The London Derby – Arsenal vs Chelsea : Where to Watch & What to look forward to

When

Arsenal vs Chelsea, Saturday 24th September 2016 at 10:00 PM IST

Where to Watch

The Arsenal Kerala Supporters Club has organized official match screenings at

• Corner Pocket, Kannur
• The Q Company, Malappuram
• Koffee Roasters,  Thrissur (East Fort)
• Neighbourhood, Calicut
• ChaiCofi , Kaloor, Kochi

For more information regarding the screenings, fans in and around these districts can contact organizers at

• Kannur 9746 646 692 / 9447 965 020
• Malappuram 9562 154 144 / 8089 291 685
• Thrissur 9995 203 321 / 9846 404 768
• Calicut 7736 333 068 / 9526 066 640
• Kochi  9895 827 074 / 9037 950 567

Note: In some districts, the match screening has been organized in collaboration with Chelsea Fans Kerala / Chelsea Fans India. While it’s natural for emotions to run high in a game such as this, we advice supporters on both sides to maintain decorum and take things in the right spirit. Playful banter, applause, boos and jeers are welcome; violence and personal abuse of any sort are not.

What to look forward to

As Arsenal host Chelsea on Saturday, it’s an opportunity for the Gunners to make a statement to the rest of the league regarding their title credentials.

An Opportunity to catch-up

The Premier League title is still the aim for Arsenal. While the form of Manchester City is troubling (Pep Guardiola is once again proving his genius developing yet another outstanding side) and the Gunners are already sat five points off the pace, winning the league is the target for this squad.

With the financial restrictions seemingly easing with greater transfer activity in recent years, Wenger has been able to build a squad capable of challenging the might of City, United and Chelsea. Speaking of the latter, Saturday’s game comes as the perfect opportunity for Wenger’s men to stake their claim as City’s primary title challengers.

Much of the media focus on the title race has centered on the big three with the new managers. The Red and Blue half of Manchester, led by the aforementioned Guardiola and Wenger’s greatest rival and antagonist Jose Mourinho, alongside the strong, powerful, imposing outfit from South London inspired by the raging Italian Antonio Conte are seen as the primary contenders this year.

However, Mourinho’s ego is clashing with his latest signings, Chelsea were played off the park by Liverpool last weekend and Arsenal meanwhile, are slipping under the radar, quietly and efficiently. Saturday gives them the chance to shout their name from the rooftops.

Win and win well against Chelsea, and Wenger’s men would make quite a statement to the rest of the league. Playing at home gives them an opportunity to beat a side that has had the better of them for far too long to remember. Beat a team that seems perfectly equipped to disarm and disassemble them, and Arsenal will be seen as City’s greatest threat.

So early in the season, the match against Chelsea is the perfect tone-setter for Arsene Wenger’s side. This is an ideal opportunity for them to lay down a marker.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – Mesut Ozil

Arsenal’s bonafide creative genius may be a midfield stallion, but against Chelsea, there is always room for improvement. There’s plenty still to prove.

The German maestro never has problems with anything. Ever. He is a bonafide champion whose calm spirit on the ball is frequently overlooked. But no matter how often he gets overlooked, there is no overlooking just how important he is to this Gunner’s attack.

But he has something to prove against Chelsea. Namely, he has to prove that there truly is nothing out there that he cannot do, which many believe.

Naturally, this match-up is coming at a time where Arsenal’s play-making No. 10 could really use a pick-me-up anyway. Ozil is currently registering the lowest chances created per match in his career. That includes all the way back to his days at Werder Bremen. Of course, it’s early in the season, but it’s still no fun to see Ozil four matches in with no assists to his name.

It would be the perfect time to break open Chelsea. It’s the last door he hasn’t unlocked and if he can do it on Saturday and get his season back on track, there will be no more bad juju attached to any team and Arsenal will have their full-power Mesut Ozil back in business.

The Mustafi – Koscieny duo vs Diego Costa

In three encounters with the Gunners, Costa has scored two goals, stoked up numerous fights and got Gabriel Paulista sent off. The Spanish menace is a wind-up merchant. He is the antithesis of how Wenger perceives football should be played. Snarling, bustling and bruising, Costa bullies his way to goal.

Wenger, on the other hand, prefers the calmer, more cultured approach. His two centre-halves on Saturday, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny are also more inclined with their manager’s approach. Comfortable on the ball, relaxed and composed, the two are consummate on the pitch. Nonetheless, when facing the roaring Costa, can they stand up to the physical, mental and emotional onslaught?

Discipline will be key

In the last five games, the Gunners have recorded four red cards. Arsenal have the opportunity to lay down a marker to the rest of the league with a win against Chelsea. The task is hard enough with 11 men on the field. Go down to 10, and it becomes near impossible. The likes of Costa, who has been rejuvenated under Antonio Conte, will try to antagonise the Gunners throughout. Rise to it, and the game is all but lost.

The Build-up

Team News

Olivier Giroud stands a chance of returning from a toe injury, and will face a late fitness test. Aaron Ramsey will not be back until after the next international break. Long-term absentees Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Carl Jenkinson are still out.

Chelsea will be without John Terry back after failed to recover from an ankle injury in time for the game. Van Ginkel and Zouma remain absent.

Stats

• The Gunners are looking to record four successive Premier League wins for the first time since a five-match streak in October 2015.

• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 15 league matches (W8, D6).

•  Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte could go three league games without a win for the first time since a run of four draws with Juventus in March 2012.

• The Blues have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 league games, while they have conceded in each of their last six away league fixtures.

• Arsenal have won none of their last nine Premier League meetings with Chelsea, last beating them in October 2011 . Only against Liverpool have they had a longer such run in the competition (12 between 1994 and 2000).

• Antonio Conte will be the 12 th Chelsea manager Wenger has faced in the Premier League, more than any other club.

• Arsenal are winless in their last eight Premier League games in which Michael Oliver was referee (D5 L3), while Chelsea are unbeaten in 13 with Oliver officiating (W7 D6).

Pre-Match Reactions

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger

On his team’s discipline

We have talked about that because in the last two games we played against Chelsea with 10 men. So of course for the result on Saturday it will be important how we play football, but also the way we behave.

On Diego Costa

We need to be completely cold-blooded and just focused on our game and not respond to him. You need to be committed and respect the rules of the game by not responding. I believe last year we were a bit unlucky at Chelsea to be down to ten men because he was suspended after.

Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte

On the rivalry

This is a big game between two big rivals. It’s important to play a good game… But we know that we’ll face a team, a good team, a big rival… I’m sure Arsenal will fight until the end for the title.

On his team’s captain John Terry

John did not recover from his knee injury. He’s working but he did not recover for the game.

Football Expert Paul Merson

I give the slight advantage to Arsenal because they’re at home but it is one of those situations whereby, come 7pm (GMT) on Saturday night, we will know what kind of season they will have.

For me, Cesc Fabregas has to play for Chelsea. N’Golo Kante will cover every blade of grass but you need someone to get on the ball and pass it. Fabregas is among the best in the Premier League in possession.