Chelsea vs Arsenal & Tottenham vs Man United: Open Thread
Today’s two matches are being advertised by FOX Soccer as “Epic Sunday.” Let’s hope they are epic, but I’m not a fan of exaggerating something. But maybe I’ll be proven wrong and these matches will end up making this an epic day.
Starting line-ups:
Chelsea: Cech; Azpili, Ivan, Cahill, Cole; Ram, Lamps (c); Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin, Wilshere, Diaby, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud
Before, during or after today’s matches, join in the conversation in the comments section below.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
109 Responses to Chelsea vs Arsenal & Tottenham vs Man United: Open Thread
good luck Dust for your Spurs getting the double over the red devils, as far as the early match would like a draw but think of the chaos if chelski was to lose the waiter might be unemployed on Monday.
What double are you dreaming about? Man U won the last match 3-1.
We won the last game 3-2 the double is both games in the season
thank you should have qualified my statement.
Typical plastic lol
Loving the backdrop of the snow coming down at Stamford Bridge.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Unlucky for Arsenal there with no free kick being awarded. Still, Giroud should have scored a minute earlier.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
oh well Dust Ian and Guy are happy so much for super Sunday/2.
Yeah. Strange to be pulling for Chelsea, but what are you gonna do?
Chelsea looks unstoppable today. Defensively tight. Good display of passing the ball around Arsenal, and very speedy up front.
Arsenal is playing like the game is already over.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Arsenal have never had less points at this stage of the season under the Whinger.
Eet iz all zee referee’s faault.
His myopia obviously helps when he looks at the league table now.
Chelsea gave up 2 goals to the Swans and Saints so 3 points are not in the bag just yet. Get Ba in there for Torres and close the show.
I’d like to see Ba come in, particularly the way Torres has been misfiring.
Final pitch inspection at WHL 2.50pm GMT
Game on.
so TWI produces this game live from the Bridge and licenses the feed globally to EPL broadcast partners? Is their feed used in uk?
Correct. The feed is used everywhere around the world except for the UK.
For example, today on the TWI/IMG world feed, we have Peter Drury and Craig Burley commentating. The UK feed on Sky Sports has Rob Hawthorne and Niall Quinn.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
What is the reason behind doubling the production effort/costs? Why not just send the UK feed around the world?
Sometimes the commentators on the UK feed may mention an upcoming Sky Sports broadcast during a break in the game — ”Coming up Wednesday on Sky Sports will be Chelsea against Swansea in the Capital One Cup, live only on Sky Sports” or something similar that wouldn’t be relevant to the world audience.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Do the broadcast partners have the option of producing live or do they have to take down the TWI feed? Any idea what kind of terms TWI contract is with EPL?
Not sure what you mean by your first question. And I don’t have the details on the second. But perhaps one of the other readers can answer that.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
I was watching the world feed on my laptop and Sky Sports on my TV at the same time before. They’re identical in every aspect apart from commentary and on-screen graphics but every time a graphic pops up on the world feed, the exact same info will pop up on the Sky feed but using their own design instead.
arshvin you have got to be kidding the professor must be hitting the bottle at halftime.
Sorry Arsenal fans, but you know that Wenger has run out of options when he brings on Ramsey and Arshavin — two of the team’s worst players.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
This Chelsea-Arsenal game is one that I don’t want to end. Would love to see another 30 minutes of this game. It’s a shame Arsenal couldn’t play like this in the first half.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
That somewhat tempers the Stoke defeat for me. To be honest I was more disappointed that I didn’t know Swansea were evens for the victory yesterday until the match was underway. I was kicking myself all evening over that.
Does anyone know where i can watch this game live in canada ?
hqfooty.com
At the top, click on “schedule” and pick whichever match you want.
Fox soccer production such absolute crap. Red tinted video of chess pieces?? Wtf.
CCCCOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSS!!!
Always look foreword to the spurs games because both teams play good football and always attack.
Somebody get AVB a snuggie.
AVB try some thermals.
Typical garbage comment from you
Don’t know why this ended up as a reply here. Was supposed to be to red chicharito
thanks did not think telling AVB to wear some thermals would cause an uproar.
