Arsenal vs chelsea
Premier league football returns this weekend; and what better place to kick off than the titanic clash between arsenal fc and chelsea fc. This fixture sees the second ‘top 4’clash of the season and a potentially mouth watering match. These two are arguably the two ‘best performing ‘ sides in the league this season with an array of attacking talent worth hundreds of millions of pounds, and we can only hope the game lives up to the hype.
This fixture has thrown up more drama than a nollywood romantic movie. Who can forget last years match at the bridge,where a seaminly regressing arsenal side cooked up one of the games of the season with a 5-2 win; or a certain Mr Drogba terrorising various generations of arsenal defenders(one mr senderos always comes to mind); or the unforgettable hatrick at the bridge by kanu nwankwo.these two have battled it out for over 15 years to become the top dog in London, and this season will be no different.
Chelsea top the table and are unbeaten in six league outings; while Arsenal are getting back the groove after a stunted start,probably caused by the departures of van persie and song. However they too are unbeaten in their five league outings which include away matches to stoke,man city, and liverpool. Both sides scored six goals in midweek capital one clashes,so should come into this game full of confidence.there have been 108 goals in 40 contests between these sides in the premier league era, and arsenal have won 36 of the 75 league games against chelsea, who have recorded 19 wins.
Arsenal’s captain, thomas vermaelen is expected to return to the squad after a virus, while chelsea captain john terry should also return to the starting line up as he has the right to appeal the four game ban imposed on him after being found guilty of racially abusing anton ferdinand.
This will be a contest based on differences in style, formation, and ideologies.on the red corner poses a team whos philosophies are based on a footballing tradition that will celeberate 16 years by next Monday ,modelled around one-touch football based on intelligent movement and pace;a business model based on self sustained financial integrity;and the belief in giving its manager ‘almost’ total autonomy on decisions concerning the team.
On the blue corner stands a team who changed the face of english football and club ownership as we know it; since 2004 ,after being bought by russian billionaire abramovic and with the help of the’special one’(or as we know him these days....the ‘only one’)built a team of sheer brut and strenth,reliability and efficiency; their business model couldnt be more different from their opponents,because most of their financial power comes from the owners pockets;and so does many decisions about the team.
Each model has had its case for success..........so no pointing fingers. As monsier wenger once famously said every man says his wife is the most beautiful.some may argue that chelsea have modified their game over the years with addittions of exciting talents like mata and hazard...and they wwould have a point.
So on the opening match of the weekend, will it be the guile and technical of the little matadors(cazorla and mata), the wizadry of hazard,the efficiency of podolski,or the reliability of lampard that will settle the scores at the emirates,and give one of these sides the bragging rights in london even if for just a short while. By 2.30pm tommorow we would find out more about arsenals presumed new found still, or if chelseas early season form is merely flattering to decieve.
Till the next time.........
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