Arsenal must score first if they are to get result at Chelsea, says Paul Merson

Arsenal must score first if they are to get result at Chelsea, says Paul Merson

Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes his old side have to score first in order to have any hope of getting a good result against Chelsea this weekend.

The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge in somewhat unconvincing form, with their only wins this season coming against Leicester City, Bournemouth and FC Cologne.

Alexis Sanchez magic compensates for early wobble vs Cologne
Arsene Wenger has a dreadful recent record away to Arsenal’s main ‘big six’ rivals, and hasn’t won away to Chelsea since all the way back in the 2011/12 season.
Merson isn’t confident the north Londoners can eschew subjugate this time, presaging a 3-0 win for the Premier League champions.
Arsenal legend expounds the only way Gunners can eschew a drubbing at Chelsea

However, the former England international says Arsenal could make it interesting if they get the first goal, as they gain confidence in those situations, whereas they simply collapse if they go behind.
‘It’s all about the first goal. If Arsenal score first you will watch and think “wow, they look decent”,’ Merson told Sky Sports.
‘They will be confident and they have good players who look decent when they are winning.

Hector Bellerin reveals the change that sparked Arsenal's comeback vs Cologne
‘But when they are losing too many of them just go completely and utterly missing. The shape goes out of the window and if they let in the first goal it could be anything.
‘People are saying to me “what a good result against Bournemouth” but if you could have handpicked any team to play last week it was Bournemouth.
‘If Arsenal score first it will be a very interesting match but I don’t think they will.’

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Chelsea are among Champions League 'favourites', says Qarabag coach

Chelsea are among Champions League 'favourites', says Qarabag coach

Antonio Conte's Chelsea should be considered among the front-runners to win the Champions League this season, according to Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov.

Conte was able to rest a number of regular starters against Qarabag on Tuesday night, with a rotated Chelsea XI still sauntering to a 6-0 Champions League victory at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Pedro, Davide Zappacosta, Cesar Azpilicueta, substitute Tiemoue Bakayoko and Michy Batshuayi ascertained a comfortable return to Europe's elite after last season's first absence since 2003-04.

Chelsea won the Champions League for the first time in 2012, and Gurbanov believes that the Premier League champions deserve to be labelled as one of the favourites to wrestle away Authentic Madrid's crown this season.
Verbalizing with heralds after the match, Gurbanov verbally expressed: "The game was very arduous for us.

"Chelsea played very good. Chelsea is a favourite for the tournament.

"We made lots of errors and I accept we must play even preponderant. But I am gratified with the way we played."

Conte was delectated with Chelsea's performance, verbally expressing: "It was a good commencement, an impeccable start for us.

Conte’s trust is rewarded on Chelsea’s Champions League return
"To play the first game (of the) Champions League, then to win with a good result, to score many goals, to culminate the game with an immaculate sheet. I visually perceived an abundance of positive things tonight.

"Now we have to perpetuate, we have to repose tomorrow and then to commence to cogitate the next game, a vigorous game, a tough game against Arsenal (on Sunday)."

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Victor Moses Ready For His Fifth Champions League Appearance

Victor Moses Ready For His Fifth Champions League Appearance

The Nigerian is ready to add to his appearances in the Champions League, although manager Antonio Conte hinted at Monday's press conference that he'll rotate his squad.

As Morata aims Champions league Hat-Trick
If the Nigeria international is involved tomorrow against Group C outsiders Qarabag, it will be the right wing-back's fifth game in total for the Premier League champions in Europe's elite club competition.
Moses debuted in the Champions League against FC Nordsjaelland on October 2, 2012, and got more playing time in Chelsea's last three games in the group stage.
The Blues number 15 posted on Twitter : ''Getting ready for the Champions league.

Manager Antonio Conte told reporters in his pre-match press conference : ''We played a tough game (at Leicester) and spent a lot of energy. 

''To play seven games in 21 days is not easy. It's normal to prepare some rotations.

"There is the necessity to rotate and play game-by-game."

