Stamford bridge is not so much Mos Eisley these days but rather it's a hive of achievement at the cost of personality. I don't like Chelsea FC, never have, I've always thought of them as all mouth and trousers but then they started winning stuff, and winning stuff. Yes, the foundations of the modern Chelsea are questionable and for a while they had the triumvirate of terrible wretches. Their captain; a loathsome piece of work with a rap sheet as long as your arm. Their manager; a narcissist who made Mussolini look like David Attenborough. Their owner; a man whose fortune consists of dirty money, in fact, absolutely filthy money. Add to that the combination of Wine Merchants named Ollie and casual racists and it's no wonder Elvis Costello wrote 'I don't want to go to Chelsea'.
And tonight the Arsenal have to turn up at the home of the European Champions and get a result. And yes, a result that isn't a defeat is what is needed (by any means necessary).
This is ostensibly the game in hand that has been loitering in the wings, and with the imploding Manchester United the next visitors to The Emirates, a return of more than 3 points from these fixtures would be a great way to put the last 9 points dropped firmly in the rear view mirror.
I don't like Chelsea FC and the thought of losing to them and thereby seriously derailing a season that is hanging on by it's fingernails, is a vomit inducing one.
Do I think The Arsenal will win tonight? no I don't. Do I think a point can be gained? yes I do. The problem with playing Chelsea these days is that there is such a large gap between the two clubs in terms of ambition, recent achievement, and of course expenditure, that it can be a bit of a non event game.
The thing that, perhaps, may elevate the Arsenal's performance is the idea that possibly Chelsea are heading towards some sort of judgement day now that they have been sanctioned and that a good performance may help us to be well placed for European qualification so as to feel we are going in the right direction next season. A good performance may also lay down a marker that, while we have fallen short against the top two we can compete with the number three.
That this vital game is at the home of a club who typify new money and have a gloaty and unappealing fanbase is enough to fill one with trepidation, but our away fans have been fantastic this season and tonight I feel that our boys are going to need al the support that they can muster if the good guys are going to prevail.
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so I said...