Surprised this isn't up yet!

We need to re-establish some momentum after QPR and make up for lost ground. According to AVB, Ramires should be back for this. Drogba is out of course but Torres is finally back. Arsenal are missing Gibbs and Jenkinson to injury and Vermaelen returned for their CC tie who may or may not be ready for this.

----------- Cech ------------

Bosi - Ivan - Terry - Cole

----------- Romeu ----------

--- Ramires - Mireless ---

Sturridge - Torres - Mata

Mikel was unimpressive against Everton and I'd really go for Romeu over him. Mikel also had to play both games this week with men down, meaning more work and exhaustion might be setting in. Lampard has been great but same logic applies. I'd bring him off the bench. I'd personally want Ivan at RB to see how he does again with more offensive instructions, but I don't think AVB will do it with Bosi available.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by Castiel

finally the arsenal thread. feeling confident about this one

2-0. Torres and Ramires

Yay Ramires and Nando! Feeling happier already

I too would go Ivanovic over Bosingwa, every time in fact, but you're right, AVB won't.

I am a hundred percent sure AVB would go with Ivan. I absolutely know this for certain.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by rahul

Bosingwa is not suspended. He was for the Everton-match but is back now.

I guess AVB has not choice but to go with Ivan as Bossy is suspended?

I may be wrong but I think his suspension was just for the Everton game because it wasn't serious foul play?

My prediction for this one is 2-2

2-1 Chelsea.

I don't want to see that liability Bosingwa for the rest of the season. Ivan's the man, you see that shot at goal he had against Everton in the Carling Cup? He's better defensively anyway.

All Arsenal have is RVP. That's one quality player up front.

We have three.

KTBFFH

It'l probably be

Cech

Bosingwa

Ivanovic

Terry

A Cole

Meireless

Ramires

Lampard

Mata

Torres

Sturridge

Can't believe I'm going to miss this game - bloody weddings!!

Vicar "does anyone know of any unlawful reason why this man and this woman should not be married in holy matrimony"

Me "Yes, I'm missing a bloody important football match as a result of this. Does anyone know the score?"

Groom "I do"

Me " You are now husband and wife - see ya!" Woooosh off to the nearest TV set.

Nervous about this one. Arsenal have picked up form now, mainly due to RVP.

Cech

Bos-Ivan-JT-Cole

Meireles

Ramires-Lampard

Mata-Torres-Sturridge

I am nervous but tbh, they have picked up but if you watch highlights of them they are still very vunerable at the back and dont dominate games. We should win this, and Alex, I'd use the same line up as you.

Hopefully we can stop RVP scoring because he has scored in like 28 consecutive games.

Finally a proper derby, none of this QPR rubbish. In a way I'm so confident I'm unconfident. We should win this, but it would be typical of Chelsea to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I've expressed by concerns at the right side of our defence (mainly Bosingwa) for a few months now but it seems same old, same old. Hopefully AVB has seen Ivanovic is better at RB and it should really be JT and Alex/Luiz in that defence.

Now I admit Luiz is a bit rash, but the only way he is going to learn and improve is by playing games. We took that chance with Sturridge, and now that feels like a new signing. Torres was given time so IMO so should Luiz. 6 months ago many CFC fans were ready to declare him as the next best thing after sliced bread and now all of a sudden he shouldn't be playing because of a few defensive errors.

Key will be stopping Arsenal's front 3. Yes RVP is their top player, but Gervinho and Walcott will provide the service. I still think they are threatening in other areas of the pitch. Hope Ramires is back cos that will be key. We can cope without the steel and might of Essien in midfield (just about) but without Ramires (as Sunday showed in the first half) we do look incredibly soft at times.

Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Mata, Sturridge, Torres would be my team.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by Myles_91

Can't see Luiz starting, after he played the whole QPR and Everton games. It'll be Bosingwa at RB, with Terry and probably Ivan at CB.

Got a good feeling about the game, i think we're just too strong for Arse... 2-0

Torres & Studge to score.

Alan

Can't believe I'm going to miss this game - bloody weddings!!

Didn't you miss the last game at the bridge against a club (I use the term loosely) from north London due to wedding, Spuds last season? I was there to enjoy it though,

Well I'm going Saturday, so maybe a lucky omen?

