1 hour ago, chi blue said:

Funny when I watch us on TV it's a lot more nerve wrecking, at a game the atmosphere and beer keep you calmer, I will make sure I've have taken my calming liquid! before I walk into the bridge later.

I feel that too! On tv, the opponent looks much more threatening, when in the stadium you see we're in control. Well, sometimes anyway 

Enjoy the day 

I can't wait to see Sarri stood on the Stamford Bridge touchline, to have a top six team first up, puts an edge on his opening home game.

When we win the ball in our own half, and Sarri starts waving and shouting "up up up", the players should initiate plan A, so many times last season we have looked slow in our build up, dithering on the ball, taking too long to find the next pass, not being direct enough, as soon as he shouts "up", i expect to see a reaction from the players, it's at this point the opposition are most open, all it takes is a well drilled and talented midfield/attack to pick their way up through them and advance up the pitch, but it must be instant, direct and rapid.

I am really excited to see this pan out.

 

 

10 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

How are the gooners delusional? Everytime I’ve spoken to Arsenal fans they’re always pessimistic. I’d say they’re the most gloomy fans in the league, West Ham though, that’s a whole different kettle of fish.

With Gooners, there' a lot of unrealistic "delusional" expectation that usually begins one or two days before matchday, which lasts only until kickoff, and then there's the usual doom and gloom for the rest of the week, cussing their players, manager and owners for the team's sh*tshow on matchday.

That's how most Gooners who I know are like anyway. 

 

 

I am predicting 3-1.

For: Morata, Hazard, Pedro/Willian/defender (3)

Against: streaky goal from a set piece (1)

I don't think they have that player we are going to be scared off, sure they have some good players, but which team hasn't. If we build on last week's performance, and Hazard to start, pretty confident we will beat them by 2 goals. They will sit deep and rely on the speed in their strikers, pretty sure Lazacette will start too. We got problems in defence and goal scoring, but I reckon we have bigger ones. We never dominated the midfield against them last season, which was why we failed to beat them once in 5 games ( amazing!), This time around I'm pretty sure it will be different.

Match Day ! Come on Chelsea !

I hope Maurizio gets a warm reception from the stands and  we get a win today.

 

My prediction is 4-0 Chelsea, two goals Hazard, one Willian and one Rudiger ( imagine if this comes true and i didn't put 10 quid on it  ).

If we play like we did in the first half against them in pre-season and they play like they did against City this game will be very fun to watch and we should score a few or at least create a load of chances.

I'd go something like 4-1 to us.

They are trying to play similarly to the way Sarri has us playing, in that they passing out from the back and defending with a high line but imo their players don't seem to as suited to the style of play and some of them just aren't of the same quality. 

Pappadopolus, Liechsteiner and Mustafi make our back four look like speed demons and I can see them having a rough day whilst struggling to track our forward runs also Bellerin has looked off for at least a season and the run around CHO gave him in pre-season and the gaping holes he was leaving against City makes me wonder what Hazard will do to him. 

Ramsey is probably a little better than Barkley although I think Barkley really suits the role he is playing and Torreira and Guendouzi are poundland equivalents to Kante and Jorginho.

Ozil and Mkhitaryan whilst talented aren't really wide players and won't cause that same fear to the full backs that Hazard, Willian and even Pedro might and shouldn't stop them bombing forward. And Aubemeyang whilst currently better than Morata doen't seem to have the same level of link up play which if they are struggling might isolate him.

I think Lacazette changed the flow of the game against City and made them a lot better so here's hoping he doesn't start as the 4-1-2-3 with Ozil in the middle looked very threatening although very open on the counter.   

Arsenal finally have some confidence going into games against us, thanks to Conte's awful record against Wenger. It won't be suddenly back to beating them easily.

2 hours ago, coco said:

I can't wait to see Sarri stood on the Stamford Bridge touchline, to have a top six team first up, puts an edge on his opening home game.

When we win the ball in our own half, and Sarri starts waving and shouting "up up up", the players should initiate plan A, so many times last season we have looked slow in our build up, dithering on the ball, taking too long to find the next pass, not being direct enough, as soon as he shouts "up", i expect to see a reaction from the players, it's at this point the opposition are most open, all it takes is a well drilled and talented midfield/attack to pick their way up through them and advance up the pitch, but it must be instant, direct and rapid.

I am really excited to see this pan out.

You're teasing us, Coco, with your football porn 

If Eden and Willian both start, it'll be X rated footy porn. 

41 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Arsenal finally have some confidence going into games against us, thanks to Conte's awful record against Wenger. It won't be suddenly back to beating them easily.

That and our defence not quite gelled, 3-3 for me.

9 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

That and our defence not quite gelled, 3-3 for me.

Not a dig at you, that was an unexpected prediction. I am not sure Arsenal have enough in midfield imo, but I do think there will be a few goals today. Come on boys.

6 hours ago, erskblue said:

It is now, at last.

Come on Chelsea.

Just beat this lot.

Thank Christ this week felt like it was never ending. Looking forward to Zola’s reception to be completely honest!

I think that a surprise start from Hudson Odoi could throw Arsenal's original game plan out of the window. He tore them a new one in pre-season against a much faster right back than what he will face today (Bellerin vs Lichtsteiner). 

I fully expect two of Willian, Pedro and Hazard to start, and I completely understand why Sarri would do that. But I think that the tactical nuances from a mental and physical standpoint is key to tight games like these, and Hudson Odoi is not only faster than those three, he has also gotten the better of that team only weeks ago. Arsenal won't have prepared for him, and with how litte senior video footage there is on Hudson Odoi, they won't be able to do it in the hour before kick off.

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by opinionsarelike

6 hours ago, chi blue said:

Funny when I watch us on TV it's a lot more nerve wrecking, at a game the atmosphere and beer keep you calmer, I will make sure I've have taken my calming liquid! before I walk into the bridge later.

 

Totally agree about watching on TV ... I even get nervous watching re-runs of old victories on Chelsea TV!

Chelsea to win with Morata putting 1 or 2 away...that would make my day [emoji4][emoji4]

Let's not underestimate Arsenal today. They deserved to lose against Man City, but they still played a decent game. Our centrebacks have to be safer today than they were against Huddersfield, especially if Aubameyang & Lacazette starts upfront. I do still believe we will take the three points home and goes with a 2-1 win for The Blues! Hazard and Morata!

Disappointed to see Hazard not start

No changes from last week - Hazard on the bench...

hazard starting on the bench. Not as confident now with getting the 3 points. I think it will be tight. 

Seriously Eden on the bench!!! Either he's not match fit or there keeping him in cotton wool before a move to RM ffs!!!

Kovacic on the bench instead of RLC ... Schalke licking their lips LOL

Why are people disappointed to see hazard not Start remember he had a full summer, he needs to get eased back into the team. You don't want him to get injured and be out for 3 months ala KDB. The fact we have him off the bench will frighten the life out of arsenal tired defender's seeing Hazard coming on at 70 minutes