Arsenal America

“Chelsea vs Arsenal; Sun Sep 01 11:00AM Eastern

TV:Pay-per-view (also available at selected pubs)

Radio: arsenal.com

Arsenal: 1st (7 points)Chelsea: 5th (5 points)The Kentucky Gunner, Ken Bradley, previews the boys from Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, as a football club, are in a self destruct mode. Preseason players who were off-loaded (Dalla Bona and Jokanovic) describe the team as in “”financial meltdown.”" No off season talent was brought in and rumors circulate constantly of their best players being sold for cash in order to erase debt. Then add Chairman Ken Bates, who can only be described as an utter idiot, with comments that the financial problems at Chelsea stem from September 11 and Americans fear of flying. (As if any soccer-loving fan would travel 3,000 miles to see Chelsea). With all this said we face Chelsea the team, not Chelsea the football club, but these off the field battles should give distraction to a team struggling to find its nitch in the premiership.

With Barcelona stating they are no longer interested in Jimmy Floyd Hasellbaink(JFH), the all-important striker comes off a lackluster performance at Southampton. Rested in the second half, manager Claudio Ranieri has decided to save JFH for the Gunners. JFH is strong, fast, a great finisher and is always looking to shoot. Recently in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Man Utd., JFH fired several from 25-30 yards, barely missing the target. He is coupled with Zola, the tiny Italian. He can score some of the most tricky and entertaining goals seen and has years of experience. Eidur Gudjohnsen, sits on the bench. This would in fact make no sense as JFH and Gudjohnsen were the best goal scoring tandem last season; but don’t try to make sense of Chelsea.

The midfield is where Chelsea are strongest. The midfield flows as short passes, in tight corners, open up space for the return pass. At times a pass forward will be met with two overlapping midfielders giving options to the ball handler. The midfield is always active, moving to space to receive the ball. Zenden, Lampard, Petit (who is questionable with an injury) Gronkjaer and Stanic have a good bit of chemistry and all are capable of scoring. Rumors are coming in that Chelsea may have bought Dino Baggio from Lazio and that he will be on the bench in time to see the Gunners. Also, Petit has cut the ponytail so he is harder to distinguish on the pitch.

Chelsea’s defense is at times brilliant and other times somewhere else. Resorting to thug-like tactics they may stomp on a leg or slap a face. Marcel Desailly, “”the rock”", comes in the center of defense and is running a hot streak of late. Gallas, an Arsenal target in the off season, has established himself as a presence in the back four. Carlo Cudicini sits in goal, he has not made many mistakes and seems to fit well in the Chelsea strategy.

In the last 10 games against the Blues, Arsenal have won 6 and settled for a draw 4 times. Stamford Bridge, which is a tough place to play, has seen the Gunners win 2 and draw 3 in their last 5 attempts. With off the field distractions, a manager who seems not to understand the English game, some unsettling in the line up and Arsenal’s good record against Chelsea there should be no reason that the Gunners do not come away with points on Sunday.

Arsenal America Predicts: Two or three years ago ArseAm would have settled for a draw, but now a draw no longer feeds the bulldog. Want to win the league again? Beat some decent teams on the road. 3-2 to the Arsenal.”