Arsenal and Chelsea are set to resume their rivalry at the Emirates, with sides looking for a win to steady their positions in the table.
Arsenal might appear in a comfortable position in the Premier League standings, as they sit second, some 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool ahead of the game against Chelsea. However, their form in the league has not been any good lately, with only one victory to show in their last four games.
The Gunners are winless in their last three, with the latest of those coming last Sunday at Old Trafford against Manchester United. A Bruno Fernandes strike in the first half gave the Red Devils the lead against the run of play, and Declan Rice’s second-half equaliser salvaged a point for Arsenal while ensuring they remained unbeaten against a traditional big-six team for the 18th game running.
Arsenal also secured their passage to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhove, as their unassailable 7-1 reverse win in the first leg made the whole process comfortable. In the league, they are mathematically still in the title race, although it would take a monumental collapse from Liverpool to make the Gunners feel they might have a chance. Arsenal now meet Chelsea at the Emirates, a game Arteta would want to win.
Chelsea will come to the Emirates for the first time since being beaten by a 5-0 scoreline last season. Enzo Maresca’s side did manage to hold the Gunners to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, and the Italian tactician would want a good display against their London rivals on Sunday.
Chelsea’s form has baffled their fans at times, with suggestions that they may struggle to make the top four. Last weekend, they answered a few critics albeit with a 1-0 win over a struggling Leicester City side, as the three points as well as Manchester City’s loss to Nottingham Forest saw the Blues reclaim the fourth spot.
The London giants also booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League courtesy of their aggregate win over FC Copenhagen. Chelsea have a big fight in a competitive race for a top-four berth, as they have a host of difficult fixtures after the international break until the end of the season run-in, which makes a positive result at the Emirates all the more important.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
There are no fresh injury concerns for Arsenal following their 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven in midweek as they get set to take on Chelsea. The fact that Mikel Arteta rested many of his key stars for the game will have kept the group fresh ahead of their game against the Blues.
The Gunners will make a lot of changes to the midweek team, with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber likely to return at the back. Thomas Partey could replace Jorginho in central midfield, while Martin Odegaard could be restored alongside Declan Rice in Arsenal’s midfield.
There is an argument to be made about the positioning of certain players like Myles-Lewis Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the latter impressing from a midfield role in midweek, when he replaced Odegaard in the lineup. The Norwegian playmaker might keep his place for now, but the Ukrainian could be an option for Arteta to consider ahead.
The return of Gabriel Martinelli as a substitute in the last two games is a genuine boost for Arteta, and the manager might continue using him of the bench at least until the end of the international break, with suggestions that the Brazilian has been rushed back from his problem. Hence, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino could continue in the front three for Arsenal against Chelsea.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Chelsea
Chelsea have had a positive few weeks with regards to their injury situation, as Wesley Fofana has since returned and even started against Leicester City in a right-back role. Enzo Maresca might see if he can use the Frenchman again in a similar way, as Reece James had an illness complaint as of Thursday or Friday alongside Cole Palmer.
Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson will remain out at least until after the International break. Marc Guiu is also an absentee, while there are doubts about Malo Gusto’s involvement as the French defender has missed the last two games with a knock to his ankle. Maresca will also have Romeo Lavia back in contention as the midfielder was part of the bench against Leicester City and once again he might be placed there at the Emirates.
The Chelsea boss also confirmed Robert Sanchez will start in goal. Going by the success against Leicester City, Maresca might opt to start with Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill in the heart of the defence, with Marc Cucurella and Fofana in the full-back roles. Enzo Fernandez could partner Moises Caicedo in the midfield, with Palmer operating in the No.10 role.
The experiment to use Pedro Neto as a false-nine has worked to an extent for Maresca, as the manager might continue the Portuguese international at the top of his attack. Jadon Sancho could operate from the right wing to help the manager accommodate Christopher Nkunku on the left wing.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto
Key Stats
Arsenal are winless in their last three Premier League games.
Arsenal have scored at least three goals in their last three home matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
Chelsea are on a four-game winning run across all competitions.
Chelsea have failed to beat Arsenal in their last two visits to the Emirates.
Cole Palmer has gone 683 minutes without scoring in the Premier League, attempting 29 shots in this time. The English international has failed to score in each of his past 10 appearances (seven of them in the league), with his last goal coming against Bournemouth on 14 January.
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
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The English internaitonal has probably hit the form of last season when he was unstoppable, as he continues to show his worth on the pitch. With goals in consecutive games, Rice is taking his role to the next level, as he continues to provide the legs and energy that Mikel Arteta demands.
The game against Chelsea will be won and lost in the midfield, and Rice will have to overshadow his Chelsea counterparts to allow Arsenal to assert their dominance. This will be an interesting game and a big battle of three £100 million-plus midfielders fighting it out in the middle of the park, and Rice is probably the highest-rated contender.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
Chelsea have struggled for relevance against the big teams throughout the last two years, and this season has not been any different. The Blues will be eager to prove a point at the Emirates and end their run of six games against Arsenal without a win.
Arsenal are always confident at the Emirates when taking on one of the traditional big-six teams, and their recent results against Chelsea at this venue have been huge. The wider expectation is that Mikel Arteta’s side will end their current three-game winless run in the league with a big victory over the Blues, although the visitors could even put up a fight.