That’s a fantastic header with great power on it
nice goal against the run of play Spurs had been on the front foot for most of the match.
Yawn!! Hopefully this wakes the teams up.
Glory glory man united! Tottenham hotspurs are a joke team. Enjoy the europa league next year hotspurs.
obviously if your screen name if for Chicharito you have been a fan of Man U for like 3 seasons. Good job mate.
Serves you right!
Brad would have saved that.
Arsene Whinger “I was not convinced that was a penalty at all”. He’s always been short-sighted, now as he’s geting older I’m sure he’s suffering from macular degeneration as well as dementia.
you knew that when he subbed in arshavin what a joke.
How do you miss that foul
Same way a ref misses a blatant handball when someone is cheating.
better be careful the pool fanatics will call you a moron.
They are always easy to wind up.
they always take the bait.
If only welbeck could play the final ball he’d be a great player.
Haha only a scum fan..thinking about Liverpool when they are playing spurs.
Fox soccer pregame show hyped up Clint Dempsey…I haven’t seen him touch the ball last 30 minutes.
Because he’s an American. Proud to have one of your own in one of the top leagues in the world.
did you see him touch the ball in the last minute?
Well now this is a relatively disheartening first half of our second “London Derby” of the day.
Now, now, Ameri-rags. Before you go correcting me and whatnot you must ask yourself if there is a joke here that you’re not getting.
A relatively short journey for the Surrey, Essex and Oxford reds today.
thought for sure we would have got a NKVD into your post oh well always next week.got your joke think glory hunters.
What a save by De Gea..Was sure that Bale had scored. Oh well.
Are these games on delay on Fox Soccer 2go? They used to label it on the website as such but now it’s just not there.
Both are on FOX Soccer 2Go after midnight tonight: http://www.foxsoccer2go.com/upcoming
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Thanks gaffer. Gonna try and not see the score till then. COYMFS
What’re you gonna do WHEN THE 1 VAN TEAM RUNS WILD ON YOU.
That’s what £24m of ready made talent can do for you, what will happen when WAZZA comes on at halftime…FINGERS CROSSED, LIPS SEALED
Prinz
I’m coming
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, solving other clubs problems since 2008…why would want to sell your top asset on the prime of his career to your rivals…don’t make sense.
Note to Fox – if you don’t know that Man U is in the red and black and Spurs are in white, you probably aren’t watching. Get the graphic off the screen, please – especially since you have the color scheme in the top corner anyway…
Why those fans throwing snowballs at the players haven’t been thrown out, is beyond me.
David eat couldn’t possibly be biased could he?
*pleat
Rio still class
That’s how crap our strikers are, rio looks good. Aside from that 1st half lapse in concentration from Naughton to give Clevely more space than Texas Utd didn’t really trouble is to much.
Much better 2nd from spurs. Really showed our coaching & fitness levels improved under AVB. Also the belief.
Farcenal lost too! Always a bonus lol
I wouldn’t say Defoe is crap he just took one to many touches which allowed Rio to make up the ground. The pass into him could have been a little better allowing him to strike it first time.
It’s a fair result in the end. Hopefully city and Chelsea still have to play spurs again at some point.
1st time, Defoe!!
UTD hanging on by the skin of their teeth.Spurs turning the screw.
Dempsey is having a match to forget.
He heard you.
i want a assist for Spurs draw.
See Dust.
I am so tired of watching players waving their hands instead of getting on with the match. Wish it were a yellow.
could not agree more i was thinking that when in the first match the ball hit Sanga in the chest and i think Mata is calling for handball players play and the Ref refs.
Say what u like about him but he’s pure class for me, de gea
Prinz
I’m Coming
Did you come yet
Duece!
….. Deuce, too,
Fergie time will kick in now.
DEMPSEY!!
1-1 fair result
Not a bad result all things considered
That Dempsey had a match to forget! Hahaha
U-S-A!
U-S-A!
U-S-A!
Hey rags, don’t ship the trophy to your boy Rohypnol van Strauss-Kahn’s Amsterdam “love nest” just yet!
Though in truth how many more points do they drop this year? Probably not many, sad to say. City or Chelsea will pretty well need to take 95%+ of the points available to have a shot.
