Arsenal play host to champions elect Chelsea at the Emirates in a crunch match at the top of the Premier League on Sunday, Arsene Wenger hasn’t beaten a Jose Mourinho-managed side in 12 attempts, will that baron run come to an end against the in-form Gunners? I chat to Read Chelsea’s James Spiking to see what he thinks.
Q) What is your opinion on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger?
A) What Arsene Wenger has done for Arsenal has been immaculate. As everyone knows, nothing in the world is perfect. Wenger has brought up his own Arsenal team, and kept adapting it either by bringing in quality such as Ozil and Sanchez, and using the Arsenal youth set-up. He isn’t one to panic. In many clubs by now, Wenger would have been replaced. However, Arsenal are content with the Frenchman seeing as he is regularly getting Arsenal back into the UCL, whilst battling against financial restrictions set upon him by the move to The Emirates. My opinion on Arsenal as a club? Solid. They will bring a fight to every game, and like to play broad football.
Q) Why has Wenger found it so difficult to defeat Jose Mourinho and is this his best chance of doing that?
A) Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have been at each other’s throats throughout both their careers. They obviously had that kind of battle in the press conferences when the words ‘specialist in failure’ were thrown around. Jose Mourinho’s tactics for the big games are extremely hard to break down, and it’s not only Wenger that has found this out. Think back to the game at Stamford Bridge earlier on this season. Chelsea weren’t the best on that day, but 2 moments of pure perfection (and a mistake from Koscielny) gave us the win. There was no stopping either of them goals. Who knows when the best chance is for Wenger to beat Mourinho. With the type of record that the Chelsea boss is maintaining, he will want to keep hold of it. I’m pretty sure Mourinho will know if Chelsea beat Arsenal, the Premier League trophy heads to West London. I wouldn’t say Sunday would be Wenger’s best chance.
Q) Who do you think makes an all-fit Arsenal side?
A) Woah, when do you ever see an all-fit Arsenal side. On their day, Arsenal can beat anybody. With Sanchez on fire, and Giroud finding the net like he has been all season, the Arsenal front-line is very tasty. If you see Arsenal fully fit, the XI is complete. However, just because it is fully-fit, doesn’t mean it will play well 100% of the time.
Q) Is this the biggest match of the season?
A) If you said to me at Christmas that Arsenal vs. Chelsea would be the biggest game of the season, I’d tell you to go and get checked out. But looking at the table now, this is by far the most important game. With only a certain amount of games remaining, this one could be a Banana for Chelsea. However, I think Arsenal have left it to late. Chelsea will have their tails up knowing a win at the Emirates basically gives them the title. But, Chelsea will need to go into this one with confidence, but not too much.
Q) What have you made of Arsenal’s season?
A) Arsenal’s season has yet again been an up and down one. They have ended very strongly, but their recent form is something that needs to be maintained throughout the season, not just at the final push. If you reflect on their last few results, they are picking up points at teams that are fighting for survival, and that isn’t always easy.
Q) Cesc Fabregas is a former Gunners favourite, on his return to north London, what do you think his reception will be like and will it motivate him even more?
A) Cesc will get tons of abuse. Let’s be honest, he got it at Stamford Bridge, and is bound to get it at the Emirates. But, it won’t put him down. He is a professional and will let his football do the talking. He will probably even applaud the Arsenal faithful after the game, despite the abuse.
Q) If you had to sign three Arsenal players who would they be and why?
A) Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez. Ospina would be a decent back-up to Cech. Oxlade-Chamberlain is English and could do some damage for us. Sanchez is just a player I rate a lot, so would take him in a heart-beat to be on the wing with Eden Hazard.
Q) What is your score prediction and how do you think the game will pan out?
A) If Diego Costa is fit, 2-1 Chelsea. If not, we will play from the back and hope for a 1-0 win. I can’t see us losing.
Q) Finally, what do you think Arsenal need to do to become a force domestically and continentally again?
A) Arsenal need a change, but I don’t know where at. Is it somewhere in the management, or in the owners? One thing for sure, you have the squad to compete in Europe. Maybe with a few world-class additions, who knows what may happen in the next few years.
