Unsurprisingly the previews I have seen involving Arsenal fans has them saying things along the lines of "Bayern are a top side as they slapped you up, Barca are trash your win means nothing", "only second and on a winning run as you are playing scrubs" , and the like plus the usual rice over caicedo stuff.

Should would be nice to get one over them...

Think we need a midfield 3 here with Santos Enzo and Caicedo. Start Delap and bring Pedro off the bench

13 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

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

If we are talking the players as they are right now, not on potential, I'd say this is fair:

Raya

Timber

Gabriel

Saliba

Calafiori

Caicedo

Rice

Saka

Palmer

Eze

Gyokeres

Only ones I debated were:

Raya or sanchez: Am not there yet with Bob, still expecting the other shoe to drop. This season though they are very close in levels .

James or Timber: very close but, as of right now, Timber gas been in top form. These certainly a case to be made for Reece.

Cucurella or calafiori: tosS of a coin on this, would go with the Italian purely for his height.

That's it as the rest seem obvious picks.

Cucurella v Califori is a ‘toss of a coin’.

Sure.

Along with Nuno Mendes they are arguably the best 3 left backs in the world.

Just my opinion.

If Wednesday night was a "coming of age" for Chelsea, this game is should be considered a "season-defining" one.

We cant lose this one. up da chels....

Cucurella has kept the best players in his pocket for the last couple of seasons, including Lamin Yamal or Saka, what on earth are people thinking when they put Calafiori at the same level? It's not surprising though, Cucurella is one of the most underrated player there is.

Cucurella has been very impressive for the past two years or so considering he's not particularly athletic or good at football. Speaks volumes about his attitude.

43 minutes ago, RMH said:

Cucurella has kept the best players in his pocket for the last couple of seasons, including Lamin Yamal or Saka, what on earth are people thinking when they put Calafiori at the same level? It's not surprising though, Cucurella is one of the most underrated player there is.

Is not an insult on Cucu from me. Like I said above I'd put him, nuno Mendes and Calafiori as the best 3 left backs in the world.

I’m just confused as to what Calafiori’s actually done to warrant being in that conversation, considering he’s spent half the time injured and hasn’t looked better than Lewis-Skelly

It seems a long time since we bra6them at home, be good to get a win on Sunday.

A draw wouldn't be too shabby I don't think, but hopefully a win. 3-2 to the BLUES !!

Delap worries me a bit, I always get the feeling there's a red card in him., he needs to watch himself against Arsenal, plus with Taylor refereeing you never what crock of sh*t decisions he's going to make.

Come on you BLUES !!!

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

It seems a long time since we bra6them at home, be good to get a win on Sunday.

A draw wouldn't be too shabby I don't think, but hopefully a win. 3-2 to the BLUES !!

Delap worries me a bit, I always get the feeling there's a red card in him., he needs to watch himself against Arsenal, plus with Taylor refereeing you never what crock of sh*t decisions he's going to make.

Come on you BLUES !!!

7 years. Last time was with Sarri, a 3-2 win in 2018.

In all competitions we have 1 win out of 11 vs them.

Almost as bad as our Old Trafford record.

Edited November 28, 2025Nov 28 by axman2526

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

7 years. Last time was with Sarri, a 3-2 win in 2018.

In all competitions we have 1 win out of 11 vs them.

Almost as bad as our Old Trafford record.

I hadn't realised it was as bad as that !

Really hope Didier and Eden are fit for this one!

I hope we beat them on Sunday so I can wind up my brother-in-law. I'll settle for a scrappy 1-0 win but a drubbing of them would be lovely. Just to see Arteta suffer. Another objective is for me to smuggle in a hip flask of single malt whisky into the ground. Just in case it's a bit nippy. Need to decide which whisky.

6 minutes ago, Boyne said:

I hope we beat them on Sunday so I can wind up my brother-in-law. I'll settle for a scrappy 1-0 win but a drubbing of them would be lovely. Just to see Arteta suffer. Another objective is for me to smuggle in a hip flask of single malt whisky into the ground. Just in case it's a bit nippy. Need to decide which whisky.

I hope so too but I don't see a scenario where it happens. They are disgustingly similar to Jose's first title winning side. Strong, physical, athletic and focused.

I really feel we see one of two games. Either we don't show our best and Arsenal win or we do deliver our best and the game is a draw.

Ýou know I really would like to see Estevao go to the left and take on Timber while Cole goes to the right and gives Calafiori something to think about the other side.

leave Cucu and James to get midfield support from Santos and Caicedo, and Enzo in the 10.

That's our best chance imo.

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

7 years. Last time was with Sarri, a 3-2 win in 2018.

In all competitions we have 1 win out of 11 vs them.

Almost as bad as our Old Trafford record.

Yeah... it's almost like us and Spurs except we're on the receiving end !

Like to see really go for it and attack, attack and attack...

He who dares wins and all that 😁

Sanchez.

James. Fofana. Trev. Cucu.

Santos. Caicedo.

Estevao. Enzo. Garnacho.

J Pedro.

That would be my starting line up assuming Palmer isn’t 100%. If he does start he starts at 10, Santos drops to the bench and Enzo goes into a deeper role.

Estevao needs to start.

I’m

1 hour ago, 19seventyone said:

Sanchez.

James. Fofana. Trev. Cucu.

Santos. Caicedo.

Estevao. Enzo. Garnacho.

J Pedro.

That would be my starting line up assuming Palmer isn’t 100%. If he does start he starts at 10, Santos drops to the bench and Enzo goes into a deeper role.

Estevao needs to start.

Against Zubimendi & Rice, what could go wrong? Assuming Palmer is fit (which he isn’t), he will be shafted to the RW with Enzo in “10” since he can’t be dropped, with James in the middle of the park.

I expect it to Neto at RW, Enzo at “10” and James in the middle (prefer Santos in the middle with James at RB).

Bit of good news ahead of the game.

BBC Sport

Cole Palmer injury update: Chelsea forward fit for Premie...

Cole Palmer is available to play for Chelsea against London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

For the sake of the league this game is a must win.

A draw maintains Le Arse’s lead, we have to win to keep the competition competitive and not allow Stoke v2 to win the title. Absolute degeneration of football if it happens.

13 hours ago, Bebe1980 said:

Yeah... it's almost like us and Spurs except we're on the receiving end !

13 hours ago, Bebe1980 said:

Like to see really go for it and attack, attack and attack...

He who dares wins and all that 😁

To Dare is to Do!....

Important (crucial) match where we will have to prove that we are a definitively mature team, above all after the great match against Barcelona...and I am very confident.

IMHO Premier must remain our main focus.

Let's go Chels! 💙