Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview & Lineup

Arsenal & Chelsea History & Squad Lineup

Match:
Time : 4PM (GMT)
Venue: Emirates Stadium

Form:
Arsenal W-W-D-W-W
Chelsea W-W-D-W-W


Match Day Lineup:

Arsenal : Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs, Nasri, Song, Fabregas, Walcott, Van Persie, Adebayor, Fabianski, Eboue, Bendtner, Arshavin, Denilson, Diaby, Silvestre, Vela.

Chelsea : Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Bosingwa, A Cole, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Lampard, Obi, Ballack, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, Stoch, Di Santo, Mancienne.







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WTF Wenger Refuses To Splash Cash

I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Wenger refused to spend big money on quality players even after Arsenal weren't able to compete for any trophy let alone major trophy this season.

When asked on his view that players like Adebayor and Alumnia are saying that we need more quality players in the squad, he said that we [managers] have to distance ourselves from comments like these. They are players and should only see their own performances rather than the teams.

Honestly though, yes we have had a couple of good runs in the season but we have had some bad ones too because of which we are where we are. Quality signings are fucking needed to get the shit rolling.

We need consistent performances, and quality signings can help the team achieve that. We already have a good squad. We just lack a couple of good players at most and Arsene has to put money into it.

I am going crazy here. Can't believe he still won't spend any money on bringing in good players. I am actually scared that he's going to lose the good players he has because Arsenal just can't challenge for the title(s) anymore.

Tabloids are already talking about Cesc leaving and Persie's contract signings are still in doubt.

To say the least, this is fucked up!!!!!




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Club Fines Bendtner

For unacceptable behavior as described by Arsene Wenger club's young gun Nicklas Bendtner has been fined. After a disappointing defeat against arch rivals Manchester United Bendtner needed to take a load off of his mind and hit the bar for a few drinks.

However it was how he stepped out of the club which tipped Arsenal manager over the edge. Photographs show the player leaving a nightclub with his jeans pulled down.

Arsene's reaction to the incident, “It was not acceptable and he has been fined by the Club.”




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Arshavin Likely To Miss Chelsea Game

Arsene Wenger is not very convinced that Arshavin will be able to play against Chelsea later today given that he is down with a flu and has missed training for the last two days.



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Testing Times As Van Persie's New Deal Is On High Priority

About a week ago I wrote a post about our champions league defeat being more than just that and now it seems like predictions I made back then are going to be tested right now. With Arsenal only an average fourth place team in the EPL it's going to become hard for Wenger to retain the contracts of his players. That's exactly why Van Persie's new contract signing has been put on high priority level.

Arsene Wenger is hoping that Robin will follow the footsteps of Theo and sign a new contract. Theo signed a long term contract with the club this week.

In the press conference earlier yesterday, Wenger commented breifly on Robin's new contract signing, saying that he hopes that he will sign a new deal given that the club gave him a chance when he was in a bad situation at Feyenoord. Moreover he loves the club and has developed well here.

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More Than Just A Champions League Defeat

Well that about does it for Arsenal for the season as far as playing a cup final or let alone winning a cup goes. Sitting through 90 minutes of this game was hard. However for some reason it didn't take me long to get over the fact that we were done for the season. I know I know many will be cursing at me for not being a devoted supporter or not caring enough but I guess it's just that I had a feeling that Arsenal did what they could. The team played their hearts out.


I would love to sit here and say that we should have done better but the honest fact is that the better side won today. This really is all we were capable of doing. If you look back at our season, I'm sure most of you will realize that we have had a really patchy season so far. Expecting Arsenal to win this game as well as the final was a stretch. The team really doesn't have that much power to go all the way. Honestly I am impressed with what they have accomplished this season. Fourth place itself didn't seem like it was Arsenal's this season

We have a lot of developing talent in our squad, players which will go miles. What worries me is that if we continue to be a fourth place team that can no longer win trophies we will lose the likes of Van Persie & Cesc Fabregas. And I won't blame them either. Each player wants to be associated with a well established club. Yes loyalty is something but the club has to give back at some level too. I fear that Arsenal is losing it's capability of giving back and if things continue as they are we are going to turn into another New Castle or maybe even Leeds (it's really not a stretch for those of you who might be thinking that is).

Arsene really has to change his policies. He needs to invest in bringing experienced quality players. It's not like his hands are tied and there is no money available to him. We need quality first team players as well as backups. When likes of Adebayor, Fabregas, Persie and Kolo are out we need someone who can come in and hold the fort.

Even though Adebayor is a quality player but I am sorry he cannot be our lead striker, he is not that good. Bendtner & Vela have a long way to go. Eduardo is still struggling with his injuries. We need someone who did what Drogba & Anelka do for Chelsea, Ronaldo does for Manu and Torres does for Liverpool.

Someone like David Villa or even Michael Owen (who is struggling right now but still) could lift our attack. Moreover Eboue has to go, I would have said he needs to be tamed but I feel like he's been given enough chances to perform like a star and time after time he's let the fans down. He has to go.

Finally as good as Kolo Toure and William Gallas are, I feel when they are injuried so is Arsenal's defense. The backup squad doesn't really have what it takes to hold the defense down. We need another quality signing here. I don't really want to point anyone out here because I feel there are so many options to choose from.

All in all at the end of the day Arsene does know better, so whoever the new signings are I just hope they are smart buys which can take the club back to the level which they were at a few years ago.

I want to end this post by saying that I have a high level respect for the players and most definitely Arsene Wenger. My heart goes out to the team, management and the fans for today's loss.

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First Half: Arsenal Down & Probably Out This Time Around

First five minutes of game said a lot to me. I really saw a different Arsenal side come into the game. On the attack, positive attitude, defence lines pushed up, looking to take the game to Manchester United. But unfortunately it took another another five minutes to shatter my dream. When Manchester United scored twice in the span of three minutes.

First was a strike by Park Ji Sung who capitalized on Gibbs mistake leaving Almunia to do all the work which was a little too much to ask for as Park found the net with much ease. The second was clearly a great free kick from Ronaldo which beat the keeper to hit the net.

The game's tone has changed since the two goals. Arsenal are definitely looking like a very different side right now and Manchester United are outplaying them in all departments.

I would like to say that we should keep our hopes alive but at the end of the first half..... seems like this game is done. I'm still going to finish this game and support the team that i so dearly love but this really seems to be it.

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Cesc: Ban Eight Other Players Too

Responding to the allegations about the way he celebrated after the game, Cesc Fabregas said that yes even though he did come back out on the pitch to celebrate but then there were eight other players who did the same thing and FA should look into that as well and ban them too.



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Almunia Rather Face Chelsea In The European Final

In a recent press conference Manuel Almunia laid down a verbal bitch slapping on Chelsea and their fans calling the Blues boring and the fans ghosts. He went on to say that he would much rather play Chelsea in the final because they are predictable rather than Barcelona who have more resources and can bring more fire power to the game.

It wasn't like Alumnia was talking trash for the heck of it or for his fifteen minutes of fame. What he went on to say made a lot of sense.

"We know what Chelsea are like. We have them measured. They wouldn’t surprise us. Our semi-final, first leg with Manchester United was much better than Chelsea’s against Barcelona. Chelsea just went to Spain to defend and it made for a boring game."

He also added that Arsene Wenger puts together a squad which goes out to win and win alone.

He ended the press conference by saying that I'm not surprised that not too many of Chelsea's fans follow them to the games. They are like ghosts.

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