Chelsea captain John Terry is expected to play against Arsenal at 12:45 on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium as he has the right to appeal the four-game ban the FA have imposed on him after he was found guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
Frank Lampard has been suffering with an ankle issue but is expected to be available for selection against the Gunners, whilst Daniel Sturridge is rated 50-50 with a hamstring injury which leaves Fernando Torres as the only fit centre forward in the squad. But Victor Moses reckons he can play in the centre if needed, he said:
“Changing position just comes naturally to me. I don’t really mind where I play — left, right, up front on my own or with another striker. I’m just versatile like that and I don’t mind playing anywhere in attack.”
The XI I’d pick for tomorrow’s game:
P. Cech
B. Ivanovic – G. Cahill – J. Terry (c) – A. Cole
J. Mikel – Ramires
V. Moses – E. Hazard – J. Mata
F. Torres
David Luiz seems to play better alongside Gary Cahill than when he’s partnered with Terry but there’s no way the skipper will be sitting this one out and the Cahill/Terry combination is one I’d like to see more of this season. Also, as it’s away from home, perhaps we shouldn’t risk a few rash moments from the Brazilian.
Lampard will likely be fit for this one and Roberto Di Matteo will likely play him, but I don’t think he should as the Ramires/Mikel partnership looked much more natural v Stoke. Ramires stayed behind when Mikel went further forward and vice versa, which is something Lampard doesn’t do enough of when playing in that position. I also don’t want to see Ramires played on the wing again, he’s a box-to-box midfielder and should be used as such.
I’d consider keeping Oscar in the side as he’s performed well when he’s featured so far this season but I would like to see Eden Hazard return to his best position and play Victor Moses on the right. Kieran Gibbs has had an impressive start to the season with the Gunners and I reckon the threat of Moses’ pace may help to keep him pinned back.
Torres is the only choice for CF once again, so he’ll have to play there. The Spaniard hasn’t scored a league goal for a month now and whether you’re criticising him or defending him, the fact is that he’ll have to start scoring soon or Roman will be getting the chequebook out in January (although I reckon he’s going to buy another forward regardless).
Arsenal have had a good start to the season and seem to be coping with life after Robin van Persie. Their defence looks more organised than it has for a long time, so we’ll have to take our chances. This is our first real test in the league and we’ll have to perform well in the big games if we want to keep top spot, and do so without Arsenal’s former nemesis Didier Drogba.
I like the squad listed by the author. If i was manager though i might think of bringing torres on at half time to get him to ACTUALLY SHOOT.i like the defense and the def mid stated but my front for would be
mata—-lampard—–hazard
sturridge/moses
Id like to marin on the left he lampard doesnt start with hazard in the middle alternating with mata!
Let’s just pray dimatteo uses d formation dat wil get us 3 points 2day. Tnqs ktbffh
LAMPARD IS STRONG AND SCORE MULTIPLE GOALS FROM HIS OLD SPOT. HE IS PROBABLY STILL THE BEST THROUGH BALL PASSER ON THE TEAM=GOALS. REMEMBER WHEN HE CURLED HIS PASS DIAGONALLY TO DROGBA AGAINST CITY A COUPLE YEARS BACK? THAT DOESNT JUST DISAPPEAR. ITS EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!! MAYBE EVEN RAMIRES AND LUIZ IN DEF MID
That’s right. Live in the past. 2 years back.Lampard is too slow and clumsy for Barcenal.
I wil prefer 4-2-3-1
Cech,ivanovic,cole,cahil,luiz
mikel,ramirez
mata,oscar,hazard
moses
I think our defenders are too clumsy and slow for Arsenal’s agility and finesse. My worry is one of our guys gets sent off early. Arsenal’s superior skillset will se us down 3 or 4 nil by the end of the game. We recruited well but need to improve and develo players like Wenger does.
knowin di matteo cech, ivanovic, luiz, cahill,cole, mikel, lampard, ramires, bertrand, (mata or hazard) torres
but i wud wan cech, cesar,ivanovic,cahill,cole,mikel,ramires,oscar,mata,hazard,torres
nb. terry shud b band for the next 4 matches, and dont kno which luiz wil show up and d margin for error against arsenal slim
I’d fancy a 4-1-4-1 formation with Cech;Azpilicueta,TERRY,Cahill,Cole;Romeu; Moses[rw], Mata[lw interchanging with hazard frequently] Hazard [LAM] Oscar [RAM but going deep to help Romeu out at times];Torres
no ramires..he is @#&#/%..oscar can take his place..
cech
iva…luiz…terry…cole
mikel..oscar
marin/moses.hazard…mata
torres
Cech ive luiz cahil cole (mikel osca mata) moses torres hazard. Terry and cahil cant work ider luiz or cahil or luiz an terry. CHELSEA 4 LIFE TRUE BLOOD
4_3_3 formetion Cech ive luiz cahil cole (mikel osca mata) moses torres hazard. Terry and cahil cant work ider luiz or cahil or luiz an terry. CHELSEA 4 LIFE TRUE BLOOD