The Athletic FC Podcast The Preview: Chelsea vs Arsenal
28 snips
Nov 28, 2025 
In this discussion, football journalist Mark Critchley and reporter Cerys Jones dive into the thrilling prospect of Chelsea vs Arsenal. They analyze what a win would mean for Chelsea’s title hopes and assess the impact of their recent victory over Barcelona. The duo debates tactical strategies and key players, including whether Estêvão should start. Additionally, they compare Declan Rice and Moisés Caicedo while offering match predictions. The episode wraps up with insights on other Premier League clashes, including Crystal Palace vs Manchester United.
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Chelsea's Midfield Passing Is A Key Advantage
- Chelsea can play through midfield unlike Spurs and possess the attacking tools to hurt Arsenal's strong defence.
- Mark Critchley believes Chelsea's passing and high xG make them the most likely non-City side to unsettle Arsenal.
Use A Target To Free Midfield Runners
- Start with a target man like Liam Delap to occupy defenders and create late-arrival chances.
- Cerys Jones expects Neto to move wide and De Lapp to act as a focal point to free arriving midfielders.
Rice And Caicedo Are The New Midfield Benchmarks
- The Rice vs Caicedo midfield duel frames a new era of elite holding midfielders challenging Rodri's dominance.
- Mark Critchley leans to Rice for current overall impact but acknowledges both are top-tier talents.
