Mikel Arteta faces several difficult decisions when Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday, with Eberechi Eze pushing for a first Premier League start and uncertainty surrounding Cristhian Mosquera and Bruno Guimarães.
Arsenal have opened their Premier League title defence with two victories and two clean sheets, but Chelsea represent the biggest test of the new campaign so far.
The selection picture became more complicated on Thursday. talkSPORT reported from Arsenal training that Mosquera and Guimarães were both absent from the session. Declan Rice trained with the group, while Jurrien Timber continued individual work as he builds towards a return.
That could force Arteta into changes from the team which beat Aston Villa 1-0.
Our latest Arsenal injury update is tracking the defensive situation ahead of Sunday’s match.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Chelsea
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Ødegaard, Eze; Havertz.
Ezri Konsa could make first Arsenal start
David Raya’s place in goal is not in question after starting Arsenal’s two clean sheets.
The uncertainty begins immediately in front of him.
Mosquera started alongside Gabriel at Aston Villa but was withdrawn after feeling a muscular problem. Arteta initially played down the issue, although the defender subsequently missed Thursday’s open training session.
talkSPORT’s latest Arsenal team-news report says summer signing Ezri Konsa could replace Mosquera if the Spaniard is unavailable.
I would therefore currently predict:
Ben White – Ezri Konsa – Gabriel – Riccardo Calafiori
William Saliba remains sidelined, while Timber is not yet back in full training.
Calafiori deserves to keep his position after another strong performance at Villa Park. He created Bukayo Saka’s winning goal and was one of Arsenal’s standout performers in our player ratings from the 1-0 victory.
Bruno Guimarães creates another midfield question
The second uncertainty surrounds Guimarães.
Arsenal’s £75m summer signing returned from injury against Villa and made his Premier League debut from the bench, but he was not involved in Thursday’s open training session.
That does not mean Arsenal have confirmed another injury.
NBC Sports reports that Guimarães is having his workload managed while returning from his recent problem.
Until Arteta provides another update, I would therefore resist predicting an immediate first league start.
Declan Rice trained normally and should start.
Alongside him, Myles Lewis-Skelly can retain his position, with captain Martin Ødegaard operating further forward.
Martin Zubimendi remains a major alternative. His importance to Arteta was underlined when Arsenal rejected Chelsea’s deadline-day approach for the midfielder.
Prediction: Rice, Lewis-Skelly and Ødegaard.
Eberechi Eze should replace Christos Tzolis
This is the biggest tactical decision.
Tzolis struggled during the first half at Villa Park before Arteta replaced him with Eze at the interval.
Eze immediately offered something different.
He moved inside more frequently, combined with Arsenal’s midfielders and helped create the move which ended with Saka scoring the winner.
We argued after the game that Eze had given Arteta a major Chelsea selection decision.
Gary Neville has since backed the same change, which we covered in our report on his Eze and Tzolis verdict.
NBC Sports also identifies the left wing as one of Arteta’s main selection dilemmas, although its current prediction has Tzolis retaining his place.
I would make the change.
One difficult half does not make Tzolis a poor signing, but Eze’s experience and ability to drift between Chelsea’s defensive and midfield lines could be particularly useful in this fixture.
Prediction: Eze starts from the left.
Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz complete the attack
Saka is one of the easiest selections in Arteta’s XI.
The England international has scored in both of Arsenal’s opening league matches and delivered the winner at Villa Park.
Kai Havertz is my prediction through the middle.
Viktor Gyökeres gives Arsenal a more direct centre-forward option, but Havertz’s movement can create spaces for Saka, Eze and Ødegaard to attack.
NBC Sports has also predicted Havertz to lead the line against Chelsea.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Raya
White – Konsa – Gabriel – Calafiori
Rice – Lewis-Skelly
Saka – Ødegaard – Eze
Havertz
That would mean two changes from the starting XI at Aston Villa, with Konsa replacing Mosquera and Eze coming in for Tzolis.
Guimarães is currently the player most capable of changing this prediction before Sunday.
If he returns to full training and Arteta confirms he is ready to start, the Brazilian becomes a serious option in midfield.
Chelsea clash gives Arsenal an early statement opportunity
Chelsea have also won their opening two Premier League matches.
Xabi Alonso’s side have already scored seven league goals, although they have been much less secure defensively. NBC Sports notes Chelsea’s attacking strength and defensive problems ahead of Sunday’s derby.
Their midfield has also changed significantly following Enzo Fernández’s £125m move to Manchester City.
We have already looked at why Chelsea’s deadline-day decision could hand Arsenal a major opportunity.
Arteta now has decisions of his own.
Konsa or Mosquera.
Eze or Tzolis.
And potentially Guimarães or another midfielder.
Getting those calls right could determine whether Arsenal make it three wins from three.
Supporters can find the kick-off time, television channel and streaming details in our where to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea guide.
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