Moses will compete for a starting spot with the player that replaced him in Saturday's clash versus Leicester City, Davide Zappacosta, who has yet to debut in the Champions League.

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Morata Targets Champions League Hat-Trick

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Morata targets Champions League hat-trick

Morata targets Champions League hat-trick

Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata is targetting third Champions League trophy with the Blues having won two during his spell with Real Madrid.

Chelsea is back in the top competition after missing last season
edition due to woeful campaign in Premier League, but this time
Antonio Conte's men qualified as the top flight winner in England.
The Spanish forward 'Morata', who has hit the ground running after his move from Real Madrid is targeting a third success in the competition, Chelsea is will play Qarabag at the Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Morata said:"I have won a lot but I want to win more. My dream is to score a lot of goals here and to win titles with Chelsea.
"That's why I left Madrid and accepted the offer here. I want to be ambitious."
He added:"For me the Champions League is the main prize you can win, both as a club and as a player.
"I have lived through the experience of playing in this competition
with both Juventus and Real Madrid - and I have won titles. This
season I am playing to win again. It will be a special success for me
if we can do it."
Morata, 24, has scored three in four Premier League games since
joining from Real Madrid and he is set to replicate the form in the
Champions League when he faced Azerbajian Champions Qarabag a fourth night.
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Batshuayi:- Delivering Chelsea the title the stuff of dreams

Batshuayi:-  Delivering Chelsea the title the stuff of dreams

The Chelsea striker in the person of  Michy Batshuayi was delighted to deliver the title with his winner against West Brom after an otherwise difficult season.

Michy Batshuayi was over the moon with his Premier League designation-winning goal in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over West Brom that optically discerned the Blues crowned champions on Friday.
The Belgium international has been struggling to secure conventional first-team action at Chelsea following his peregrinate from Marseille at the commencement of the season and has only featured sparingly.
That did not obviate him from becoming the club's hero against the Baggies, though, and he has admitted his strike was a dream come true.

"It is the stuff of dreams," Batshuayi told the club's official website.
"We have had a fantastic season, we have worked really hard and everyone is so happy. Above all, we are the champions. It was a chance to reach our objective as soon as possible and we are all delighted we did it.
"I am very happy to have helped the team at a big moment. Of course it has been a very difficult season for me personally, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy because this is a great club with great players. I have worked very hard and I have now made a big contribution which is a dream.
"Even if I have not played much I have learned a lot during the week in training, and whenever I get minutes I give my maximum.
"Now I want to keep helping the team in the last few weeks which are very important because we have a Cup final to win, and we will give everything to achieve that."

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West Brom 0-1 Chelsea:- Blues claim title with late Batshuayi winner

West Brom 0-1 Chelsea:- Blues claim title with late Batshuayi winner

Antonio Conte's side are Premier League champions for the fifth time after substitute Michy Batshuayi struck an 82nd-minute winner against West Brom at The Hawthorns. 

For most of this match if looked like the Blues would need to wait until at least Sunday to re-claim their top-flight crown, but super sub Batshuayi scrambled off the bench to net only his second Premier League goal of the season. 
Before this game the 23-year-old Frenchman had only mustered 109 top-flight minutes in 17 appearances this season, but made sure he will be remembered for more than mere cameos by scoring the goal that brings a season of Chelsea dominance to a worthy close.
The Blues huffed and puffed on the night, but were rewarded for their persistence by scoring with their 23rd shot of the match as Batshuayi finished off from Cesar Azpilicueta's cutback. Interestingly, this is the third season in a row that a Belgian had scored the title-winning goal. 

For most of the night they were frustrated: in the second half, Eden Hazard saw a deflected cross agonisingly saved off the line after he'd rounded Ben Foster and put in a menacing ball which hit two players before being stopped by substitute Claudio Yacob. 
But all's well that ended well, and Chelsea are top-flight champions for the sixth time in their history. 

