Swansea vs Chelsea (Carling Cup Semi-Final) and Arsenal vs West Ham (EPL): Open Thread
Two big matches on this evening — both for completely different reasons.
Arsenal plays West Ham United in the rescheduled game that was originally scheduled for Boxing Day. As manager Arsene Wenger said earlier this week, it’s imperative that Arsenal doesn’t drop any points after their losses against Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as their draw against Southampton recently. The Hammers, meanwhile, will want to pick up a point or more to move away from the very tight bottom half of the table.
In South Wales, the snow has been bucketing down earlier today, but the pitch at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium looks in very good condition (pictured above). Expect snow to be falling down during the match, but there shouldn’t be any flurries.
As far as team news, manager Michael Laudrup has a full-strength team available to choose from after resting several key players in recent games against Arsenal and Stoke City, while Demba Ba starts for Chelsea instead of Fernando Torres. John Terry is on the bench.
Chelsea team: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cesar, Cole, Ramires, Lampard (c), Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Demba Ba.
Swansea team: Tremmel, Rangel, Williams (c), Chico, Davies, Britton, de Guzman, Ki, Routledge, Hernandez, Michu.
Swansea won the first leg of the League Cup semi-final 2-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. The away goal rule does not go into effect until at the end of extra time.
If you live in the United States, beIN SPORT will make the game available for live-streaming.
Here’s the link to watch the game live, free online: http://beinsportlivestreaming.overon.es/
Wherever you live, join in on the conversation with football supporters from around the world by commenting below before, during or after the match.
33 Responses to Swansea vs Chelsea (Carling Cup Semi-Final) and Arsenal vs West Ham (EPL): Open Thread
C’mon West Ham!
Time to step up and make your presence count against Farcenal …… prove me wrong, prove that you are not useless! Beat the farce at the scumerates.
Swansea…Play the chavs of the park you know you can! C’mon Swansea!!
BeIN using the good feed for the audio commentary great news!
Happy to have beIN streaming today. One eye on each match.
Commentator “it seems eerily quiet around the emirates” LOL no change at the library!
watch how many times Wilshire goes down in a heap…Get up you big girl!
Hey Foy where is the yellow for Demba Ba diving in the area? that was an ashley young all day!
WOW! Michu! should have scored there great play from swansea!
Hammer time!
Yes West Ham!!! great goal! 1-0!! LMAO @ Farcenal
ahh bollox
Useless west ham
As a spurs fan which of the London clubs do you hate the most?
Farcenal & CFC I loathe equally and more than any language could capture, then West Spam… Then QPEeeRrrr? and then Millwall
Fulham are quite cool as are Palace and Charlton, I used to despise luton and their plastic pitch but they have been irrelevant for quite a while
Luton town FC that’s a football team I haven’t heard anything about in 20+ years, I couldn’t even guess what division they are in these days. The old kenilworth rd stadium really was horrendous in the 80s
Well, that was some rip by Podolski!
Great strike from podolski
I ove that Michu chases the ball every time back to the keeper, real hustle
Straight red card for Ramires there. Cheating little rat flopped his way around the match throughout the game at the Britannia the other week rolling around every time he got breathed on. Hypocrite. Hopefully it gets looked at after the match.
Carlton Cole is just horrid
He actually isn’t. and put in a proper formation, would shine.But, put him alone with instruction too head back the back after long balls, what do you expect.
The problem is Sam. Cole did well in his England call up. It s not like he is some unknown..
Swansea will do well to hold on here.
seriously he couldn’t pass the salt, how he is a professional footballer is beyond me
Swans all seem to want to get one more touch on the ball before unloading. :-/
wow… time to turn off the farcenal v spammers even rob green would have saved that..lol
Can turn off the Arsenal match, unless you’re a fan of course.
When it comes to changing tactics Big Sam is as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Anyone else enjoying having just a single commentator in the Swans match?
The waiter counting up orders.
Hazard you jerk.
WTF is Hazard doing there? kicking the ball boy in the stomach? CFC players such scum bags!
what is hazard’s problem?
Great match, Swans! Chelsea were never going to score anyway.
are there opta stats on how many stupid, offensive, aggressive acts cfc players commit in a season?
that club is a joke
If there are any bets being taken on Laudrup becoming the next Chelsea manager I’d take it. I’m sure Roman would like to have him at Chelsea, gets his teams to play the way Roman likes. Bringing back Mourinho might bring back winning but not with style. So I’d go with Roman trying to get Laudrup in the summer.