Szakal
08-19-2005, 05:02 AM
<b>GAME SITUATION</b>
You think I'm joking of course - but in the last two seasons we've seen that it's the top clashes that can determine how a team approaches the season.
Last year Chelsea beat Manchester Utd 1-0 on opening day, and it seemed to me that the Red Devils never really got over that game, slipping to a mediocre season by their high standards.
And two years ago Arsenal went to Old Trafford, and scrapped to a 0-0 draw when Ruud Van Nistlerooy hit the crossbar with a late penalty. Arsenal gained confidence and went on to complete an unbeaten league season as they played some exhilarating stuff.
So what of this match-up then?
<b> LAST WEEKEND </b>
Both sides played on Sunday, and while neither club will be happy with the performance we did see both sides manage to win while keeping a clean sheet.
Arsenal totally dominated a 10-man Newcastle at Highbury, but had problems breaking down the black and white defensive wall and needed a late penalty to make the breakthrough. Robin Van Persie made it 2-0 late on with a good flowing goal.
As for Chelsea, well they really seemed surprised at the ferocity and tenacity of Wigan. It looked to me as if many of the overseas stars had been reading too many newspapers and acted like all they needed to do was turn up.<br />
But, importantly, Chelsea did do the business. The Blues kept a clean sheet, and Hernan Crespo earned his vast salary with a cracking goal in the 93rd minute. 1-0 to Chelsea and punters everywhere sighed in relief
<b>HEAD TO HEAD</b>
Of all the teams in the Premiership - it's Arsenal that match up best against Chelsea. Perhaps that's not too surprising as the Gunners have quality out wide that negates the skills of Damien Duff and Arjen Robben
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 6 trips to Stamford Bridge in all competitions, winning 2 matches and drawing the other 4 games
The 1-1 scoreline is a common result between the two sides right now and it's happened on 2 of the last six occasions here
Of course Chelsea did beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Community Shield opener a fortnight ago, Drogba getting both goals from long-ball moves. That's a shrewd tactical move by manager Jose Mourinho as Arsenal are suspect to that - as sides like Bolton showed last season
<b>THE VERDICT</b>
Chelsea are huge favourites for the title. They have to be. Chelsea has a 25 man squad jam packed with star quality, and the hardest choice for Mr Mourinho is who to leave out
Arsenal are rather more limited, Patrick Vieira has gone and his replacement Alexander Hleb is a different sort of player. If Arsenal are to succeed then manager Arsene Wenger needs his "kids" like Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and Philippe Senderos to grow up fast
However, if we simply look at the first choice sides, player for player, then Arsenal do not look particularly over matched for this clash. Indeed with my (red currant) tinted glasses I could even argue that Arsenal's XI are a better option. Certainly the more entertaining one
As a derby match - I think that the typical home/away stats are misleading. It's a well known punting fact that when derbies lead to a different set of results from the norm - and Arsenal's very good record here underlines that
This is a very good Chelsea side. This is a very good Arsenal line-up. I'd give Chelsea the edge but I think that the odds have been weighted too heavily to allow for home advantage.
The Pick : 1:1
You think I'm joking of course - but in the last two seasons we've seen that it's the top clashes that can determine how a team approaches the season.
Last year Chelsea beat Manchester Utd 1-0 on opening day, and it seemed to me that the Red Devils never really got over that game, slipping to a mediocre season by their high standards.
And two years ago Arsenal went to Old Trafford, and scrapped to a 0-0 draw when Ruud Van Nistlerooy hit the crossbar with a late penalty. Arsenal gained confidence and went on to complete an unbeaten league season as they played some exhilarating stuff.
So what of this match-up then?
<b> LAST WEEKEND </b>
Both sides played on Sunday, and while neither club will be happy with the performance we did see both sides manage to win while keeping a clean sheet.
Arsenal totally dominated a 10-man Newcastle at Highbury, but had problems breaking down the black and white defensive wall and needed a late penalty to make the breakthrough. Robin Van Persie made it 2-0 late on with a good flowing goal.
As for Chelsea, well they really seemed surprised at the ferocity and tenacity of Wigan. It looked to me as if many of the overseas stars had been reading too many newspapers and acted like all they needed to do was turn up.<br />
But, importantly, Chelsea did do the business. The Blues kept a clean sheet, and Hernan Crespo earned his vast salary with a cracking goal in the 93rd minute. 1-0 to Chelsea and punters everywhere sighed in relief
<b>HEAD TO HEAD</b>
Of all the teams in the Premiership - it's Arsenal that match up best against Chelsea. Perhaps that's not too surprising as the Gunners have quality out wide that negates the skills of Damien Duff and Arjen Robben
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 6 trips to Stamford Bridge in all competitions, winning 2 matches and drawing the other 4 games
The 1-1 scoreline is a common result between the two sides right now and it's happened on 2 of the last six occasions here
Of course Chelsea did beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Community Shield opener a fortnight ago, Drogba getting both goals from long-ball moves. That's a shrewd tactical move by manager Jose Mourinho as Arsenal are suspect to that - as sides like Bolton showed last season
<b>THE VERDICT</b>
Chelsea are huge favourites for the title. They have to be. Chelsea has a 25 man squad jam packed with star quality, and the hardest choice for Mr Mourinho is who to leave out
Arsenal are rather more limited, Patrick Vieira has gone and his replacement Alexander Hleb is a different sort of player. If Arsenal are to succeed then manager Arsene Wenger needs his "kids" like Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and Philippe Senderos to grow up fast
However, if we simply look at the first choice sides, player for player, then Arsenal do not look particularly over matched for this clash. Indeed with my (red currant) tinted glasses I could even argue that Arsenal's XI are a better option. Certainly the more entertaining one
As a derby match - I think that the typical home/away stats are misleading. It's a well known punting fact that when derbies lead to a different set of results from the norm - and Arsenal's very good record here underlines that
This is a very good Chelsea side. This is a very good Arsenal line-up. I'd give Chelsea the edge but I think that the odds have been weighted too heavily to allow for home advantage.
The Pick : 1:1