Which Arsenal defender can cope with Juan Mata this weekend?
With Drogba suspended – and his record of 13 goals in 14 matches against Arsenal today irrelevant – Torres takes his place in the centre of the Blues’ front three, looking to replicate some of the form the aforementioned Ivorian is capable of. However, with Koscielny and Mertesacker looking mightily strong in the middle of the defensive line, the chances of him being able to be dealt with are looking promising.
Daniel Sturridge is looking to start too, but undoubtedly the main threat for the Gunners today will be wing wizard Juan Mata. Not only does the Spaniard enjoy heading down the left wing, he can cut inside to offer an extra man to the midfield three.
If he is to come inside, Song will have to be on his guard. During the 3-1 victory against the Blues in December, he dealt terrifically well with Kalou – also down the left flank – and helped to hinder Drogba’s attacking prowess as well.
It is probable that Mata will be advised to attack Djourou, out of position at full-back and certainly no Sagna when it comes to composure at times. The Swiss international has performed well in his two games at right-back so far this season but he has arguably not been up against such a significant threat.
However, Mata had something of a disappointing game against QPR last weekend – before his shoulder injury – and it seemed that he can be kept under control, even by the likes of Derry and Faurlin for the Premier League newcomers.
Is Djourou – or Jenkinson if passed fit – capable of stopping Mata? How much of a difference will Drogba’s absence make?
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i’v a good feeling about tomorrow. think we’ll get a result. i have a funny feeling wenger has something up his sleeve for the chelsea game like when we beat them last year.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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I think we should try TV at RB as his quick and solid in defense. The we can have santos in at LB who seems to be getting better every day. Hopefully as well charmack gets dropped of the bench and Park can finally start playing regular football for the Gunners!!!
Gunner 4 life !!!
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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We will guys!! God is with us..we will win by 1-2..no need to worry!!
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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We will win guys!! God is with us..we will win by 1-2..no need to worry!!
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Drogba’s sheer ability to get goals vs Arsenal will be a huge confidence boost that he’s missing to supporters,management and players if we are to win!Chelsea beatable without Drogba?
I think yes.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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No need to worry about Mata he woo’t be in the starting 11
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Out of tune?. Like or Dislike:
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It was Mata who snubbed a move to the Emirates, so no point in blaming Wenger for missing out on him. He is an excellent player, but as the QPR game showed, not very consistent. Lets hope he has one of his off days against us.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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We will win coz our game and confidence are on the rise.
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I think we’ll have a strong defensive line with merte verma n song just in front, the only prob will come from the wings, mostly the right one, djourou, hopefuly merte will interrupt the crosses…
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Put TV5 at CB with Mertasacker, and Koscielny in RB, and santos in LB. Then we’ll have a solid defence, ready to take on Chelsea.
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Dont worry about mata…. If kosiency plays then we have no problem with mata…. I am sure song will be all over him too
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If vermaelen is fit 2 play 1st eleven . Koscielny wil only b d 1 to stop mata. Nt either djourou nor jenkinson. Mata wil b a big threat 4 us. So i want 2 c this formation,
Sczcny
Koscielny per verma santos
Ramsey song arteta
Gervinho arshavin
Rvp
N subs, park, walcott, frimpong, chamberlain, ignasi, ryo.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Wait! Samba/vertoghen along with per,TV5,kosc can cope to any team in this world.
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Chelsea will not want to play this poorly in two straight matches, particularly when it hasn’t really made a play for first place so far this year . My guess Chelsea tops Arsenal by a tight 3-2 scoreline, because any Gunner that see the AGM shows the useless arsenal board are ready to change thus trophy is not thier terget as long as the make profit at the end of the year
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we go to stanford bridge as underdogs but i will warn Chelse to never underestimate us
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the formation and team that i would like to see my beloved arsenal fc play tomorrow would be
schezney gk
lb vermaelen merts and kossie cb’s and right back santos
cm’s arteta song ramsey
cam arshy
van persie gervy up top
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Kosh dealt with Messi at the Emirates better than anyone I’ve seen. So he is the man to deal with Mata. Would not break up the CB pairing for tomo. Play TV on the left (Santos struggles for stamina), Djourou on the Rt.