If we win, you should hand me your season ticket and crash weddings every weekend

All for the good of the club of course.

I think it will be

-------Cech--------

Bos - JT - Alex - Cole

------Ramires-------

--Mireles -- Lampard

Studge - Torres - Mata

Romeu has looked a very good player though, and this game would suit him

wonder if AVB is willing to call him up

Hoping we go with

Cech

Bosingwa

JT

Ivanovic

Cole

Ramires

Meireles

Lampard

Sturridge

Mata

Torres

I'd consider playing Alex at CB if he's fit, with Ivan at RB. I know Alex has been a bit slow//clumsy since he's come back from injury, but I think he's got enough still to deal with Arsenal. Plus we might get to see another 30 yard freekick goal against them.

They are a better team now than the team a month ago. RVP has been doing quite well lately. Their defence is still suspect in defending high balls, but we don't have Drogba for this one, and doubt Lukaku is ready. I hope we have Ramires for this one, his run out of our half will be vital in starting quick counter attack. Arsenal doesn't know how to play the other way, we will have plenty of chances to counter. In recent memories, the rare occasions we lost because we couldn't score from counter attack opportunities. Having the likes of Mata, Sturridge, Torres gives me plenty of confidence we can hit them on the counter. We haven't played any top teams yet, it's vital we win this one heading towards those difficult matches.

They are certainly better than a month ago and are quite fast going forward. However they have looked dodgy in defence (mind you we too have conceded lots of goals).

Question is how fit Ramires and Mata really are. I hope Ramires is fully recovered but since we don't actually know what the problem was its hard to say how well he really is.

Assuming Mata and Ramires do play, then I'd be inclined to Lampard and Mereiles as the other two midfielders. Mereiles isn't quite as confident on the ball as either Mikel or Romeu but he is faster than either and gives the team that extra bit of fluidity and pace.

Ivan will almost certainly get the nod over Luiz.

We will rarely meet an Arsenal as soft as this one but over confidence and thinking we just have to turn up has been the undoing of so many sporting teams. Also we need to start well.

This should be quite a fast game with a lot of couner attacking.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by ozboy

4:45am kick off on the west coast here. The main question is to either stay awake or go to bed before hand.

Either way I think we will see bossie back, Ivan and it in the middle.

Ampere will play, for sure, and maybe Mereiles and mikel, or Ramires and Mikel in the middle too.

Up front we have to have Sturridge, Mata and Torres.

.............cech

Jose...Ivan..Terry...Cole

..............Mereiles

......Ramires.....Lampard

Sturridge.................Mata

...............Torres

4:45am kick off on the west coast here. The main question is to either stay awake or go to bed before hand.

Either way I think we will see bossie back, Ivan and it in the middle.

Ampere will play, for sure, and maybe Mereiles and mikel, or Ramires and Mikel in the middle too.

Up front we have to have Sturridge, Mata and Torres.

.............cech

Jose...Ivan..Terry...Cole

..............Mereiles

......Ramires.....Lampard

Sturridge.................Mata

...............Torres

Hate when it's so damn early. I always say I'll sleep through and dvr it but end up sleeping like crap. 4:45 am good times. Are we going to have to listen to that bald-headed annoying Tommy Smyth on ESPN on the pre-game/half-time talk? At least the announcers, Darke and Macca, I can tolerate. Macca's not half bad for a scouser.

Hate when it's so damn early. I always say I'll sleep through and dvr it but end up sleeping like crap. 4:45 am good times. Are we going to have to listen to that bald-headed annoying Tommy Smyth on ESPN on the pre-game/half-time talk? At least the announcers, Darke and Macca, I can tolerate. Macca's not half bad for a scouser.

I agree about Macca, and I've always enjoyed Darke. Tommy Smyth is a douche though.

Slightly off the topic of the game: Listening to Darke on ESPN for the WC games was a major plus. The major negative was the drop-off when it wasn't Darke calling games. Always amazed at how big ESPN is, how much sh*t talent they have for football in the US. Lalas is a moron. Smyth is even worse. At least the managers they had in during the WC as guests weren't too bad - Klinsi, Roberto Martinez, Ruud.

Back to Chelsea v Arsenal - 3 pts pls.