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Arsenal line-ups vs Chelsea decided as defence shuffled and wide change pondered

football.london reporters pick their Arsenal starting XIs to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday

Ben White and Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are gearing up to face Chelsea at home on Sunday

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Arsenal are looking to maintain their 100 per cent record on Sunday when they host Chelsea in Premier League action at the Emirates Stadium.

It promises to be a hotly-contested derby as Chelsea have scored seven goals from their opening two matches in wins over Fulham and Brighton, respectively.

Mikel Arteta needs to get his team selection right for this one, though he shouldn't feel the need to make many changes given the Gunners are also two from two.

Cristhian Mosquera and Bruno Guimaraes have both been absent from training but there is still time to prove their fitness as the Gunners will train once more before hosting the Blues.

football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor select their starting XIs for Sunday's tasty encounter.

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Tom Canton

When you have a team with the depth of Arsenal you need not take any risks with players' fitness. And that is why both Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera, regardless of whether they train on Friday or Saturday, should both hold bench for this game.

Arsenal have Ezri Konsa and Myles Lewis-Skelly who are of an exceptional standard to feature here. Chelsea have spent so much compared to Arsenal and yet it is the Gunners you look at with their midfield in particular and it is night and day.

On the left is the last big call after Eberechi Eze looked so good at Villa. However, Chelsea’s right-hand side concerns me and as a result I think Christos Tzolis’ tenacity will be important in order to help the foraying Riccardo Calafiori.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Chelsea: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis.

Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa

Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa are both pushing to start for Arsenal(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

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Ryan Taylor

I think the team virtually picks itself, with the exception of the left-wing spot. Cristhian Mosquera's hamstring issue at Aston Villa means there's an opportunity for Ezri Konsa to earn his first start.

I suspect he will play at right centre-back with Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori completing the back-four.

In midfield, Declan Rice should be ready to go again, particularly with Bruno Guimaraes battling another knock. Myles Lewis-Skelly should also feature in the centre of the park.

I would actually bring Eberechi Eze in from the left after Christos Tzolis struggled at Villa on Monday with Bukayo Saka keeping his place on the right.

Up top, Kai Havertz should lead the line against his former side over Viktor Gyokeres, who is yet to play a single minute for the Gunners so far this term in the Premier League.

Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Chelsea: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Saka, Eze, Havertz

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