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We can win with the following line-up
czsny, verma, kos, song, per, walcot, chamber,Rvp,frimpo,santo, cham
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kos is slowly becoming a class player.. seems like the competition for CB position is quite fierce with every1 fit.. we need a right back now..
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Kosh d man.has good passing an believ can provde crsses recent rb hav failed.
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I agree we will win god is with us I know we will play well up to our best standard and now we have TV it will be better.
Guys your comments are right that it might be difficult game but things going on with Chelsea at the moment will be an impact on them.
COME ON GUNNERS WE NEED TO WIN THIS. AM SURE WE WILL.
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unless we put koscielyn at the right back .he can deal with him and then varma plays with par in the central defence
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There’s nufin spectacular about Mata..maybe it’s because he’s in chelsea though,because it’s a physical team(chelsea) & they prefer physical football than free-flowing football(somethin’ which I feel affected Torres’s attacking prowess).I’ve seen some of chelsea’s matches with mata in action,he’s just ok not sensational compared to his former valencia comrade(silva) who rather has improved with City,but this is the EPL so I won’t be surprised if mata plays well tomorrow ..Djourou to me,have been doing ok @the right back,so he can handle mata.his(Djourou) only problem is actually making a good Cross-in to the centre to deliver a goal scoring chance (Something I don’t blame him for though,cos he’s actually a CB)..Other than that,Djourou has my vote to Play #2 Position tomorrow..
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arsenal cn tke advntages over chelsea…drogba n bosingwa is suspended..terry in crisis..some says cole is suspend too..if yes..brinh walcot n.scond half..their right flank wil b strugle..statistic show walcot is an impact f he cmes from the bench..n poor if start the match..yea hes been scoring..bt its nt the same like when he cme over…he cn change the whole game with hes pace..bt f he starts..n the scond half f he lost hes pace..hes natin that he cn do..hes dribbling evrythng is nt that good..he is an impact sub..wenger shud go for marko marin,hazard,goetze..play walcot full time some time..hes bcaming lazy wthoit chalenge in hes position..he knws chambo wudnt b a threat for em..he chalenge with hleb n.othrs n the righy..that improves em..bt f do he cmes from the bench..chelsea wil b torn into pieces..start with arshavin n gervinho perhaps..
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the centre back do not hv to change right now..i think tv5 gonna b on the sub…he wil.cme in scond half..either santos f he gonna b on the left..n with djourou..then kos moving to the right.. rvp is starting tomorow?..f he cmes again from the bench..hpe park get hes chance in the first half..with arshavin.. bring rvp,walcot,tv5 in second half..crush them..bt wenger wud start walcott..i jst think hes better as an impact sub! we cn do it!!!!!
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the centre back do not hv to change right now..i think tv5 gonna b on the sub…he wil.cme in scond half..either santos f he gonna b on the left..n with djourou..then kos moving to the right.. rvp is starting tomorow?..f he cmes again from the bench..hpe park get hes chance in the first half..with arshavin.. bring rvp,walcot,tv5 in second half..crush them..bt wenger wud start walcott..i jst think hes better as an impact sub! arsenal cn do it!!!!!
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Have this defence against chelsea n we will win.
Schezny
Djourou per koshielny vermalan
Song
Walcott arteta ramsey gervinho
Rvp
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TV5 has to be the man to stop him, quick mind, quick feet and powerful. “Juan who?” is what I say…
Drogba is suspended too, so all we need to really contain is El Nino, he is back for us so it should be a wicked game.
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Djourou will stop Juan Mata
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I’m more worried about Sturridge than Mata, though Mata is a fantastic player. The man flies under the radar and scores goals, both nice finishes and poaches them. Difficult for us to shut down those two wingers and Torres as the latter is amazing. He only needs half a chance and the ball is in the back of the net. I’m glad Drogba isn’t playing, he almost always scores against us throughout his entire time in the Premier League. Massive morale boast for the club. Confident of a 1-0 or a 2-1 win. But I’d be relatively happy with a draw.
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