The Barclays Premier League Thread 2013/14

[Kaney]

Really good to see Podolski on the bench today hopefully he's getting back to full fitness and can bolster our attack more, so we're not relying on Bendtner. Fucking Bendtner >_<

[Baddar]

A draw would be nice tonight.

[Kaney]

No it wouldn't.

[Baddar]

No it wouldn't.

I think, even for an Arsenal fan, a point would be pretty good going. Level on points at the top, and above Man City and Chelsea going into christmas would be something no-one could have really expected after the first game of the season.

[Kaney]

No one expected it for us or for Liverpool (except Nerf) but that's the problem I don't want us to sit on our laurels and play it safe. Arsenal can beat Chelsea, they have a good enough team if they can keep their confidence after the recent pounding they've been getting. I want them to go out for a win but no doubt I'll be wishing for a point when we are down three nil at half time

[stokeriño]

when we are down three nil at half time

Silly Kaney. Chelsea don't get two goal leads, let alone three!

[Kaney]

I certainly hope not.

[Baddar]

Oof, unlucky Lampard.

[Starvinho]

That would've been a cracking goal, typical Lampard too with composure in midfield then drifting into the box.

[Starvinho]

Mikel with a nasty one on Arteta.

[Nerf]

This is incredibly dull so far. Thanks, Ojose.

[stokeriño]

This is incredibly dull so far. Thanks, Ojose.

Arsenal attempts: 0

Chelsea attempts: 6

Thanks, Arsene.

[Baddar]

It hasn't been the best game but Chelsea have played really well. Arsenal haven't been able to get going and could do with half time.

[Jimmy]

Is Mike Dean gonna book anyone? Shoul have been a number of yellow cards so far.

[stokeriño]

Another chance we should have done better with, this time by Willian.

[Baddar]

It's had the odd rash challenge but it's not a nasty game at all. Nothing worse than a game ending up with 10 yellow cards just because a player picked one up early on.

Willian should have done better there.

[stokeriño]

This had better not be another one of those games where we have the better of the first half without scoring and then crumble in the second...

[Jimmy]

The one were the left back had a little kick earlier was definitely a yellow, as was Mikel's challenge. Commentators saying the ref's made allowances because slide tackles are going to be worse timed in the rain, which is all the better reason to book people for them. It's not been nasty, and he's been consistent in this game, but a bunch of those challenges would be bookings in another game, or even later in the game.

[Jimmy]

Also, for what it's worth, never a pen for me. There's contact, but Walcott's already going over before contact's made. If he's standing straight when Willian touches him, then I'd agree on a pen claim.

[stokeriño]

Carragher's response to Neville saying "That tackle's as 50/50 as you can get, they're both coming in the same way, only a yellow card" is to say "No Gary, the only way they can come in for that tackle in these conditions is like that."

That's the strangest way of disagreeing that I've heard in a while.