Chelsea living rent-free in Arsenal's head going into Saturday's clash
Chelsea have the better of the Gunners in the days leading up to their London derby. Arsenal are preparing for the worst as they caution themselves about what to expect.
Diego Costa and Jose Mourinho’s shadow loom large over the Gunners. Arsenal are cautioning themselves about not giving in to Chelsea’s “mind games” and being reduced to 10 men again. Their fans, meanwhile, are unsettled by Michael Oliver’s appointment as match referee.
Premature whinging. Preemptive excuses. Lizard people-style conspiracy theories.
This is what happens to a club when one of its most prominent supporters is Piers Morgan.
Please, God. I’ve suffered enough, just give me this one thing and I will never complain about Arsenal again. https://t.co/bRkhWygtXb
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 16, 2016
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain revealed the Arsenal mindset, dwelling on red cards that contributed to the Gunners’ most recent Premier League defeats to Chelsea.
It’d be nice to keep 11 men on the pitch against Chelsea… it’s always a big clash with a lot of emotions and maybe some mind games. It’s a massive game and we just need to keep our discipline and stay in the game. – Evening Standard
The Telegraph speculates that Oxlade-Chamberlain is echoing Arsene Wenger’s instructions to his players on the training ground. Wenger will not have Jose Mourinho to boil his blood, but a few of Antonio Conte’s #passion-fueled celebrations outside of the technical area may induce the Frenchman to get a little pushy.
As Oxlade-Chamberlain hopes to keep his teammates’ emotions at bay, Arsenal fans are putting on their tinfoil hats. Arsenal has three losses and five draws in their last eight matches with Michael Oliver officiating, dating back to November 2013. Chelsea, on the other hand, is unbeaten under Michael Oliver’s steady eye.
All of which goes to prove absolutely nothing. Oliver officiated the 0-0 draw between these two sides. He denied Chelsea three penalty calls in the first half, including David Ospina levelling Oscar.
This Chelsea-Arsenal derby will be the first meeting between Arsene Wenger and Antonio Conte. Conte can outwit and outmaneuver his opposition starting at the manager’s press conference by being friendly, complimentary, even obsequious towards Wenger. After years of feuding with Jose Mourinho, Wenger may become thoroughly disoriented by a gracious Chelsea manager.
These are sorry times at the Emirates if Arsenal players and fans are getting this Piers-y this early in a season and this far in advance of a match. I guess 12 years without a title will do that to North Londoners.
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