Really struggling to see how we will deal with an in-form Arsenal given what we have seen of late against Atletico, QPR, Juve and Stoke.

That is in part because I am expecting to see a team similar to the one that started against QPR:

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

Brana------Luiz-----JT-----Cole

--------Mikel--------Lampard

----Ramires----Mata----Bertrand

-------------Torres-------

That is what I believe the side Robbie will pick, and am left expecting a 3-0 or 3-1 defeat from it.

So yeah lacking confidence for this one, how are my fellow blues feeling ahead of our first true league test of the season?

Going to this game, and to be honest not very optimistic. Arsenal have looked decent, and already have played two tough opponents away and are undefeated. That being said, we have some decent players and shouldn't play defensive. This is the team I'd pick:

Cech, Ivan, Luiz, JT, Cole, Ramires, Lamps, Moses, Mata, Hazard, Torres. Moses will give us that bit of width that we missed against Stoke. We'll get battered without the width, and playing Oscar, Hazard and Mata altogether won't work at the moment because they all want to play in the centre.

Ramires in the middle will give us that extra bit of pace and can win the ball. Lampard is always a necessity in these big games. If need be, I'd swap him with Mikel. I wouldn't have Mikel and Lamps in the middle, its way too slow and leaves us too exposed.

Resigned to defeat ...Thinking draw would be good..Not imagining winning there

Like your 11 there tremberz but do not expect Robbie to pick it.

I'd take a draw Mike, not a bad result there at all.

Hopefully Sturridge scores a hatful in midweek which means we can give this a go:

Cahill (and Ivanovic) in for height and general solidity, as well as the throw-his-body-in-front-of-anything approach which will be good against Arsenal, who tend to create a lot of chances. Ramires gives us serious pressing options in midfield, which means they won't be able to run the middle of the park as much; Mikel and Lampard, our two best passers, are the midfield two who can spray balls down the flanks for Moses (width + pace), Sturridge (pace, finishing + general trickery) and Hazard (pace + creativity) to latch onto. That also leaves us with Oscar, Mata and Torres on the bench as attacking options in the event that it all goes tits-up. Come on lads!

Cech

Ivanovic

Luiz

Terry

Cole

Mikel

Ramires

Moses

Mata

Hazard

Torres

Subs: Turnbull, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Marin, Oscar, Sturridge, Lampard.

(Last chance saloon for Fernando as Sturridge should be returning from injury)

Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea.

Whilst I do think Arsenal have been solid this year, I still think we can nick all three points. Both goals from Hazard.

Hopefully Sturridge scores a hatful in midweek which means we can give this a go:

Cahill (and Ivanovic) in for height and general solidity, as well as the throw-his-body-in-front-of-anything approach which will be good against Arsenal, who tend to create a lot of chances. Ramires gives us serious pressing options in midfield, which means they won't be able to run the middle of the park as much; Mikel and Lampard, our two best passers, are the midfield two who can spray balls down the flanks for Moses (width + pace), Sturridge (pace, finishing + general trickery) and Hazard (pace + creativity) to latch onto. That also leaves us with Oscar, Mata and Torres on the bench as attacking options in the event that it all goes tits-up. Come on lads!

Lets all be grateful that your not picking the team...

It's not all that different from yours mate, other than the Mikel-Lampard diad, but then I compensate for that lack of pace with Ramires in the middle.

The way you've put it is Ramires behind the forward? Would not work at all. And where's Mata? Why would you not include him?

I imagine it would function a lot like a 4-3-3 really, except with two dedicated holders. Only had three attacking spots left, and two of those had to go to the striker and Moses for a general powerful and natural wide presence. On current form Hazard beats out Mata for the last one. There's no point trying to play Arsenal at their own game at this point in the season, we're just not as good as it as they are.

Think there might be a possibility RDM goes to a 4-3-3 to makes us a bit more solid...

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

Ivan----Luiz-------Terry----Cole

--------------Mikel--------------

-----Ramires----Lampard-----

Hazard----------------------Mata

------------Torres----------------

But then again maybe not as I can't recall him playing anything other than the 4-2-3-1!

Can't believe the negativity on here. Arsenal are NOT that great. They are doing better than a lot predicted this season and I expect them to finish top 4 but we have better players than them and there aren't too many of their squad I would want.

I really hope we don't set up not to lose and worry about their danger players too much. Let them worry about Mata, Oscar and Hazard (and whoever plays out of Torres, Sturridge and Moses). Let's hope RDM doesn't revert to the Lamps/Mikel midfield as that will play right into Wengers hands.

We can win this but we have to go in positive and not sit back and let them play their game.

Not frightened at all. I have a real belief we can go there and out football them, They are Le Arse, ergo, they are always fragile.

Ramires instead of Lamps and Cahill over Luiz should be our Plan A.

Drogba on the bench would be a great Plan B.

