London Derby: Key battles, team news… can Chelsea stun Arsenal?
Chelsea who are just starting to show promising signs under Mauricio Pochettino by recording two consecutive wins just before the international break will welcome Mikel Arteta’s side to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a London derby.
The Blues have shown some improvements as they won back-to-back matches before the international break. Ameen Al-Dakhil’s own goal and goals from Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, and Nicolas Jackson ensured that Chelsea defeated Burnley 4-1 on Match Day 8.
The last time Chelsea defeated the Gunners at home in the English top-flight was in August 2018 thanks to a Marcos Alonso injury-time goal.
However, Mauricio Pochettino has never lost a home Premier League game against Arsenal, supervising three wins and three draws while in charge of Southampton and Spurs.
The Gunners, who defeated Manchester City earlier this month, will present a challenge that is considerably more difficult than anything Chelsea have faced thus far this season. The red side of north London now believes they can advance further this season than they did last season. Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal against Manchester City gave Arteta his first Premier League win against his former boss Pep Guardiola.
In their 12 games this season across all competitions, Arsenal has only lost once, and that loss came on the road in France to Lens in the UEFA Champions League on October 3 where they lost 2-1.
The two sides’ most recent meeting was at the Emirates Stadium in May, with Ødegaard scoring twice and Jesus also getting on the scoresheet for Arsenal in a 3-1 victory while Madueke got the only goal for the west London side.
For Arsenal, this is a chance go top of the Premier league for at least few hours and also to make English top-flight history by winning its first four away games in a single season.
The defence of Arsenal during their victory over City was undoubtedly their most spectacular play, as they held the champions to just four shots, none of which were from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian was effectively kept quiet by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhes.
CHELSEA VS ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Reece James, the captain of the Blues, has recently experienced a setback and is now a doubt for the game, dealing the team a familiar blow. Along with people like Carney Chukwuemeka, Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell, and Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia is likewise unfit. Malo Gusto is likely to fill in on the right side after serving a domestic suspension.
William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, and Bukayo Saka were all forced to withdraw from their national teams due to injury but are expected to be available.
Though there have been little updates on Saka’s fitness since he left the England camp just hours after arriving. Saliba’s persistent toe injury has not proven too tough for the Frenchman to manage. The Gunners don’t have any new injury worries, but Jurrien Timber is still a long term absentee.
Chelsea vs Arsenal : Time and venue
Kick-off date is Saturday 21st October, 2023
Kick-off time is 17:30 (BST)
Venue is Stamford Bridge
Referee will be Chris Kavanagh
Predicted Chelsea starting line-up:
Sanchez, Gusto, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Sterling, Enzo, Mudryk, Jackson.
Predicted Arsenal starting line-up:
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Chelsea vs Arsenal prediction
Chelsea’s recent success of two victories in a row before the October international break will give them a lot of confidence going into London derby.
This will be a hard test for the visitors, as Pochettino and his men have a point to prove against their London neighbours. However, The Gunners looks more in a better position to grab the whole 3points at stake.
Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
By Chimezie Amos
