Arsenal FC host Chelsea FC in the 4th round League Cup clash at the Emirates, in what promises to be another exciting London derby.
Arsenal have made a flying start to the
season and currently lead the Premier League table, with a two points
advantage over Chelsea. The Gunners have lost just once in their last 14
fixtures in all competitions and are now being considered as serious
title challengers this season. The League Cup still remains one of their
best possibilities to win silverware and end the long drought; it is
one trophy that has eluded Arsene Wenger during his long stint at the
club.
Arsenal are coming into this match on
the back of a 2-0 victory over Norwich as Olivier Giroud and Mikel
Arteta got on the score sheet. In their last League Cup fixture Arsenal
travelled to face West Bromwich Albion and ended up winning the game on
penalties. The game ended 1-1 in fulltime with Saido Berahino cancelling
out Thomas Eisfeld’s opener.
Chelsea are currently second in the
points table and are currently in eye-catching form. They have recovered
well from the three consecutive defeats they suffered since their loss
to Bayern Munich in the Super Cup. They are currently on a five match
winning streak and are undefeated in their last eight matches.
The Blues are coming into this game on
the back of a big win against Manchester City. It was perhaps their most
important game of the season so far and Jose Mourinho’s men showed
enough determination to grab a crucial victory. In their last League Cup
match they got a comfortable win over Swindon Town as Fernando Torres
and Ramires scored for the away side.
Interestingly Chelsea have had the upper
hand over Arsenal in recent meetings between these two sides. Arsenal’s
last win over Chelsea came in 2011 when Robin van Persie scored a
wonderful hat-trick at Stamford Bridge. The last meeting between Arsenal
and Chelsea in a knockout tournament came in the 2009 FA Cup fixture
when Didier Drogba scored a memorable late winner.
Arsenal FC – Team News, Lineup And Formation
Arsene Wenger has a host of injury
concerns ahead of this fixture as he has had for most of the season so
far. Yaya Sanogo, Abou Diaby, Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott and Alex
Oxlade Chamberlain are all out of contention for this game, while
Mathieu Flamini, who was substituted in the opening ten minutes of the
game against Norwich with a groin injury, is the latest addition to that
list. The Frenchman is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks. Mikel Arteta,
who was shown a red card in the last match, will also serve his
suspension in this game.
Arsene Wenger is expected to make as
many as nine changes to the starting line-up that was fielded against
Norwich in the weekend. Fabianski will replace Szczesny in goal while
Monreal, Thomas Vermaelen and Carl Jenkinson will start in the defence
alongside Koscielny. With both Flamini and Arteta out of contention,
Wenger will have revert back to the pairing of Wilshere and Ramsey in
the pivot in front of the defence.
Nicklas Bendtner will lead the line up
front as Giroud is rested for this game, while Gnabry and Rosicky will
start along with Cazorla behind him. Ozil will start from the bench in
this match as Wenger looks to rotate his squad.
While Wenger has enough depth in the
attacking third to make these changes without hugely affecting the
quality, it is in the defensive half where they might struggle. Chelsea
are also expected to field a second string side, but the Blues’ second
choice attackers are more than handy. Vermaelen hasn’t been a regular in
the side so his form and match fitness will be tested in this game,
while Jenkinson has looked shaky defensively whenever he has started on
the right.
The absence of Flamini and Arteta could
also prove to be a big miss against Chelsea as neither Wilshere or
Ramsey are defensively discipline enough to play in the role of a
holding midfielder. They will have to be careful about not exposing the
back four to the Chelsea attack too often.
Possible Starting Line up [4-3-3]: Fabianski (GK); Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal; Wilshere, Ramsey; Gnabry, Rosicky, Cazorla; Bendtner
Chelsea FC – Team News, Lineup And Formation
Unlike Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho
doesn’t have any major injury concern to deal with at the moment. Marko
van Ginkel remains the only player on the side-line due to injury ahead
of this game.
Mourinho has been furious with the way
Chelsea’s game has been scheduled just 48 hours after their big match
against Manchester City on Sunday. Earlier he has threatened to field
his youth team in protest, but has later back down from the stance and
said that the club will have respect the fans. But despite this, none of
the players used against Man City is expected to be fielded against
Arsenal. Mourinho has enough depth in his squad to use a fairly strong
second string side.
Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will
replace Petr Cech in goal while Cesar Azpilicueta and Ryan Bertrand will
replace Ivanovic and Ashley Cole respectively. David Luiz, who has
received some criticism for his recent performances, will start in this
game alongside young center back Tomas Kalas.
Lampard and Ramires will be rested for
this game and the duo will be replaced by the pairing of Mikel and
Essien. In the attacking third of the midfield, Juan Mata, who started
on the bench against Manchester City, will start along with Willian and
De Bruyne. Upfront it will come down between Samuel Eto’o or Demba Ba to
lead the line.
Chelsea have a relatively in experienced
back line for this game and the midfield will have to protect them. The
other problem that the Blues might face is the fact that neither Mikel
nor Essien is known for their passing ability – this might slow down
their transfer of possession from defence to attack. Juan Mata will be
the key as the Spaniard can drop deep and help in building up play from
the back.
Player To Watch Out For
Juan Mata (Chelsea FC)
The Spaniard once again missed out in
the match against Manchester City and he has started in only four league
matches so far this season. Juan Mata has point to prove in this game.
With Arsenal playing Wilshere and Ramsey in the pivot, there might be a
lot of space for him to exploit in-between the lines of the defence and
the midfield. Also Chelsea will mostly depend on him to orchestrate the
build-up play in this game. His performance against Arsenal will have a
huge impact on the outcome of this match.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea [Penalties]
Boyed by the home support and derby
atmosphere Arsenal are expected come out all guns glazing. The home side
will look to score early in this game and Chelsea will have to be
organised to handle it. But the away side will slowly grow into the game
and look to hurt Arsenal on the break using their pace upfront. It will
be a close game with plenty of goals and one which might be decided on
penalties.
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