MORE OPTA FACTS...
Chelsea are the first club to win the English top-flight title on a Friday since Arsenal at Anfield in 1989
Antonio Conte is the fouth Italian manager to win the English top-flight title after Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri
Conte is the fourth manager to lift the Premier League trophy in his first season in England (Jose Mourinho 04/05, Carlo Ancelotti 09/10, Manuel Pellegrini 13/14)
The Italian has won the league title in four successive seasons as a club coach (also won Serie A in 11/12, 12/13 & 13/14)

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Conte: Chelsea had to solve a lot of problems on their way to title

Conte:- "Chelsea had to solve a lot of problems on their way to title"

The  Chelsea boss has stressed it has not been an easy season as they are moving closer to the Premier League title.

Antonio Conte has come up to say that the work across the club that has gone into taking Chelsea to the brink of a Premier League title in his debut season.
The Stamford Bridge side will clinch the title with two games to go if they beat West Brom on Friday, but Conte is adamant it was by no means an easy season for Chelsea.
Conte arrived after Chelsea had seen a title defence evaporate under Jose Mourinho, who was sacked before the Blues recovered to finish 10th.
The former Italy boss has picked up the pieces impressively, but Conte was quick to thank his players and the club's staff for their efforts.

"I like to underline this season, at the start it was not easy because we faced a lot of problems. We had to solve a lot of problems," Conte said at a news conference.
"When you arrive 10th in the league, it means the problem is not only one, but there are a lot of problems. You must divide the fault of this, for this reason we started this season to solve problems and to find the right solution to change the situation that was created in the last season.
"I have to say thanks to the club, players and staff to work very hard to change this. I have to say thanks to my players because it is not easy to adapt to a new method, philosophy and work very hard if you compare the work of this season to the past."
Conte is already looking forward to the celebrations when Chelsea seal the title, but he has warned his squad not to get carried away just yet.
"I think after one season where you work a lot and you suffer also, if you are able to win and to reach your target the celebration moment must be fantastic," he added.
"Now is not the right time to think about this because we have to take three points, but afterwards then I hope the players celebrate in the right way.
"For sure this moment is a really good moment for us as we are so close to reaching a fantastic target for us. We must not forget we have to take three points in these three games.
"Friday we have the first chance, but we must know to play against West Brom is not easy. They are a strong team, a good coach and the atmosphere will be very hot. It is important to enjoy this moment and this part of the season."
He told Reporters.

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Time to Shine :- Classy N'Golo Kante's becomes best player in England

Time to Shine :-  Classy N'Golo Kante's becomes best player in England

N'Golo Kante has determinately been recognised as the individual champion that he has always been by winning the PFA Player of the Year award - but he will remain humble after a decade long battle to get to the top of the game. 

His award has come a year too tardy, but it is better tardy than never. His former Leicester team-mate Riyad Mahrez won the prestigious trophy and it took an extra year of relentless running, tackling and composed passing to determinately catch the ocular perceiver
Kante struggled to find a professional team only 10 years ago as he faced abnegation at 16 years old and learned accountancy, coming proximate to falling out of the game. 

Amiens, Sochaux, Rennes, Lorient and AS Beauvais Oise all verbally expressed that he would not make the grade afore Boulogne conclusively signed him up from the abecedarian club JS Suresnes.

Time to Shine :-  Classy N'Golo Kante's becomes best player in England

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OFFICIAL:-- Victor Moses extends contract with Chelsea

The Super Eagles star has committed his future to the Blues until 2021 and underlined his faith in Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge

Victor Moses is looking to play a more astronomically immense part in Chelsea's expansion project after signing an incipient two-year deal with the club.The 26-year-old has elongated his stay at Stamford Bridge until 2021 – having established himself as a customary in Antonio Conte’s squad this season.The Super Eagles’ forward has made 72 appearances for the Roman Army , 28 coming so far this season, scoring 14 goals.
''I feel very excited. I’m delighted to be here for another few years now and to sign a new deal,'' Moses told club website.
''Now it’s time to concentrate on the team and keep working hard to make sure we win games and try to win the Premier League this season.
''We’re having a great season, I’m enjoying my football and we have a good manager here that has given every single one of us confidence. I just want to keep on enjoying it and working hard for the team.’’

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