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Chelsea vs Arsenal: Jose Mourinho ready to shake Arsene Wenger's hand

The Chelsea manager will try to end a series of unedifying spats

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Saturday 19 September 2015 10:11 BST

Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger square up in last season's fixture (Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho is prepared to shake Arsène Wenger’s hand at Stamford Bridge today, as Chelsea and Arsenal meet in the lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League.

The Chelsea manager will try to end a series of unedifying spats before kick-off and will wait by the tunnel for the traditional handshake with his counterpart. Wenger yesterday refused to say if he would reciprocate.

The last time the two met, at the Community Shield last month, Mourinho and Wenger ignored one another after the Frenchman had collected his medal. When the teams met at Stamford Bridge last season, Mourinho and Wenger pushed each other in the technical area.

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

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1/11The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

GK: Asmir Begovic

Irony alert. Petr Cech finally quit Chelsea after 10 years because he wanted first-team football - his replacement, Thibaut Courtois, promptly goes and gets injured for around three months. Begovic is as good as a back-up as you'll find in the Premier League and would be a regular starter for at least 10 other teams in the division.

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The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

RB: Cesar Azpilicueta

If Branislav Ivanovic was even playing at a Championship level then he would be in the team, but the Serbian would not get into a League One side at the moment. He's been an absolute liability both defensively and had no impact as an attacker, where he has been so reliable. Cesar Azpilicueta is a stout defender and has the pace and energy to cover the entire right-hand side - that will be key with Chelsea short on wingers for this match.

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

CB: Kurt Zouma

Zouma has the pace to deal with Theo Walcott and the strength to deal with Olivier Giroud. As Everton found out last week he is far from the finished article and can be found out with clever movement. But he played better than Gary Cahill in midweek and should retain his place.

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The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

CB: John Terry

Despite his half-time benching against Manchester City, the Chelsea captain has not done much wrong at all this season, but has been badly let down by those playing in front and around him. Father time eventually catches up with everyone, but his organisation and desire mean he should play - besides, Gary Cahill is still not at his level.

Reuters

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

LB: Baba Rahman

Azpilicueta moving over to the right gives Baba Rahman a chance to make the left-back position his own. His added pace and natural left-foot give him an obvious advantage over the Spaniard - who often cuts inside and slows attacks - where he can overlap Eden Hazard to give Chelsea an extra dimension. But, and it's a big but, the young Ghanaian struggled defensively against Maccabi, and was way too often caught high up the pitch and out of position. Chelsea will be ruthlessly punished if he does that against Arsenal. A more disciplined performance is needed.

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The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

CM: Nemanja Matic

His dramatic collapse this season has been just as quick as his meteoric rise to the very top last season, where he overtook Yaya Toure as the best midfielder in the league. Has looked tired, mentally and physically, this season. Got a rest in midweek and knows he must be at his best to combat whatever midfield Arsene Wenger elects to pick. Huge game for Matic, he will be key.

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The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

CM: Cesc Fabregas

It was a surprise to see him play against Maccabi but it was just the tonic the Spaniard needed. His fingerprints were all over the game in a dominant individual performance that brought a goal and an assist and some impressive probing play. Still Chelsea's main creator, Fabregas and Blues fans need to hope his performance translates against a much better class of opponent.

PA

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

RW: Pedro

If he's anywhere close to being fit then he has to play - Chelsea just don't have the options in their paper-thin squad. The extremely limited Ramires or the raw Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be the next choices if Pedro misses out, as Willian is out and numerous others out on loan. The Barcelona man started quickly but wasn't at his best against Everton. Still a quality option, however.

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The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

AM: Oscar

Two goals in two starts this season, Oscar's work rate and willingness to defend have made him a Mourinho favourite over the last two years, although that slipped in the second half of last season when the Brazilian badly lost form. The jury is still out on Oscar, who needs to add more flair and creativity to his pretty decent goal record. Has to have a big performance on Saturday.

AFP/Getty Images

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

LW: Eden Hazard

Not in the team by merit. Last season's Player of the Year looks unfit and (whisper it) a bit uninterested. The Maccabi game should have been a chance for him to find some form, like it was for Fabregas, but Hazard wasn't close to his best, with the early penalty miss knocking his confidence. The weight of burden appears to be hanging heavy on his shoulders, as is the constant double teaming and aggressive treatment he faces from opponents. But it would be far too big a risk to leave him out - plus Chelsea just don't have the options with Willian and maybe Pedro missing. If he doesn't perform then he should expect a spell out of the team.

Reuters

The XI Chelsea should play against Arsenal

ST: Diego Costa

If Mourinho can tell him to stop trying to fight every defender in the land and actually concentrate on his football, he'll have a hell of a striker on his hands. Provided two moments of inspiration against Maccabi, showing quick feet and a turn of pace to win the second penalty, and a telepathic connection - and sublime technique - to volley in a Cesc Fabregas pass. Needs to find his goal scoring form quick for Chelsea to claw their way back into contention. Loic Remy did ok in midweek, but unfortunately was forced to play wide after just 20 minutes because of injury to Willian.

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There was little of the verbal sparring yesterday that has characterised the build-up to previous games and no barbs comparable to when Mourinho called Wenger a “specialist in failure” last year. Wenger refused to answer almost any questions about Mourinho and Chelsea, but said that he hoped signing goalkeeper Petr Cech from them would give his side the psychological edge in today’s game.

“It can work yes,” said Wenger. “You know you have to score the perfect goal in front of him. You want him on your side.”

After Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Community Shield, Wenger wants his team to register what would be his first league win over a Mourinho side. “It is the first important step,” he said. “We want to show now a second one.”

Arsenal released their financial figures yesterday, revealing the club now has a cash reserve of £193m. The results, for the year to 31 May, put the club’s total turnover at £344.5m. Match-day revenue from the Emirates brought in more than £100m.

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