Rob stone has his tongue so far up Clint Dempsys arse it has to be uncomfortable.
for who?
The TV viewers.
friends don’t let friends watch FSC pre or post match shows.rob pebble is awful.
Utd are lucky we don’t have a striker ! LoL
Dempsey was missing but pulled it out…. Lennon was great ALL game, draw was fair result over 90 but we could have won it in the second.
Chris Foy was……..Chris Foy made some joke decisions like the kagawa wrestling move on Démbèle & Phil jones kicking out on the floor on….Démbèle.
We showed great resolve….. Game was crying out for a Holtby & a striker.
Onwards & upwards! COYS
Wow, I have never seen a head shine like grant wahl’s #shinny
Arsenal’s season was summed up by today’s perfromance. Play terrific football one minute and be just as bad another. This inconsistency might be why they won’t get top 4 this season. Unless they buy a couple of quality players which is unlikely with Wenger in charge.
Chelsea can outplay any team when they want to but fail to put teams away when they have a lead. They should end up comfortably in 3rd.
United will look at today’s result as 2 points dropped after conceding in injury time. For once they are on the other end of a goal in ‘Fergie’ time. City will be happy to see United drop 2 points but United are still in the driver’s seat.
Spurs didn’t play especially well but did enough to get a point. They have improved under AVB and if they can buy a quality midfielder to replace Sandro they should end up in 4th. Everton might push them till the end especially since Everton don’t have Europa League fixtures to cope with.
Out of six points this season Sputs take 4, progression is obvious.
Marc L i’ll love you to look up the meaning of rags in a dictionary, cos obviously you’re as moronic as the scousers who still believe that their team is the best in the EPL.
If winning 19pl trophies makes 1 rags, then i don’t know what those that have not won the league for more 2 decades would be called #LIPS CLOSED#
Prinz,
I’m Coming.
How long in until you come
As soon as the word soon
Prinz,
I’m Coming
Maybe “Epic Sunday” was an appropriate way to sum this day up, after all.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
games like today is why I love watching games. I’ve been smiling all day. You watch your team in an important game, you’ve watched them collapse a hundred times before late as if they didn’t have the confidence to take the next step, then today they played with that confidence and composure, they belonged. I kept telling those around me, my best friend -an Arsenal man, my wife,my daughter and my dog Ledley- “They’re going to score I can feel it they are going to score”We all lept for joy when Lennon (superb game) found Demps- even the Arsenal man was smiling and laughing The Glory Indeed- CYS
check your “stats” podcast boys we are quite settled with our gaffer- find someone else to beat on
forgive me for the american ignorance question, but it’s something i’ve notice for a while but didn’t think to ask. I could be completely wrong though
why is it that many English fans do not appear to wear their teams’ jerseys to games? obviously this time of year fans wear jackets, but even in the warmer months it seems like this is true. while in america the majority of fans wear jerseys to games
Tom, it’s a great question. Weather is definitely a big factor in preventing supporters from wearing their team’s shirts this time of the year. Perhaps one of the readers can answer you question in regards to when the weather is warmer.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
There’s always the threat of latent violence and not just from the opposition supporters. Also many pubs simply ban them.
Just what i said about De Gea last week, the press and even the gaffer will never recognise his contribution to the United cause, For Alan Hansen to come out with those comments about de gea costing United the game and title is ATROCIOUS.
All these so called pundits don’t know how to keep THEIR LOUD MOUTH SHUT.
Least i forget, it was the same man who said YOU CAN’T WIN ANYTHING WITH KIDS, bad taste indeed.
Pls stop picking on United before Fergie puts him in his place.
Prinz,
I’m Coming.
Even Manchester United’s Gary Neville says that De Gea cost United the win yesterday: http://youtu.be/fMlPfTjsOJs
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Apparently all other saves he made during the match never happened in both your eyes, as i said before i’ll take de gea over joe hart(golden boy) with my eyes closed.
You wonder why England have never won a major tournament in almost decades, with your OVERHYPED TEAM AND AVERAGE SQUAD PLAYERS, just like Swansea.
Prinz,
I’m Coming.