Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, seeking three points to return to the top of the table.
Here are the official line-ups.
Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Mount, Cucurella, Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling
Subs: Bettenelli, Koulibaly, Gallagher, Hall, Kovacic, Zaharia, Pulisic, Ziyech, Broja
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Cedric, Lokonga, Elneny, Vieira, Nelson, Nketiah
A bit surprised Zinny is playing after some time out, and how good Tomi and Kieran have been, but let’s trust Arteta.
A tough away match. Will be delighted if we get three points and go top! COYR!!!
Tommy’s injured
Good point! Kieran must be a bit hacked off though.
I’ll tell you now.
Even if this fails to work out for the best, still, trust Arteta.
He knows about this more than you and I combined and works closely with all the players involved.
Mate, the obvious is never appreciated and like it’s cousin, the facts, doesn’t lend well to online debate.
Tough for kt but it looks like we’re going for the win today
KT played 90 min on Thursday. Will probably play 30 min today.
I am 38 today.Arsenal f.c please🙏
Which is why he should be playing.
I feel that sorry for Tierney now: he had a great game on Thursday. He should have been rewarded with a start today.
Maybe KT should change his name by deed pole to Nketia: then the manager would fall in love with him.
Tierney will get Brighton on Wednesday, making full use of a strong squad.
Save him for the big matches…
Coyg
I trust Arteta but seriously what else can Tierney do? Personally I think its a mistake.
I love KT but I do feel opponents use the space in behind him. The Zinch has played really well with Gabi ahead of him.
Trust in Mikel.
Very odd comment. There are far, far more ways for oppenents to exploit Zinny defensively than there are KT. It isn’t KT’s defensive capabilities that has him left out.
So what is it then?
General tactical plan.
99% of the comments on here over the last few months on the subject will tell you 😀
Personally, I think it’s the wrong decision. Zinny’s technical ability is amazing but he isn’t a defender. We have seen it in most of the games & it cost us at Old Trafford. Fingers crossed not today – COYG !
Just because Zinchenko is playing left-back, doesn’t mean he’s in the team to defend.
We lost at Old Trafford because we didn’t have TP or Elneny (to defend).
Watch their first gaol again
I warmly recommend Tim Stillman collumn about KT from few days ago. Well explained the reasons behind KT continued omission. I DO NOT THINK that MA handled it right nor it is fair to KT.
And for those around here advocating blind trust in MA, because he knows what he does, that is how dictatorships are born.
Do you think a football club is a democracy?
How do “well explained reasons behind KT continued omission” and “that is how dictatorships are born” go together?
Tierney has actually played a very decent amount of football. Sure, a lot of that were EL matches and PL substitute appearances, but a thourough explanation was provided for why that is and we’ve been getting results as well. No need for any polemics here.
No polemics, just information where to find explanations. Article from Tim itself provided very good explanation. Which I fully understand and it is only up to MA to make tactical decisions. As Tim pointed in his punchline: “When Arteta told Tierney that his omission from the Liverpool game was tactical, he wasn’t talking about Liverpool, he was talking about Arsenal.” All what I was saying is that I am not sure that it was communicated to KT in a fair and square manner. Remark about dictatorships still stands if we are not allowed to questions and discuss the decisions made.… Read more »
Dictatorships? Lol.
You talk like we all get to vote on the team selection, Arteta is the manager and picks what he believes is the best team for the match
Love zinky, he’s an exceptional football when’s he’s on song
Now I have disturbing pictures in my head of Zinchenko having a ”good time” with Alex Song. 😬🙃
I guess the extra support on midfield that Zinny and Tomi provide is the reason KT has not be starting.
It’s tactical. Zinchenko is practically an extra midfielder who’s starting position is LB. That’s why he starts ahead of Tierney. It’s unfortunate for KT, he’s been really good lately.
Don’t worry, Tierney won’t complain, he knows he has to keep competing regardless.
I’ve no doubt they are there to be beat. Weakest Chelsea team for years. We have the ability to dominate large parts of game. Need to make it count when we do. I’m going 3-1. COYG
Delighted to see Zinchenko back. He really does add an extra layer of technical quality.
A draw would be a decent result. But as they’re missing three of their back four, plus Kante, a win is there for the taking.
Jesus hat-trick, let’s hope!
COYG!!!
How Citeh cheated yesterday and the manner of their celebrations tells me they are very worried about the Arsenal.
Well the ref fell for it, can’t really blame kdb for trying his luck.
Very inclined to comment on Zinchenko starting the match given his time out and Tierney’s last performance but I’ll make a conscious decision not to and just see how it goes. For sure he must’ve gotten a full green light from the medical team and physios and must’ve showed in training that he’s ready.
Anyhow. Don’t wanna lose this one but I’m sure we’re more than capable of winning. Really important match to make a statement. COYG!
Expecting some tough challenges today, hopefully Mr Oliver don’t let this game pass through him and our back 4 + Partey keeps their attackers quiet…. especially that guy with a strange aircut 😅
We’ve beat them in the past, let’s just do it again💪
COYG!!!
I Figure Zinchenko will probably get an hour, with Tierney closing out the game.
This is our strongest 11, ( I consider Toni, Zink & KT equal to each other) and on the bench we have ready made subs should there be any injuries or Tactical changes as the game develops.
Feeling sick to my stomach for no reason. Usually not a good sign, felt the same bwfore the United game this season.
No we’ll put them to the sword today.
Let’s hope so. Probably in a bad place in my own personal life, hard to be optimistic at the moment.
COYG….
Just watch Zinchenko closely both with the ball and then off the ball as well. His passing skills, willingness to glide into midfield, calmness and technical ability is superior.
He’s been a bit rusty in the first half hour
If we are clinical enough and take our chances, we are winning.
I see Jesus ending his drought today.
Please, ensure Aubamayang does not score today. That alone, is an extra result on its own.
Good luck guys. COYGs
If partey plays the way he has been I can only see a win for us today
Well, it’s the strongest side for what I suspect will be a really tough game – possibly the toughest so far for us in the PL. We obviously need the three points thanks to Mr Haaland’s last minute penalty yesterday. We may get the win, and the Forest result will boost confidence, but I’ve a feeling that we’ll probably draw. I really hope I’m wrong though. We don’t want to be playing catch-up with City who are used to staying ahead once they have the lead in the PL – ask Liverpool.
Solid team! On current form, recent history and quality of the available first 11, we should be winning this. But the watch out is the mentality and in-game management by players and manager (substitutions!). That’s what cost us at old trafford. Let’s hope we get both right this time! #COYG.
Unknown territory, November and we can put out our strongest team! The injury gods have been kind for once!
Safe to say the last pass needs to improve. Could do with speeding it up a bit too.
Snide refereeing today
I am starting to wonder that Jesus, great player that he is, is really the answer to our striking problems.
Need to make some subs