Arshavin’s performance against Partizan Belgrade was very exciting for me. He was the player who I thought we would witness much more since his record signing. He was getting involved and creating chance after chance

Time to turn up the Rocky theme tune, pull out the red and white colours. Mentally prepare ourselves and crank up the adrenaline. Season 2010/2011 is soon about to begin. Blackburn Rovers at Ewood park was a fraction of a test, a test that we came through well. The trip to Stamford Bridge is a different ball game all together. All the comings and goings during the summer along with the work done on both training pitches gets shown this afternoon.

Chelsea have been built up as a super steam rolling machine who will crush anything that moves and when you have a glance at their goal difference it is easy to be sucked into that hype. In truth, they are a very good team who were the most consistent in an overall inconsistent league last season. They have beaten teams this season who you would expect they would be beating which makes their results look better than they actually are. This is why I do not believe that winning, drawing or losing will make a massive difference to the out come of this season.

Had Chelsea beaten Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool away from home so far this season then the points difference on us would look somewhat more frightening. They have lost their first real test of the season, no shame in that as it was away from the fortress Stamford Bridge, against a good side.

Last season they got the better of us in both encounters as they did with our other rivals from further North Manchester United. I know I may be a very lonely figure saying this but I still do not believe that they were much better than us. I believe that their game plan was better than ours and they executed that game plan more effectively than ourselves.

At the Emirates they were very solid, very well organised and snuffed out our chances, the rubbish that followed about Arsenal being bullied and out muscled was the biggest load of horse stink that I have ever heard. Chelsea let us have the ball in wide areas and congested the middle. Little Arshavin and co had nothing whatsoever to feed off and we were caught cold. Chelsea were efficient in their work. They did not carve out chance after chance and dominate us as so many people lead you to believe.

Bad defending undone us, while they remained resolute.

At the Bridge it was more of the same, we looked sharper and quicker in our football than we did at the Emirates. Arshavin should have scored the equaliser before more woeful defending allowed Drogba the chance to smash in from close range following a counter attack.

Don’t get me wrong, Chelsea deserved their points, they were the more efficient side in both penalty boxes but I am not buying the leagues apart nonsense that was being spewed in the media.

There is most certainly a reason why the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United change their strategy against us, because they know we are superior footballers. We know that football is not 100% about talent so the rest will have to be right from the boys in red and white. If those other qualities are right on the day then there is no reason why the players cannot leave West London this evening smiling to themselves on the coach back to north London.

There will be many interesting duels happening on the pitch, many should be very interesting. Didier Drogba will probably be up against Sebastien Squillaci with probably Koscielny floating around them, looking for interceptions and to clean up any Drog mess. Bag it and bin it Kos, keep the streets of London clean me son.

Alex Song vs Michael Essien is very interesting. I see Essien as one the best box to box midfielders in world football right now. Essien has been often detailed to keep Cesc Fabregas quiet and he has done that pretty well in the past, he will not have that job to do tomorrow but he may come up against a rampaging Alex Song should someone like Wilshere or Nasri drop back to allow him to burst forward at time. Song may not be in his best form at present but this is a chance for him to raise his game. I hope to see the two power houses go shoulder to shoulder at a few point during the 90 minutes.

Arshavin vs Ivanovic on paper is a total mismatch. Arshavin small, quick and nimble while Ivanovic brings height and power to the full back position. I would expect Arshavin to float inside much the way he did against Partizan and I don’t think Ivanovic will enjoy going with him.

I thought that Denilson would have featured in the Arsenal engine room but apparently the mobile Brazilian has showed part of Wenger’s hand by admitting that he will be taking his place amongst the Arsenal substitutes. It could possibly mean quite a brave an technical side for Arsenal, especially away from home. I hope that Rosicky and Nasri get the chance to play together. When those two play, we usually keep the ball very well. Wilshere may just have played himself into a starting position instead of the not yet fully fit Abou Diaby who may not yet be ready for a game of this speed.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Andrey Arshavin

Arshavin’s performance against Partizan Belgrade was very exciting for me. He was the player who I thought we would witness much more since his record signing. He was getting involved and creating chance after chance. I am banking on Andrey to pull out another big performance. Perhaps not getting as involved as he was in midweek but when he does get the ball in that inside left position, I expect him to hurt Chelsea in between the lines.

It will be a big day for Lukasz Fabianski who is likely to be facing a physical Chelsea side from set pieces. Do not be surprised to see John Terry pushing the boundaries of the law when he leaps up with our goalkeeper.

Somewhere amongst Arsene’s team talk, the words efficiency may come up and that word cannot be understated, We are not likely to create countless chances against the Champions at their own ground but with the players we have in our side we could certainly create a few decent ones. The players have to be sharp, be positive, calm and finish what comes their way. Had we had that part of our game functioning in recent fixtures then the story could have been completely different. Only a few years ago we were beaten at the Emirates by 4 goals to 1 but what that bit of history forgot to inform us was that we absolutely battered them in the first half an hour and should have scored four goals ourselves.

Last season at the Emirates in particular, Chelsea allowed our wide players plenty of time on the ball, I wonder if the same charity will be handed out. We have a new boy in town who would be ready to profit from crosses as he showed so brilliantly in Europe for us. Chamakh is a new test for the Chelsea defence in this Arsenal team and that could decide the match. Rosicky could be back on the right, delivering his bending balls into the box so Terry and co had better be prepared to challenge aerially like they have never had to do against Arsenal in the past.

Arguably the best spine in the Premier League will be sitting out of the biggest game of the season so far. Vermaelen, Cesc and Van Persie would force their way into most sides in the entire world but even with that major set back I still feel rather confident for the approaching game. Having said that I would rather we had them and Chelsea were missing Terry, Lampard and Drogba. Yeah I know, like that would ever bloody happen. *fumes for a second*

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 (Arshavin, Nasri)

I got the last prediction correct, including two of the three goal scorers so I am hoping that continues. I am usually worried about these big games but for some reason I have total faith that the players will produce.

Let us not have regrets, let us show everyone that we are capable and that we are ready for this, I know I am. Don’t let us down boys, give your all and beat these punks.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!