ESPN FC Can Chelsea Catch Arsenal?
Nov 28, 2025
The crew dives into the tension of the London Derby, analyzing whether Chelsea can realistically catch up to Arsenal in the title race. They explore Chelsea’s team dynamics and lineup choices, including Cole Palmer's return. The discussion shifts to World Cup predictions, with excitement over potential matchups for 2026. Mauricio Pochettino's call for the U.S. to aim for glory adds fuel to the conversation, while the panel debates FIFA's seeding methods and their impact on tournament fairness.
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Hold Palmer Back If Not Match Fit
- Chelsea likely should not start Cole Palmer against Arsenal because he's fit but not match-fit after two months out.
- Julien Laurens and Shaka Hislop both advise bringing him off the bench to protect performance and fitness.
Arsenal Are The Clear Early Favorite
- Arsenal, if they win, would open a very significant early gap in the title race making them heavy favourites.
- The panel views Arsenal as the team to beat given current form and squad depth.
Avoid Overprotecting Top Seeds
- Don't protect top seeds from early matchups; make draws open to any pairing for fairness.
- Julien Laurens argues that FIFA's seeding limits competitive integrity and denies exciting matchups.