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.’
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)."
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.
You may also like..
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.
Do you like this post? Make use of the comment box.
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."
