Just pick the same 11 from Barcelona game. let them build momentum.

I think momentum is key so we should play the same team. Maybe drop Neto for Delap but I'd definitely start Estavao. The defence should stay the same. I'm hoping Maresca got his rotation plans out of the way in the Burnley game.

Let's see how Arsenal do tonight but we can't sit back and invite them on. The crowd wouldn't like it and the atmosphere would change. We need to keep playing with intensity and speed.

Arsenal have made just 2 changes for their game tonight against Bayern.

On 24/11/2025 at 18:01, Mod said:

Ref: Anthony Taylor

FFS

A duel between the two best midfielders in Europe atm. Rice has been absolutely fantastic against Bayern tonight. Has completely ran the show in the 2nd half. He is a fantastic player. But we have our own super human in Caicedo. What a match up that is.

They really are a machine right now.

Bayern are a damn good side and they have them beaten well.

Remind me of a Jose side and it is sickening.

14 minutes ago, just said:

A duel between the two best midfielders in Europe atm. Rice has been absolutely fantastic against Bayern tonight. Has completely ran the show in the 2nd half. He is a fantastic player. But we have our own super human in Caicedo. What a match up that is.

Different types of DM's those two, can't say which one is better.

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Different types of DM's those two, can't say which one is better.

Don't completely agree with that Scott. Both can totally dominate a game with their physicality and athleticism. Both have great stamina and can cover the whole pitch. Both are world class in their timing and strength in the tackle.

On a seperate note, the long running arguments on here a couple of years ago about who had the higher ceiling, Rice or Jorginho seem even more comical now. The case is closed. Jorginho, never, at any point in his career, had a higher ceiling than Rice because he never had the range of God given physical attributes that Rice has. The pace, the power, the stamina, the physicality, the aerial ability. Rice trumps him on everything.

28 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Bayern are a damn good side and they have them beaten well.

A damn good side? They were. Not sure they are right now. A goal keeper past his best. Two of their best players out injured. Nicolas "Did I I touch the ball?" Jackson coming on up front.

Barcelona must also be a damn good side.

German league is a 1, maybe 2 team league at best. They can essentially walk most of their league games. They might have had 4 wins in CL, but they couldn't pass or control the ball in what I watched. They looked nowhere near old levels.

18 minutes ago, just said:

A damn good side? They were. Not sure they are right now. A goal keeper past his best. Two of their best players out injured. Nicolas "Did I I touch the ball?" Jackson coming on up front.

Barcelona must also be a damn good side.

11 minutes ago, Zeta said:

German league is a 1, maybe 2 team league at best. They can essentially walk most of their league games. They might have had 4 wins in CL, but they couldn't pass or control the ball in what I watched. They looked nowhere near old levels.

So far this season they are the best side we have played, imo. Only one I feel outclassed us and beat us because of that, not because we shot ourselves in the foot.

Though admittedly we gave them 2 goals on a silver plate.

We will see on Sunday though. If Arsenal have become who they are touted to be, and who I believe they are, then they will be the best side we have faced this season.

so Madueke starts on Sunday

I am wondering how many of us would take a draw right now rather than risk a loss to this mob?

Much as I think we will lose on Sunday I would not take a draw now as any small chance of them not winning the league takes a massive blow if we do not beat them.

That and beating them for the first time in what seems like ages would be beautiful.

I may regret that view point on Sunday evening and be wishing for The draw i turned aside the idea of but we will see.

Anyone On here that would take a draw right now? And if so why?

10 hours ago, Zeta said:

Just pick the same 11 from Barcelona game. let them build momentum.

You just know that Tinkerman 2 won’t do that, plus Arsenal are a far better team than Barca ATM.

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I am wondering how many of us would take a draw right now rather than risk a loss to this mob?

Much as I think we will lose on Sunday I would not take a draw now as any small chance of them not winning the league takes a massive blow if we do not beat them.

That and beating them for the first time in what seems like ages would be beautiful.

I may regret that view point on Sunday evening and be wishing for The draw i turned aside the idea of but we will see.

Anyone On here that would take a draw right now? And if so why?

If we were playing away, I would take a draw.