Would like ramires in the middle and Moses in the team . Got a bad feeling though Robbie will revert to type A and Lamps , rammy and bertrand will be their usual square pegs in round holes.

Hope i'm wrong though

Edited September 23, 201213 yr by Adzio

Can't believe the negativity on here. Arsenal are NOT that great. They are doing better than a lot predicted this season and I expect them to finish top 4 but we have better players than them and there aren't too many of their squad I would want.

I really hope we don't set up not to lose and worry about their danger players too much. Let them worry about Mata, Oscar and Hazard (and whoever plays out of Torres, Sturridge and Moses). Let's hope RDM doesn't revert to the Lamps/Mikel midfield as that will play right into Wengers hands.

We can win this but we have to go in positive and not sit back and let them play their game.

My thoughts exactly. If the lads go into the game with a strong mentality then I'm not worried. We should be looking for a win rather than trying not to lose. I just hope we don't see an extremely defensive starting eleven.

Surprisingly, I am not that worried for this game like I was for Juventus. Every team is beatable in the Prem this year (including us) it is just a matter of this team continuing to grow and mature in many aspects and for the defence to find their way. With our attacking trifecta all having at least one gem of a game this year, we know one of them will step up on Saturday as well. How we go about the game is a different matter, if we want to counter attack or press for an attack like we have all year. Either way it will be entertaining and my guess is that there will be goals, lets just hope we put more in then they do.

Worried about this, its at their ground we don't look too good, they'll be buzzing after that late draw against City. I think we'll lose but I really hope we go there and give them a game cause I even think today had City gone at them at pace they'd have done them.

Can't believe the negativity on here. Arsenal are NOT that great. They are doing better than a lot predicted this season and I expect them to finish top 4 but we have better players than them and there aren't too many of their squad I would want.

I really hope we don't set up not to lose and worry about their danger players too much. Let them worry about Mata, Oscar and Hazard (and whoever plays out of Torres, Sturridge and Moses). Let's hope RDM doesn't revert to the Lamps/Mikel midfield as that will play right into Wengers hands.

We can win this but we have to go in positive and not sit back and let them play their game.

Yeah but when do we go in positive? half the time we start off asleep and to be fair our record against Arsenal is pretty crap. The last two times we've played them we've got spanked.

We are a different team this year and have more pace and creativity in the midfield than last season. I expect to see a very open game and perhaps a goal feast with hopefully us coming out on top, they have no RVP this year and have been struggling to score save and except the Southampton game where the saints basically collapsed and were awful defensively.....either 2-3 or 3-4 to us...

watching them play city they are fast paced but without RV Pussy they have little threat up front, Chelsea just have to be tight at the back and a lot

of counter attacking opportunities should arise, pity we don't have any in form striker(s) to capitalize,

City - Aguero, Tevez, Djeko, Ballotelli

United - RVP ,Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez

CFC - Torres , Danny (not really because injured or not he wont get the nod RDM would never dare to drop FT)

When we won the double Drog was the golden boot, dont buy into RDMs flimsy statement at the post game presser that other players will step up and score, no in form strikers (plural) means no title.

Back to this match, would like to see Moses start but that means losing 1 of Mata, Hazard or Oscar that's a pretty nice problem for RDM to have I suppose.

Hope Torres proves me wrong and is a match winner at Emirates. Reckon a draw like last year it will be.

We are a different team this year and have more pace and creativity in the midfield than last season. I expect to see a very open game and perhaps a goal feast with hopefully us coming out on top, they have no RVP this year and have been struggling to score save and except the Southampton game where the saints basically collapsed and were awful defensively.....either 2-3 or 3-4 to us...

Really hope you're right, but I worry its always power that beats Arsenal and we don't have the big Drog up top.

Worried about them as they bossed City at the Etihad today. I think if RDM plays his favoured lineup (Lamps-Mikel holding, Ramires and Bertrand as defensive wingers) we'll lose. We have enough quality in the team to go out and force teams to play our way and impose ourselves rather than having to be reactive. Arsenal will be more open than Stoke so I'd see if the Oscar-Mata-Hazard trio works for at least the first half.

Arse are a good side this year, the showed that with draw against City. However we are also a good side.

ivan cahill luiz cole

ramires mikel

moses/sturridge mata hazard

torres

Possibly could pick Oscar instead of Mata.

I think Moses deserves the start but in any event we clearly need some width and power. Probably go for Moses coz he wiil track back.

I actually wouldnt mind if we went for ramires lampard at double pivot.

I don't really think a double pivot suits the team but clearly that's the way we are going to play. Its bad for attack but seems to be working quite well defensively as with the same back four as last year we are conceding a lot less goals.

definitely worried about this one...arse destroyed us at the bridge last season when we were trying to play open football and could take advantage again...suspect robbie might play it in similar cautious way that got us a 0-0 in April...will take a point at this stage