Arsenalare limping to the end of the season. A 1-1 draw withMan Unitedmarked the third match in a row that the Gunners have failed to win in the****Premier Leagueafter a 0-0 draw withNottingham Forestand a 1-0 loss toWest Ham United****that ended a 13-game unbeaten streak in London derbies.
Their two contests with PSV punctured the pressure on the team as Mikel Arteta and his men can look forward to a tie with Real Madrid in the next round of the Champions League. Yet, that does little to satisfy the demands for a trophy on the home front following their finishes as runners-up.
Moreover, even if the race for the league title is over, spectators seek to see a side that can come up with answers to the problems they will face in the latter stages of the Champions League. A lack of invention or intention in the final third is not only due to the absence of key attackers. Stale showings have fanned the frustrations of fans, who will want to go into the international break in better spirits.
Similar sorts of concerns are affecting Chelsea. The Blues banked two triumphs in a row at home to **Southampton**and **Leicester**ahead of this fixture. It is the first time that has occurred in the new year.
****Enzo Maresca****made clear that his squad should not be seen as a contender in the title race when they were ahead of their hosts at the start of December. Fast forward three months and their position as one of the top four or five teams in the race for Champions League qualificationhangs in the balance.
Since their seven-goal thriller at Tottenham Hotspur,Chelseahave not won on any of their last six away days in the league. Their winless streak against their capital city rivals also lasts the same stretch of fixtures. If this team wish to show they can be a serious side, it will be critical to claim three points.
Arsenal
**Arsenal**are still suffering from a shortage of strikers but at least another attacker is in the mix.
Gabriel Martinelli made a return to play atOld Trafford for half an hour last weekend. He thentook the place of Kieran Tierneyfor the final ten minutes of the match againstPSV. Now, a first starting spot in a league lineup since the 5-1 rout ofMan Cityat the start of February might be on the cards.
Bukayo Sakais a step closer to being back on the pitch but will wait until at least the beginning of April for his first minutes in 2025.Raheem Sterling, who recorded two assists in midweek, will also miss out. Despite his promising performance, theChelsea loanee cannot play against his parent club.
Gabriel Jesus,Kai Havertz, and****Takehiro Tomiyasuare long term absentees. ButBen Whitewas back in a starting eleven for the first time since his knee surgery in the second leg of theChampions League*tie. The 27-year-old ought to drop onto the bench in place ofJurrien Timber* at right back.
Chelsea
**Chelsea**can similarly point to problems in their forward roster. ****Nicolas JacksonandMarc Guiugained hamstring injuries close to the winter window deadline day.Cole PalmerandChristopher Nkunkunever looked at home as the striker soPedro Neto****has nailed down for the role for now.
****Noni Maduekealso went down with a hamstring injury in the middle of last month. That blow has granted chances toTyrique GeorgewhileJadon Sancho****has also switched sides to the right flank.
At the other end of the field, Maresca mentioned in his pre-match press conference that ****Robert Sanchezwill start this match.Wesley Fofana, who is not part of theConference League****squad, is also fit to play after getting back to full health far faster than thought from a hamstring injury.
However, there are doubts about Malo Gusto. The right back has been out of action for the last two games with a knock to his ankle. If he is not available,****Trevoh Chalobahor Fofana is most likely to feature in his place since Maresca seesReece James****as a midfielder in his vision for the squad.
Likely Line-ups
Arsenal
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli
Chelsea
Sanchez; Chalobah, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto
Key Players
Arsenal – Declan Rice
Arteta anticipates a close clash that will depend on his players’ ability to "impose what they want" and the "direction they want to take the game.” There is one individual who will be integral to those plans.
****Declan Rice****is one of the key leaders of the team in spirit. His athletic and technical traits have been hard to miss in the new year but he rarely has allowed games to pass him by without making a mark.
That work ethic and consistency is an outstanding attribute in and of itself. But it has been pivotal to a team crying out for conviction without Bukayo Saka. Rice has popped up time and again with crucial contributions from an advanced midfield role, hitting the back of the net in both of his last two games.
Despite playing just over an hour against PSV, he is likely to dig deep and go again for the Gunners.
Chelsea – Moises Caicedo
This is a game between two teams whose creative midfielders have endured difficult campaigns. The struggles of Cole Palmer have been well-documented but behind him is a man in the middle of the park determined to live up to the billing of his steep price tag in his second season in west London.
Moises Caicedocame toChelseafor a record £115 million fee. No thanks to a tumultuous preseason, his first year was erratic but he has looked closer to the figure that the club craved as time has passed.
As a box-to-box midfielder, he will go to war with Rice in a battle to get a grip of the centre of the pitch. That will require the discipline to avoid a tenth yellow card of the campaign— andtwo game ban after the international break. The two players have been some of the shining lights of their squads and will be keen to come out on top in their duel as another accomplished exploit in their seasons.
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The game will take place at Arsenal's ground, the Emirates Stadium.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is scheduled for 13:30 GMT on Sunday, 16 March 2025.
How can I watch?
The coverage for the game will be accessible on **Sky Sports**for viewers in the United Kingdom.