Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview

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I love seeing Arsenal crash and burn.

When Chelsea plays Arsenal, I don’t have to tell you how much I want us to hurt them. This is one of those matches where I just don’t care about where the goals comes from.

I’d be happy with a scrappy 1-0 win. In reality, based on form and ability (ah, there’s my PES lingo), Chelsea must beat Arsenal comfortably. We have beaten Liverpool, Tottenham and Man Utd—twice.

If we beat Arsenal, it would have a huge impact on our odds to win the title. If we can be the trigger of an Arsenal downfall in the process, well, there would be nothing more pleasant than that.

There were some scares that Didier Drogba and Lampard won’t be playing this Sunday. I was thoroughly annoyed, not only because we would miss them, but also that the goners had got lucky.

Anyway, both are back and both will start. At least Drogba will start—not sure about Lampard. Arsenal are missing a few players, including a key one in Robin 'Candlefeet van Persie. News is, Candlefeet is out four-to-five months. Ouch.

Gallas is injured—not a drop of tear from me. Aresenal are also missing their first and second-choice left backs—right time to murder them I say.

Chelsea would certainly play the famous Ancelotti diamond with both Drogba and the tremendously improved Nicolas Anelka upfront. Anelka has been a surprise package under Ancelotti.

From a tactical point of view, I don’t see anything has changed to help Anelka on the pitch. I think, psychologically, Anelka has gone through a transformation. He is lot more committed, a lot more purposeful, and a lot more team-minded.

I want him to play his match of  the season tomorrow. I hope he scores a goal tomorrow like the cracking one that he scored at the Emigrants last season.

Drogba’s availability for Sunday is the best news I’ve heard in a while. He’s scored eight goals in his last eight matches against Arsenal. Plus, they might play Senderos or Silvestre, or both.

What a mouth-watering prospect!

Drogba was lacklustre against Porto in the mid-week, but I guess he was only getting himself back to match fitness and he knows he’s gotta be super fit for the Sunday match.

I’m sure you’ll see the difference between how Drogba played against Porto and he will play against Arsenal. He's got something against Arsenal. I won’t say he hates them, but he surely loves to taunt them.

Drogba was once asked about his football gaming on PlayStation. With a very mischievous grin, he said he loves to play as Theirry Henry and shoot wide of the target.

I must say I’ve never felt so relaxed as a Chelsea fan. We have a great squad, some super-bright youngsters, morale and confidence are high, we are on top of the league, and are playing some great football.

Full credit to Ancelotti. Granted, he had a great team to work with, but he still did, and does, a fantastic job of pushing them even further toward perfection.

We have talked quite a lot about Ancelotti’s diamond and Christmas tree. Sir Alex Ferguson even said that the diamond won’t work for Chelsea without a player like Kaka in the attacking tip.

If you look at the results, you have to say that whatever Ancelotti did has worked very well. The interesting thing about Ancelotti is he keeps experimenting, but he does that without really affecting the balance, composition, or rhythm of the team.

He has this knack of trying out all he wants and still has his team play as if nothing’s changed. That shows how tactically astute he is.

I don’t even want a 4-1 like last season. All I want is a win.

If we get to punish them along the way, I’d love it. I think we might win 2-1, or 3-1. I have a feeling that Arsenal might just score.

The only player in their ranks that worries me is Arshavin. He is top quality and he is so un-Arsenal in his approach to the game. That’s why he worries me. I have this feeling that he might just score.

I wish Anelka and Malouda score, just so Arsene Whinger gets a French kiss. See ya!

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