Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge tonight knowing that a defeat would hammer the final nail into their European ambitions.
The Gunners, having been eliminated from the Europa League at the semi-final stage, know that qualification via league position is their only route into Europe next season, but it’s looking like a long shot.
All Mikel Arteta’s men can do is win all of their remaining games and hope for the best, but anyone who has watched the Gunners this term will know that even doing their part will be difficult.
Arsenal have been nothing short of terrible at times this campaign, and they really need to turn up tonight if they want to keep their European dreams alive until the final two match days of the season.
Arteta has named the below starting XI to take on Champions League finalists Chelsea, with Arsenal seemingly matching the Blues by going three at the back, with Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Gabriel the centre-backs.
MORE: Chelsea boss Tuchel aims subtle dig at Arsenal whilst praising “fantastic” Gunners star
? Five changes from Sunday…
?? Mari, Partey, Tierney, Odegaard, Aubameyang
?? Chambers, Ceballos, Pepe, Willian, Martinelli#CHEARS pic.twitter.com/E5cK5urSa9— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 12, 2021
While any side that Arteta put out tonight will have been met with criticism by the fans, such is the contempt of some towards him at current, there does appear to be a significant amount of confusion about the team.
Here’s how some Arsenal fans reacted on social media after being puzzled by Arteta’s XI.
— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) May 12, 2021
This is worse than Arsenal’s lineup against Crystal Palace in 2019
— Harry (@RunReissRun) May 12, 2021
Incoming pic.twitter.com/BMXyRp3Mpq
— Dejan (@Parteynelli4) May 12, 2021
get out of my club get out of my cluubbb mikel arteta get out of my club
— ? (@afcpintcheur) May 12, 2021
Wtf is that ?
— Reece (@AFCBezza) May 12, 2021
Boy we are in for a long night…
— Prakul (@pirakull) May 12, 2021
Arteta is asking to be sacked
— Peter (@peterkinahan02) May 12, 2021
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Arteta is never serious
Thank f@ck its not the fans who pick the side. But at the end of the day they know so much more than the manager.
COYA !
And we won.
Give him cash to buy players he is good
He,s doing a good job, let’s have patient with him
He proved you all wrong yesterday 🤷🏿♂️😳😳😳😜it wasn’t the beautiful game, but we have the 3pts and clean sheet(credit to leno for the save against Zouma’s Header!!!). Give him time! Since boxing Day only 2teams were better in PL, man shitty and manure, we are NOT as bad as most of you think. Check the Stars since chelsky in december, you will see…