Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Big Bet Preview
Arsenal Vs Chelsea
(Sun 6th Sep, 4:30PM UK - Sky Sports)
As much as we’re all about the EFL here at Tipple, some games in the Premier League can’t help but grab our attention. This is certainly one of them. Arsenal vs Chelsea is always a fixture with some bite to it, and this time around it could be even spicier than usual. The Gunners are the reigning title holders and are looking to win an historic second consecutive Premier League trophy, while Xabi Alonso’s new-look Chelsea aim to spoil the party without any European football to distract them from the prize. The big four (Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and, of course, Hull) have all started the season with a perfect 6 points from 6, but at least one of the London clubs will have to relinquish that record this weekend. Will Mikel Arteta give his old pal Xabi a harsh reality check in his first big Premier League game? Or will Alonso’s swashbuckling Chelsea be the kryptonite to Arsenal’s attritional excellence? It’s a bit early to say this, but we love to go over the top here at Tipple, it’s a Premier League title six-pointer in this weekend’s Big Bet!
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After redeeming myself from the shame of GW2 with my immaculate Big Bet prediction last week (who could’ve guessed that Port Vale vs Crewe would be rubbish?) I’m on a mission to make it 3 correct predictions from 4 this time around. I’m not saying I’m some sort of footballing Nostradamus but, after my perfect 6/6 in my Tipple picks last weekend, I like to think I’m qualified to dole out some advice. It’s a close one to call this week, and every other fixture is balanced on a knife-edge, so picking up the 5 bonus Big Bet points is more crucial than ever! If you’re struggling for inspiration as to which side of the fence to fall on, hopefully this preview can offer some guidance.
Transfer deadline day was a wild ride for both of sets of fans involved in this game for entirely different reasons. Arsenal’s static inactivity was a source of great frustration for the devoted Gooners, and it looks like new boy Christos Tzolis is going to have his work cut out as the only true left-winger left in the squad. I’m sure that if there were any other centre halves that can play at full-back available then Mikel Arteta would’ve made sure to pick them up. Just in case the other six come down with something.
Chelsea, as we have become accustomed to over the years, were a basket case. Enzo Fernandez finally left to join Manchester City for just £125m and the Blues were left scrambling for a replacement. AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara then looked set to join before the deal was suddenly cancelled, leaving them with a hole in the middle of the park. Somehow, a team who had over 50 first team players at one point in pre season have managed to get to the end of the transfer window lacking depth in the centre of midfield. It could only ever be Chelsea. Hey, at least they’ve got Jordan Henderson. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alonso lace up his boots and start dictating play from deep for his side, I reckon he’s still got it.
With all the transfer nonsense now firmly behind us, there’s only one thing left to do. Play some football. Arsenal and Chelsea have a storied rivalry spanning decades of history, and both come into this season with the loftiest of ambitions. Who will take the home the spoils and add some genuine credentials to their title charge at this early stage? It’s about as big as it can get in this week’s Big Bet!
Form
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have picked up two wins from two to open the season, and they couldn’t have got there in more different ways.
Arsenal have been their usual defensively-resolute selves, and are yet to concede a goal this season. They beat City 3-0 in the competitive-ish Community Shield, before welcoming Coventry back to the top flight with a brutally efficient victory of the same scoreline. Last weekend saw them win semi-comfortably 1-0 away from home against an Aston Villa side that are in the midst of a top-to-bottom rebuild, and it looks like they’re already doing what they’re best at and picking up points without having to enter second gear. Chelsea will pose the first real test of Arsenal’s title defence, they might even actually have to try this time out. It’ll be interesting to see what they’re really made of when the opposition take the game to them.
I don’t think there’s any danger of back-to-back 0-0s in the Big Bet as long as Chelsea are involved. They rang in the Alonso era with a 3-2 victory over local rivals Fulham, before marking his Stamford Bridge league debut with a 4-3 win against Brighton. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league since the 17th of January, two managers, a goalkeeper and a marquee centre half later, they still just can’t seem to keep the goals out. Luckily, they have no problem scoring them. Chelsea’s only other game this season was a 2-0 over Luton in the Carabao Cup, one in the eye for Arsenal as Jack Wilshere couldn’t get the better of his old rivals.
These teams are both natural winners, but they get to the same answer with vastly different workings out. Can Arsenal’s defence stay resolute? Or will the raw quality of Chelsea’s attack win out?
Head-to-head
Chelsea have failed to beat Arsenal in their last 11 meetings, those games resulting in 8 Arsenal wins and 3 draws.
This includes 4 games that were played last season, home and away in the league and both legs of the Carabao Cup semifinal, of which Arsenal won 3. The wins were all decided by just the one goal, so it’s not like Chelsea are getting blown to pieces, but it’s clear to see that Arsenal have got their number in recent years. It’s amazing to think back to the early 2010s when Chelsea were so dominant and it felt like Arsenal might never beat them again. How time flies.
It’s up to Xabi Alonso to break the spell Arsenal have had over his side now, can he do it at the first attempt? The last Chelsea manager to mastermind a victory over Arteta’s boys was a certain Thomas Tuchel. I wonder what he’s up to these days.
Key Matchup
Mikel Arteta vs Xabi Alonso
I’d normally pick two players that are set to be enthralled in a battle in this section, but I really think this game will come down to the minutia in team selection and tactical direction from these two clever little Spaniards.
Their styles almost exactly contrast each other, making for an intriguing contest. Arsenal have had 64% and 61% of the ball respectively in each of their league games so far, focussing on creating a smaller volume of higher quality chances rather than peppering the opposition, scoring 4 times in the process and, crucially, conceding 0 so far.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have been happy to cede possession to their opponents in search of chances on the break. They saw just 38% of the ball at Fulham and a measly 26% against Brighton, yet came away with 6 points and 7 goals scored. The obvious drawback to allowing quality Premier League footballers this much of the ball is that they’re likely to score. A lot. Only two teams have conceded more goals across the first two weeks of Premier League action than Chelsea, but nobody has scored more. Swings and roundabouts.
Arsenal aren’t used to having the game properly taken to them in this fashion on a regular basis, and I have been given no reason to believe that Alonso will adapt and sit back out of respect for Arsenal’s quality. It will be fascinating to see how these sides respond to each other and try and set the agenda with their own distinctive styles of play. Arsenal are worthy favourites, but this also feels like the exact sort of game an Arteta-era side could easily lose. It’s the biggest game of the weekend for a reason.
Two childhood friends that went from the schoolyard to the very top level and now find themselves managing across from each other on the biggest stage. Football is fantastic sometimes.
Preview
If I’m being honest, I really like this Chelsea team. They clearly have some massive flaws, but that’s what makes them so fun. He might bring them endless silverware over the years, but Xabi Alonso’s biggest accomplishment would be making a modern-day Chelsea team seem likeable. He truly is a miracle worker.
Despite my fascination with the Blues, I think it’s too early to confidently back them in a game of this magnitude. I’m going to have to go with my gut and pick an Arsenal win for this Big Bet. My heart isn’t fully behind my decision, but I just can’t bear the sinking feeling of not picking the best team in the league to win and then watching them walk out easy 2-0 winners once again.
What do you think? Are you as conflicted as I am, or it is a pretty open and shut case?
Whatever happens, it certainly won’t be a quiet Sunday afternoon.