to pip one, maybe from a corner (ours or theirs for that matter, Martinelli’s wonder goal anyone?)
I figure Pepe and Martinelli will come on against tired legs, and if it’s 0-0 after an hour or so, that could be a game changer.
If you think eddies going to be our savior you’re delusional
Reading these comments 70mins until the game is hilarious
*into
Well. . .
😂 happy to be proved wrong
Wow. Elneny and Xhaka. I don’t think we could literally pick a less suited midfield partnership from all our options. This has been proven time and again in the past. Elneny’s limitations (conservative passing) basically mean opposition can press Xhaka at will. Xhaka under pressure – yeah we know how that goes. Dios mio, this is gonna get ugly.
Probably best you stay quiet for a while mate.
Bombers for the flag!
Let’s hope Holding can play like he did against Diego Costa in the 2017 FA cup final.
Honestly, Holding playing is the least of our concerns.
Seems likely a more defensive setup, probably 3 at the back. I’m fine with that for this match.
Hopefully not the way we’d approach Utd at home.
James and Lukaku to murder us tonight
Their bench would murder the team we are putting out.
Well, their bench is pretty incredible when you look at it…. even I don’t like at least half of it😶
If you’re getting your whining out of the way before the match, does that mean you’ll spare us after? One can only hope!
COYG 🙂
Seriously, WHY won’t Arteta pick Martinelli up front?? Nketiah has missed a number of golden chances that would’ve changed big games for us, it’s not lack of minutes stopping him scoring!
Agreed! And Eddie doesn’t put his body on the line. Which is needed to have a chance to win at this level.
Why Nketiah over Martinelli in that Cf role. Chelsea defence will be happy they won’t habr to chase martinelli… Stupid. Why Eddie.. Mikel…
Martinelli on the bench? Pepe on the bench? Is this soundbite addicted idiot for real?
Static
God knows I love my team and so should be as bullish as possible, but honestly, I got butterflies in my stomach and definitely not feeling confident tonight, given our recent run of form against lesser ranked teams, but one can only hope, and regardless of how tonight goes, gooner till death!
I can only presume he is going for three at the back with Tavares and Saka as wing backs?
If we play a four at the back with this lineup, we are begging for trouble.
Would genuinely love to be wrong but no Pepe no Martinelli ??? Only players who he can comfortably manage to play in his little boxes ?
Wow he’s the boss !
Well, he is indeed
What is nketiah bringing to the lineup?
Martinelli is the obvious choice
Obedience.
Strange.
Glad Elneny is in… I think he is a good option as Partey is injured. He is not very creative at all, but can press and pass whole game, we need that in midfield. He’s a solid option now I think.
Bring on martinelli and pepe later in game… Seems like a fine plan 😅
I have no idea how this game will turn out. But feel it’s going to be really good or really bad. COYG 💣
Unfortunately, all I can see here is an L.
The Martinelli big game maverick factor could have made a difference. Now I see no movement up front when what we need now is goals
My Magic 8-ball says:
“Outlook not so good”
Maybe it’s absence making the heart grow fonder but I’d prefer to see Pepe start with Saka at LB over Tavares. Martinelli central over Nketiah.
Lineup is….strange…But. Shithouse the first hour or so and hope Pepe or Gabi come on and win it late. Its as good a plan as any for the squad available.
Its line up like this that make me question arteta ability ..how is nketia better upfront than martinelli ?..whatever happens it will be on him
Have faith fellow Gooner. How you feeling through 66 minutes?
Eddie N?
Elneny?
not too bad, right? considering no Partey or 1st choice wing backs
In what world can Nketieh be more effective as a forward than martinelli? He’s fucking leaving too, whereas martinelli wants to stay for his entire career. Arteta is a freaking nut job
There is your answer
More than happy to eat my words!
Give Pepe a chance please MA.
The only issue I have with this line up is not having Martinelli leading the attack in place of Nketiah.
This march has Martinelli written all over it!
I guess I spoke too soon..😄😄😄
Get fucking in Eddie
Mount was not booked?
Howwhy??