Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Combined Starting Eleven
Arsenal and Chelsea are facing off in what is sure to be another memorable clash. Here is a combined starting XI with the best of the two sides.
Arsenal (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Arsenal and Chelsea have their rivalry founded on the insolence of Jose Mourinho, but just because he is no longer in the picture doesn’t mean that the rivalry is dead. Any competitor of our Gunners is a hated rival and Chelsea is no exception, even if they have no history to speak of (had to get that in here).
As it stands, Arsenal sits in fourth place (hold the jeers) and Chelsea are in fifth place (you were saying?) but the only thing separating them is one measly goal.
Related Articles:
Obviously both teams have high hopes to be in the title race for the duration of the season, so each clash with a major opponent like this could prove to be crucial points. Not to mention the fact that both teams are in starkly different positions, despite the relatively successful position they are in.
The good guys are back at work under the same watchful eyes they have been under for the past two decades. It is looking more promising than ever and there has to be high hopes that despite all the new arrivals in England, they have a chance to pull off a rare underdog story.
Speaking of new arrivals, Antonio Conte has taken Jose Mourinho’s failure and turned himself into the Italian version of Jurgen Klopp. His energy and passion is driving this team that looked dead to the world under the Special One.
All of that being said, let’s get started with this combined XI. We will start at keeper, as usual.
Keeper: Petr Cech
I hope this makes Chelsea fan’s bitter. They gave up Cech in light of the Belgian Octopus, Thibaut Courtois. But as the golden gloves of Cech will tell, they kept the lesser of the two keepers. Of course, Courtois is younger and has immense talent himself, he is still no Cech.
That’s not saying he will never be. But enough about how wonderful Petr Cech is, let’s get into the defense.
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Right Back: Hector Bellerin
Was their ever any doubt? Hector Belerin is the best right back in England and will therefore rank in as the starting right back on every single combined XI that we here at Pain in the Arsenal publish this season. If I’m feeling saucy, I may even skip over right back going forward, because you all know who goes there.
Anyway, Bellerin. He is coveted by Barcelona and Barcelona’s English extension, Manchester City. But his value to Arsenal makes him impossible to move. The man unseated the French National team’s starting right back with ease at the age of 19 and hasn’t turned back from that moment.
Everything about Bellerin’s play is glorious. His speed is untouchable, his attacking prowess is that of a winger while his defensive presence is that of a battle-hardened right back. With a little work on his crossing abilities, he could become a true Gunner legend.
Sorry, (insert any right back’s name) you have nothing on our young Spaniard.
John Terry
It hurts my soul to admit him into any starting XI with Arsenal men, but given that Shkodran Mustafi has not yet achieved consistency in this brand new world, there really is no other option. At the very least, I have found consolation in moving Terry to the other side in the partnership, just to inconvenience him in the slightest.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
All that out of the way, Terry is a tremendous defender and it’s a testament to his still-prevalent ability as well as his dedication to the team and leadership that he was kept on for another year when it looked certain that the Blues were going to let their fearless captain go.
Say what you will about his character flaws and intensity, but when it comes to classic, no-nonsense defenders, you couldn’t do much better than Terry. His skill is only out-shined by his longevity, as it is pretty clear that even in his advanced age, he has not suffered all-that much in his ability to shut down opposing strikers.
That being said, he is not the captain of this combined XI. Because I have too much pride for that. Anyway, on to Terry’s center back mate.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Laurent Koscielny
No one tops Bosscielny. I am of the same mind as Rio Ferdinand in his claim that Koscielny is the best center back in England. He was wanted by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, after all. Which means that for every time I could feasibly skip over Bellerin’s untouchable position at right back, I could do the same for Koscielny.
The Boss was an immediate boost to this Arsenal defense when he returned from his break. With Chambers and Holding, the defense was a mess and they surrendered four goals to a very newly-put-together Liverpool team.
Insert Koscielny the next week and suddenly the Gunner’s completely shut down the defending champs in their own den. There is no mistaking what is to be credited for the shift – it’s the Frenchman, and I don’t mean Yaya Sanogo.
Laurent Koscielny is the gift that keeps on giving. Truly one of the best signings of his era. And that is by no means an exaggeration.
Side note: Keep David Luiz away from any defense I’m putting together.
(Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Cesar Azpilicueta
Not going to lie, I almost put Nacho Monreal here just to avoid having to spell Azpilicueta’s name over and over. But I will overcome.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
The younger of the two Spaniards is essentially like a younger version of the older Spaniard, only a bit more dynamic defensively. Azpilicueta has solidified himself as one of the premier left backs in the Prem and it’s plain to see why. His intelligence as a defender is reflected in the numbers he puts up year after year.
Throughout his career, he has averaged three tackles and two interceptions per appearance. This year has not followed suit as of yet, but there’s no reason to doubt that he will sputter off into the abyss. That is, unless Conte switches to a back three, which would totally upset any future combined XI’s we were hoping to accomplish.
Back to the point, Azpilicueta doesn’t have the most ability going forward, but seeing as how Wenger is the manager in this combined XI, that’s how it is supposed to be. It’s the staggered back four, with Bellerin and Koscielny up and Terry and Azpilucueta back.
