Chelsea vs Arsenal (Carabao) 2-3

Matchday
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21

CL is practically done though, a draw at inter secures us top spot (assuming kairat as a freebie).

Worst case we should be second, so better go hard here and rotate in CL now.

5 Likes
22

1st or 2nd in the CL league phase makes no difference, right? Both would mean home draws in the second leg up until the semi-final (if we reach it), with the final being played at a neutral ground. So with the assumption that we win at home against the currently 32nd placed team (Kairat), we could even lose against Inter and be fine.

3 Likes
23

Honestly wouldnā€™t mind if we played the reserves for these 2, give them some more games and let the first team rest up/one less game for them to get injured

24

I want to destroy them, send them home packing.

1 Like
25

Same. Emphatic Stamford Bridge win would be so good.

3 Likes
26

I think weā€™re almost certain to play to keep it tight first and foremost with a view to winning the tie at home.

27

Ad Fernandez to scream point blank in the face of one of our players as things to bet the house on.

28

Play kids, donā€™t care if we go out, more impt things to save resources for, peak squad stress coming up in March/April I expect.

29

Once we get to the semi finals you need to go full strength to try and win it

4 Likes
30

Full fucking strength. Weā€™ve rested players on Sunday and can do the same in the next two European games. You cannot throw away chances at silverware, particularly to a club with a P.E. Teacher as manager.

4 Likes
31

I agree with you about this being a first team game but I think youā€™re wrong about resting players in the remaining European games. I donā€™t think thereā€™s any chance that away at Inter Milan, which we lost last season, will be any less than a full strength team.

The home game against Carrot Almighty is another story.

2 Likes
32

Inter away is a premium opponent. They have won the league twice in the last few years and look in position to get it back from Napoli again.

This is absolutely full strength for me.

2 Likes
33

Yeah, I really want us to win in Milan. Full strength, good test against an elite defensive opponent, away from home. That experience can prove vital in the latter stages.

But I also want to go (near) full strength tomorrow. And against Forest.

Itā€™s will be a fitness test for the players definitely, and hopefully scorelines will allow us to rotate in the second half of games.

1 Like
34

Nah, Iā€™d be sacrificing that Inter game to rest players as the remaining home game is 3 points whatever team we put out. A defeat there wouldnā€™t have any impact whatsoever.

Martinelli Jesus Madueke

Nwaneri Merino Eze

MLS Norgaard White Nichols

Kepa

Weā€™ve put ourselves in a great position to actually be able to throw out fringe players in the last couple of games, to rest first teamers at a busy point in the season and reap the rewards long term. Hopefully weā€™ll take advantage of that.

2 Likes
35

The December period has been busy. We can afford to rotate and the quality wouldnā€™t dip. Madueke, Eze, Havertz/Jesus, Nwaneri all should be playing versus Inter.

2 Likes
36

We could put out a perfectly good team against Chelsea and still rest key players and thatā€™s the reason Arteta has built a squad that is capable of competing for every trophy..

Players like Kepa, Madueke, Eze, White, Havertz, Jesus, MLS, Nwaneri, Hincapie, Merino, etc, need to play and are good enough for the first team so are ideal for these situations where the games arenā€™t as big and we need to rest our most important players.

2 Likes
37

I see what youā€™re saying but I think thereā€™s little to no chance Arteta sees it that way.

Also, I believe, though Iā€™m not sure the rules of the CL have changed slightly this year and in the knockout phase the team that finished higher in the league phase will always get the second leg at home and I think Arteta will rate any marginal advantage.

38

With Qairat Almighty in the last game thereā€™s zero chance weā€™re dropping out of the top two, even if we lose to Inter.

39

Again, I see your point. I just donā€™t think Arteta will see it that way.

1 Like
40

Aww, why canā€™t we have a fucking draw to determine that? Why are we rewarding good performances with a favourable draw? It seems so logical which makes it weird UEFA are doing it. But I was really looking forward to Rio Ferdimand pulling names out of a hat to decide home advantage.

2 Likes