They are so formidable. I remember thinking City would dominate for 10 years and then Liverpool. Now its Arsenal. I just hope they drop off next seaaon.

That being said let's try and go for this win. Neto has to play as we need pace.

7 hours ago, mojo said:

so Madueke starts on Sunday

Interesting to listen to his pitch side interview comments after the Bayern game last night. Straight in with some digs at Maresca's man management.

"I'm a confident player. I don't like to be told I can't do something. It's down to my team mates and the staff believing in me".

Edited November 27, 2025Nov 27 by just

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I am wondering how many of us would take a draw right now rather than risk a loss to this mob?

Much as I think we will lose on Sunday I would not take a draw now as any small chance of them not winning the league takes a massive blow if we do not beat them.

That and beating them for the first time in what seems like ages would be beautiful.

I may regret that view point on Sunday evening and be wishing for The draw i turned aside the idea of but we will see.

Anyone On here that would take a draw right now? And if so why?

I have already said earlier in the thread that IF we have a fully fit squad to choose from (barring Colwill and Lavia) and Palmer was starting, I think we could beat them. But if not, then I would take a draw right now (3-3 rather than 0-0 to dent that defensive record!).

Would love to beat them, but even if we do, realistically, it is only us and Man City who can possibly pip them for the title and City are too up & down, so we would need Arsenal to have a big drop off and for us to be consistent and regrettably, I don't see either happening. But it would be great to beat the Champions elect - blow them away like we did PSG and Barca!

As for line-up, I can understand those saying keep the same 11, but I'd prefer James at full-back in place of Gusto with Santos starting and Palmer in (if fit) and possibly a proper striker. Don't care as long as we play well and give 100%.

We're pretty bad defending set pieces, so I can see us conceding several from them. Probably be a routine 0-3 for them.

That being said, I don't see why teams struggle so much with Arsenal's back post routine. Maybe I've under-thinking it, but they have multiple players standing far back at the far post, who then run into the centre for a fast, whipped ball right into the 6 yard box. Bayern tried zonal marking, but that'll never work very well, because you jump from a standing start instead of running and you'll lose that challenge most of the time. So, why not just block them and let the keeper catch the 6 yard box ball?

Here’s the thing, the 3 best players on the pitch will all be in Blue (RJ, Caicedo & Stevie) which should be an advantage.

However, Arsenal are even more depressingly boring than us and I can see them nicking an 80th minute corner (inevitable really)

If both teams come to play football, we win. If both teams revert to type, Arsenal win.

Let's not wear blue-tinted glasses and ignore reality. In a top 3 players on the pitch, Rice will definitely be there. James at RB might be up there, James at CM won't be.

11 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Let's not wear blue-tinted glasses and ignore reality. In a top 3 players on the pitch, Rice will definitely be there. James at RB might be up there, James at CM won't be.

Reece James is the best RB in the world.

Caicedo is the best CM in the PL (at the very least)

Stevie, is probably the most exciting player in world football.

Rice definitely gets in an XI alongside Caicedo but never ahead of him.

29 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Reece James is the best RB in the world.

Before his injury problems, yes. Now? He's not at the same levels. And he won't play RB, he'll play CM like he does in the bigger games, where he is often exposed.

Caicedo is the best CM in the PL (at the very least)

Top 1 or 2, yes.

Stevie, is probably the most exciting player in world football.

Most exciting young player, yeah.

Rice definitely gets in an XI alongside Caicedo but never ahead of him.

Rice right now is top 1-2 CM with Caicedo. You can make arguments for either of them being above the other.

If you think Rice isn't in the top 3 players out of 22 between the 2 sides, you're letting your Chelsea bias affect your opinion.

With my blue-tinted specs off, it's pretty clear that this is the best combined XI:

Raya

James
Saliba
Gabriel
Calafiori

Caicedo
Rice
Ødegaard

Saka
Palmer

Jackson

Sanchez

James Fofana Chalobah Cucurella

Caicedo Enzo

Neto J.Pedro Garnacho

Delap

I'd be concerned about Caicedo only having Enzo to support him vs a trio of Rice, Zubermendi and Odegaard/Eze.

Joao Pedro has been off it for some time.