Chelsea vs Arsenal - Match Preview

Chelsea Vs Arsenal Match preview Date: Saturday 29th October 2011 Kick Off: 12:45 Location: Stamford Bridge London pride on derby day. This weekend€™s London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal proves far more important than many would have thought at this stage of the season. Both will be looking to keep in touching distance of the top two Manchester clubs and keep the pride of London alive. A few weeks earlier and Chelsea would have been relishing the chance to tear into a dispirited Arsenal side that seemed to have left all knowledge of how to play football on the beaches of St Tropez. Now Arsene Wenger€™s side have made steady progress and have halted the slide thus far and could cause quite a stir if they manage to beat their hosts on Saturday afternoon, maybe even faint chants of €œwere going to win the title€ ringing from the away end supporters. I know what you€™re thinking; €œARSENAL TITLE CONTENDERS?! IS HE CRAZY!!?€ But alas stranger things have happened and a win on Saturday will make an otherwise dismal start to the season look slightly more promising for the travelling gunners. Chelsea on the other hand having had had a more muted but steady start to a premier league season will not want the ill discipline of the last week to come back to haunt them again this weekend with John Terry being at the centre of a race row after last weekend€™s defeat to QPR and the tough Carling cup extra time win against Everton in the week. It remains to be seen whether Terry get€™s picked on Saturday and what reception he might receive, all this makes for scrumptious lunch time viewing.

Team News:

Chelsea come into this game on the back of a hard fought carling cup tie with Everton, however Villas-Boas made changes to that side and will look forward to fielding some fresher legs for this encounter. Defence seems to be the main issue for Andre Villas-Boas this weekend. David Luiz may well be fit enough for Saturday but the kamikaze defender€™s current form may put doubts in the mind of the manager and with John Terry under investigation from the FA over alleged racist comments to QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, it is time for the manager to earn his crust. Arsenal were handed a boost in the week with the return of Thomas Vermaelen in the Carling cup this week which makes him a contender to start with a more stable looking Arsenal defence with Per Mertesacker, however fellow defenders Karl Jenkinson and Kieren Gibbs look set to miss out.

Teams from:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos, Djourou, Arteta, Walcott, Arshavin, Ramsey, Song, Gervinho, Frimpong, Chamakh, Van Persie, Vermaelen. Chelsea: Cech, Cole, David Luiz, Bosingwa, Terry, Lampard, Mikel, Meireles, Malouda, Mata, Anelka, Sturridge, Ivanovic , Turnbull, Ivanovic, Kalou. A point to prove: Theo Walcott-During my commute to work this week my friend turned to me and blurted the most astounding rumour that Theo Walcott was a transfer target for Barcelona FC; this was met by an entire train carriage of laughter. Was this a Halloween trick? This boy has in my opinion yet to peak to the level even Arsenal expects let alone Barcelona so please Theo Walcott.... PROVE ME WRONG! Prediction: With fear of driving a wedge between two of my closest friends I€™m going for a 2-2 draw but be safe in the knowledge that if my prediction is wrong and it is not a draw, my loser friend will be getting plenty of textual banter!