No Luis, No Schurlle – Likely Changes Chelsea Will Make For Arsenal
After an impressive display against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the day two of the Uefa Champions league encounter in Lisbon Portugal, Chelsea returns to Stamford Bridge in what will be its 4th home match and 7th over-all game in the 2014/2015 Premier league season. Chelsea hosts Arsenal in a crunchy super Sunday London derby.
Chelsea and Arsenal remain the only unbeaten teams in the Premier League this season. Chelsea currently sit top of the league table with 16points from a possible 18 after winning five and drawing one of their opening six Premier league matches so far this season. Arsenal on the other hand sits fourth on the log with 10points behind Southampton and Manchester City who are second and third respectively after six rounds of matches. Arsenal unbeaten run however, comes on the back of winning two and drawing four of their opening six Barclay’s Premier league matches.
And after a comfortable win for both teams in their midweek champions league games, both managers will look to go all out again with the best squad they believe will give them the desired result. So, we take a look at the possible changes Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho will likely make to the team that beat Sporting Lisbon so as to unleash an assault against the Emirate boys.
- In Goal:
Thibaut Courtios will definite continue in goal in place of Petr Cech. Jose Mourinho has seem to prefer the young Belgian in goal in both league and champions league match thus restricting Cech to just on Capital one cup appearance so far this season. There have been concerns though, over Courtios form after he conceded 7goals in his first five Premier league game keeping only one clean sheet in the process. But after having two consecutive clean sheets against Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon, Mourinho will look to continue to give the task of manning the sticks to the 22-year-old.
- In Defence:
The trio of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and John Terry will all keep their place while the only place Mourinho might ring a change will be at the left full back position. Cesar Azpilicueta will likely take his adopted position back after he was kept out by Filipe Luis in the champions league game against Sporting CP. Mourinho seems to have designed a way of using the pair by Playing Azpilicueta in the league games and Luis in the cup games. So expect a change at the left back with the man who grabbed the assist for Diego Costa’s goal against Aston Villa taking the spot.
- Going Forward:
Chelsea will start with the same players that started against Sporting except for Andre Schurrle who may be dropped for Willian. Matic and Fabregas as the central midfielders while Hazard operates as the attacking left midfielder with Oscar behind the lone striker. Willian could start this one as Mourinho will favour a player with defensive discipline to help Ivanovic track the runs of Alexi Sanchez in the right flank. Diego Costa takes his position as the lone striker as he has already been passed fit to play on Sunday.
In all, there won’t be any radical change to the side that beat Sporting Lisbon. The only position we are likely to see changes could be the left full back with Cesar Azpilicueta taking the spot and Luis returning to the bench and Willian for Schurrle in the right flank. What do you think.