Chelsea (H) - Sun 4th Jan, 17:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[SSBlue]

Saviour is injured ;)

Give him 3 days ...

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

Rodri and Nico both have fitness issue not a chance they start together.

45 mins each would be ideal.

 

[Paleblue2]

Need the points after dropping some at Sundlund, a home win and a clean sheet please Pep.

 

[Paleblue2]

Caicedo will be a big miss for them tomorrow

Glad he's out, dirty bastard.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Donnarumma

Nunes ——- Dias ——— Ake —— Gvardiol

Nico —— Reijnders

Cherki — Foden - Doku

Haaland

Think id go with this. Do fancy us to get a lot of joy without Caicedo. Do think NOR could do with a game of rest.

 

[IrishBloodEnglishHeart]

Glad he's out, dirty bastard.

If Rodri does get any minutes he'd have been one player that would have injured him again

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Really tough one tomorrow if only because of their extra few days rest. Chelsea are an unpredictable and chaotic side. No idea how they will play or whether they will be boosted by Maresca’s departure.

It’s a concern when ex players coming back to potentially haunt us but they have so many it’s almost inevitable that if they score it will be an ex City player.

A short turnaround after a very physical game at Sunderland could be an issue. After his cameo on Thursday I wouldn’t mind seeing Gvardiol at left back and rest O’Reilly. Would be nice if Nico and Rodri were both fit to start.

If we play like we did 2nd half on Thursday but actually take our chances we should be fine.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

whether they will be boosted by Maresca’s departure.

Everything I've read indicates that his problem was with the ownership, rather than the players.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Everything I've read indicates that his problem was with the ownership, rather than the players.

Hope his departure upsets the team tomorrow then! On the outside Chelsea have been a basket case for years and yet they still qualify for the champions league and win trophies. No idea how they succeed as they seem to be so chaotic.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

What's the injury situation with savio and gonzalez??

 

[willipp]

Could really do without Preston train station being closed all weekend, gonna make it a right ball ache. Fuck it though, work Monday so gotta make the most of the last day of my Xmas hols.

 

[Bri1975]

 

[Blue warrior]

Probably expected to beat a Chelsea side in a bad moment just lost their manager we know how this thing kinda goes..

 

[Semper aggressus]

No choice but to win this now. Fucking Arsenal never bloody lose.

 

[Claytop]

A near a must win as you can get for early January!

 

[Zenmanc]

I'm not usually leaning on a "must win" mentality the first week of the new year but Arsenal are not in their typical chicken bone in the throat mode. Win tomorrow we're still in touching distance- dropped points and this forum is going to be more bleak than it usually is.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Must win and I am confident we will.

 

[Otamendi's Beard]

Be an interesting bench as I can't see Nico G or Savinho making the squad.

Maybe Jaden Heskey/Charlie Gray and McAidoo will be there. Very young bench if so with the likes of Mukasa, Lewis, Reigan Heskey already likely to be on it.

 

[come-on-barney]

Reece James versus Pep - which manager will win it ?

 

[paulchapo]

Be an interesting bench as I can't see Nico G or Savinho making the squad.

Maybe Jaden Heskey/Charlie Gray and McAidoo will be there. Very young bench if so with the likes of Mukasa, Lewis, Reigan Heskey already likely to be on it.

The difference in ours and Arsenal's bench shows why we still need to strengthen.