(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
Granit Xhaka
That’s right, sitting right here in the middle of the combined starting XI is a man who probably won’t even start the game. Patience is a virtue, they say.
I don’t think I am out of line to say that Granit Xhaka is currently Arsenal’s best option at holding midfield. I have said this numerous times and each time, I feel more and more confident in the statement. He is essentially Coqzorla, just in one person.
His goals have been nothing more than the icing on the Swiss cake. With his passing and control, he has proven that acclimating to English football wasn’t actually that difficult. Now the trick is convincing Wenger to sit one of the two in his way to give him his rightful place in the damn starting XI.
Xhaka is going to have a huge impact on Arsenal and the Premier League as a whole. His immensity of talent (is that a thing?) cannot be benched forever.
Let the salivating begin with his holding mate…
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
N’Golo Kante
Kante was the apple of many a Gooner’s eye. After watching the little Frenchman completely dominate in the Leicester City midfield on their way to the most unlikely EPL title in recent memory, he was on everyone’s radar.
However, when Arsenal landed Granit Xhaka immediately upon the completion of the season, people wondered if that was it. Naturally though, there were some holdouts that believed that we could land Kante too and form this combined XI’s midfield in the Gunner’s own midfield.
That didn’t happen, but I think we should be satisfied with Xhaka. The man is enjoying his time in North London and showing us that he is ready.
There is no doubting that Kante is arguably the best defensive midfielder in England at this time (I’m not calling Xhaka a defensive midfielder). He is a remarkable specimen that has had very little trouble fitting in at Chelsea.
By the way, why won’t I ever include Santi Cazorla in a combined starting XI? What’s wrong with me?
Anyway, let’s get into this attack.
(Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Alexis Sanchez
Dear Chelsea fans,
I sincerely considered putting Willian here. I really did. I think Willian is a fantastic talent and really coming into his own. I could have pushed Alexis up to striker.
However, I’m still not sold on the experimentation that is going on with Alexis up front. Sure, it worked against Hull City, but that is once. Show me it working against a major side and maybe I’ll buy into it. Until then, I will keep my belief that he should be playing on the wings.
Alexis is finally starting to hit his stride yet again. With two goals (well, one and a half) against Hull, he is well out of the gates and racing towards the top of the scoring charts. The dynamic Chilean will always have his place in combined starting XI’s no matter where he finds himself (hopefully always at Arsenal).
Let’s move onto the center of this attacking force, where you will most certainly not find Cesc Fabregas.
(Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
Mesut Ozil
Let’s be honest, I have been fair and unbiased thus far. But you don’t have to be fair and unbiased to recognize that no matter who Arsenal plays, Mesut Ozil is going to be right here, along with Hector Bellerin and Laurent Koscielny.
Each member of that trio is simply the best at their respective positions in the Premier League. And to any Chelsea supporters who want to say that Ozil is off to a poor start, so too is Azpilicueta but I included him based on what I’ve seen him do in the past. So there.
Ozil is going to come into form and Arsenal are going to be rather frightening when he does. They have done all of what they are currently doing largely without the exploits of the German mastermind. Let that ruminate in your minds a bit.
Ozil has never had the best of luck against Chelsea, but this is as good a time as any to turn that nasty trend around.
Let me sprinkle my head with holy water before I do this next position…
(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Eden Hazard
I am going to save this page so that any time I am ever accused of being biased, I can cite it. I let Eden ‘The Ghost’ Hazard push Alexis over to the right side and I even let him start over the Premier League assist king, Alex Iwobi.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
Do I feel good about myself? Not in the slightest. But something tells me I’ll get my just deserts soon.
Hazard had to be frustrating to watch last year from a Chelsea standpoint (he was glorious from my standpoint). This man is incredibly talented, yet absolutely nothing came off for the Belgian as Chelsea sputtered to their mid-table finish.
This year, he has looked revitalized and back to where he had been prior to the dismal 2015/16 season. That bodes ill for all of Chelsea’s rivals. When he is clicking, there are few who do it better than Hazard.
Speaking of just deserts, let’s get to striker.
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Olivier Giroud
Now, before you rage-close this window, hear me out. I recognize the merits of Diego Costa. As much as I despise him, I recognize. I am not simply choosing Olivier Giroud out of spite for having to start John Terry and Eden Hazard.
Let’s hit the numbers.
Since coming to England, Costa has scored 37 goals in 6,075 minutes. That’s a goal every 155.77 minutes.
Olivier Giroud has scored 66 goals in 11,325 minutes. That’s a goal every 171.59 minutes.
So Costa then!
Not so fast. Giroud has also created 25 goals, whereas Costa has created just 12. Reapplying that to the minutes, we can see that Giroud contributes to a goal every 124.45 minutes and Costa contributes to one every 123.98 minutes.
It’s a basic wash.
Next Post: Arsenal’s Top 10 Prospects
So, between that and the intangibles, like Giroud’s link-up and hold-up play, I will conclude in favor of Giroud. And because I just don’t like Costa (there it is).
This article originally appeared on 
