How?

The only thing I can think of to make him more effective is tell him to take more shots on goal. He has a booming kick. As far as what we already know about him, I don't think there is anything to be done.

Sell him. Should have been sold eons ago. If he is as respected and good as people are saying that means we should be getting a pretty penny for him.

Arsenal supporter through thick and thin Kiwi. Nice bit of Arsenal history, interesting reading, what's not to like? Beats the usual rubbish a man of my age gets given at Christmas - dodgy socks etc.
Not a collector particularly found a few good bits when trudging round a few boot sales etc

In my opinion we sell Xhaka when his replacement (hopefully there's something in the talk about Rabiot 'cos I like him as a player) has arrived.

I don't think Xhaka is half as bad as people make out. Yes, he has moments of stupidity every few games but I think the main problem is how he has been played. Someone on here (Babu?) commented when we signed him that he wasn't the number 4 we needed as he needed another player to do that for him whilst he was more an up and down midfielder and that seems to have been accurate - indeed I thought against Bournemouth, with Torreira doing the stuff around him, the back of the midfield looked better than it has for a long time. Whilst it hasn't worked at Arsenal for him it is telling that every manager he has had seems to rely on him and often pick him as captain.

Anyway, I've a good feeling about today. Put a quid on a 1-0 with a Xhaka 30-yarder!*

















*You can choose which end.

Think I'm right that someone on here said this was their first game...as it's today's date...

Take my advice Bromley - never write a list of what you have for that way madness lies.

Yep it’s time to scrap the honours list all right. Makes us look beyond ridiculous

I hope this won't be one of those matches where I change the channel in disgust and end up seriously emotionally invested if the couple on HGTV are going to keep their present home or sell it.

Hi TAF.

Xhaka's not in the squad today, ill apparently.

I suspect Zed shares your views on Rabiot who has long appeared to show some enthusiasm about him.

I also agree with you about Xhaka. I’ve said before that I was closer to Hazuki and Gunfire’s opinions on him than the over the top critics he has. I’ve no problem with him being sold, assuming he is. But the way some have gone on about Xhaka, you’d think he was a candidate for Arsenal’s worst ever team. He isn’t even close to being that bad.

Hey Soc - yeah just seen that. Hopefully it means a replacement is ready to come in straight away.

Hi Bernard, hope you're keeping an eye on 101 for me. Agree with you about him not being as bad as made out - Jeez with some of the proper bozos we've seen play for Arsenal he wouldn't come close to my worst team (or my best team for that matter).

I think our central midfield could be the problem area today. For all his immense promise Guendouzi's big weakness is defensively, notably getting caught out of position and failing to track runners. That leaves us incredibly vulnerable to counter-attacks.

Hopefully, Torreira can carry on where he left off against Bournemouth and can do that kind of Kante role where he can get around the pitch and make interceptions and put out fires.

I hope so but I'd have probably still played him today. People might argue that if he picks up a bad injury any deal could be called off so perhaps that has come into the equation.

I think the next two games are season definers. Lose both and any lingering possibility of 4th place, however remote, has gone completely. Win both and we would be right back in the mix.

I suppose another take is the gaffer always intended to play Xhaka in one game and Gwen in the other with the games coming so close together. Although for that to make sense he'd probably have been on the bench today. Anyway, onwards and (hopefully) upwards.

Good pass to the Chelsea keeper from Luiz

Didn't Rabiot say something like there were only a few clubs worthy of his presence?

Lose both and we will be right next to the relegation door

Aubameyang !!!!!!!!

Well earned goal. We are visibly different in our set up. Pressing but there is a structure and strategy to it all.

I like the new found energy from the team. Özil is so driven now.

Looks bad - Chambers hurt - with Mustafi on the bench

Oh no, another injury

Sense of dread...................

Come on Mustafi have a great game

On the basis that there have been some fine holding mids without pace. Xhaka is physical enough and has a good passing range that a decent coach could work more on his positioning and in game decision making to improve him. Essentially Xhaka hasn’t improved since the day we signed him, how much of that is him and how much a lack of coaching?

stop fecking about............

4 academy players on the bench, 3 in the starting line up

feck me what a difference.............

Chelsea change formation. Our energy dropping a bit.

Guendozi is terrible defensively

Guendouzi got away with one there.

Very good so far.

Need to get to half time and re group

I don't expect this lead to hold but its a great start and we look visibly better in almost all areas.

Nice to see chelsea with 12 fouls to our 4 being reflected in the yellow cards, 3 to them 1 to us. So often this seems massively weighted against us

If Chelsea gets reduced to 10 men we MIGHT win this thing.

Özil has been excellent.

This ref absolutely has that homer decision in him.

He has no control

I worry about William he always seems to get a vital goal and I'm also worried about Chelsea's 12th man, aka Mustafi.

We need that half time whistle.

Brilliant, apart from the back passing

William who?

What's showing on HGTV? I haven't a need to change the channel to it...yet.