PL: Chelsea v Arsenal | August 18, 2018 17:30 BST | BT Sport

[freeglennhelder2]

 

[celestis]

Line up is not bad at all. ,would have douzy on the bench. Applaud Iwobi fir Ramsey

 

[A_G]

The past couple of seasons we've matched up against Chelsea pretty well. No need to try to throw away this game.

He's not throwing the game away? Iwobi started in two draws at Stamford Bridge last season, Xhaka scored the winner in the LC SF and Özil played well both times against them at the Emirates. It's a bit of experimentation but it's not like he's chucked it by starting a bunch of youth players.

Let those teams know that even with the changes Arsenal are still a team to be reckoned with.

Doubt that makes a difference tbh.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Hazard on the bench. Barkley in the lineup. Sarri out!

 

[Penn_]

Nobody is overrating him. Xhaka lost his man countless times last season yet people were still defending him.

You called him our best player against City...What’s that if not overrating?

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I hate BT sports pundits so much

 

[samshere]

Did anyone get their lineup prediction right? Mine was a mile off.

 

[vijay]

Guendozi is the new Cesc.

The future of Arsenal.

 

[MutableEarth]

I think the backlash to the lineup is more due to the fact that underperformers are not losing their place and the fear is they will underperform again. Xhaka and Mhkitaryan come to mind. Could add Özil to that but realistically he's not gonna get dropped.

I can't say I'm too upset at the lineup but it's a weird one considering it's an away game at Chelsea - I at least thought Torreira would get a start. However, I like some things - Guendouzi and Iwobi starting is pretty good. I hope Xhaka and Mhki are much better than last week.

 

[Big Poppa]

So many drama queens in here. Emery is much more proactive during games than Wenger, so if something isn't working, he'll change it. This is the strongest bench I've seen in a very long time.

 

[James Bond]

Only saw the highlights of he City game, but Guendouzi was poor for both goals, especially the first.. We can't afford mistakes like that and it's a big ask to expect him to hold his own against that Chelsea midfield.. Torreira should have started with/instead of him..

He was the only midfielder who passed he ball forward. Ramsey was up playing CF and Xhaka can't turn with the ball when pressed. Cech had the most the second most touches for a reason.

Unless you want to watch the CBs and Cech make triangles all game we need Guendouzi in there if we want to get out of our own half.

 

[Makingtrax]

Your girl makes you eat kiwi fruit instead of apple pie?

Absolutely, when she’s not out shopping.

 

[2Smokeyy]

You called him our best player against City...What’s that if not overrating?

Being a realist.

Who was better?

 

[Slartibartfast]

September 28, 1996 -- 7,995 days ago. That's the last time Arsenal won a game without Arsène Wenger in charge. Hopefully that will be 0 days here in a couple of hours.

 

[MutableEarth]

You called him our best player against City...What’s that if not overrating?

That's not overrating - he was our best player that day, even with his mistakes. Who was better?

 

[Penn_]

Jesus, Chelsea’s training shirt is a mess.

 

[Makingtrax]

Guendouzi and Cech annoy me.

Good team otherwise. Hope Iwobi smashes it.

Gonna be a long winter for you bro, Emery’s in love with Guendouzi

 

[Penn_]

That's not overrating - he was our best player that day, even with his mistakes. Who was better?

Cech? What’s the point in lauding him as our best player if it’s by default, just an empty statement.

 

[dashsnow17]

Wenger never played Torreira either, pff same old same old I guess.

 

[MLK79]

He's not throwing the game away? Iwobi started in two draws at Stamford Bridge last season, Xhaka scored the winner in the LC SF and Özil played well both times against them at the Emirates. It's a bit of experimentation but it's not like he's chucked it by starting a bunch of youth players.

Doubt that makes a difference tbh.

The thing is, starting Xhaka can easily turn a winnable game into one we lose.

And the mental aspect does make a whole lot of difference. When teams go up against City and Liverpool, they expect to lose. That expectation leaves teams to have some pretty easy matches. Fergie's United had that about them as well. Managers would just give away the game before it even started.