Welcome returners: Mikel Arteta
Arsenal Football Newsletter
William Saliba has not made the Arsenal squad to face Chelsea this afternoon.
The French centre-back is out with a “knock” that he suffered in training, the club announced ahead of kick-off.
It means the new signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie form a new-look central defensive partnership in the absence of Mikel Arteta’ two first-choice names, Gabriel, who is ruled out longer term, and Saliba.
Elsewhere, Viktor Gyokeres could make his return to action off the bench, but this game has come too soon for former Chelsea man Kai Havertz.
Havertz has been out of action since the first game of the season, when he injured his knee. Gyokeres has missed the last four games for Arsenal after straining his hamstring in a win at Burnley earlier this month. The pair underwent scans earlier this week and Arteta hinted they were close to a return but it appears that the Swede is still slightly ahead of the German.
Leandro Trossard was a doubt for this game after coming off in the first half of Arsenal’s win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The Belgian is struggling with a calf issue and he does not make the squad.
Leandro Trossard limped off against Bayern Munich
Gabriel Jesus played in a friendly at Arsenal’s training ground on Thursday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained in January, and he makes the bench here.
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Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus
Injured: Gabriel (thigh), Saliba (knock), Trossard (calf), Havertz (knee)
Time and date: 4.30pm GMT on Sunday, November 30, 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
How to watch: Sky Sports