Arsenal v Chelsea Confirmed Team News & Predicted XI for the derby

Arsenal will welcome Chelsea to the Emirates this evening for the London derby clash, with both sides confirming up to three players sidelined.

The Blues have already confirmed that summer signing Hakim Ziyech will miss the clash with an injury, and Frank Lampard also raised doubts during his pre-match press conference (via the DailyMail)on the possibility of both first-team full-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James being sidelined also.

Arsenal will also have just one player confirmed by Arsenal.com as missing. Thomas Partey remains sidelined with his thigh injury and is yet to return to full training after limping out of the clash with Tottenham earlier in the month.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been monitored closely over the past few days, and he remains a doubt despite both the club and player working hard to try and bring him up to speed. I feel like we might see his name amongst the subs but not quite ready to see out the full 90.

Gabriel Martinelli made his first start of the season against Manchester City in the League Cup on Tuesday, but was unable to complete the match. He suffered a heavy collision in the opening half, and while he was eager to continue, it just wasn’t possible shortly after the break. The club still hoped on Christmas Eve that he would be back in full training ahead of today’s clash however, and fingers crossed he can participate in some form against the side he scored that amazing goal against last term.

Predicted XI:

Leno
Bellerin Luiz Gabriel Tierney
Xhaka Elneny Saka
Willian Lacazette Pepe

Despite a return to a back three against Man City, I feel like Arteta has a preference for a back four still, and believe he will select Willian as the man to come in with Gabi and Aubz both likely to miss out.

I’d personally like to see Saka given another chance further up the field (with either Willock or Ceballos filling his role), or see Balogun given a shot after another confident display in midweek to play in place of either Lacazette or Willian, but I don’t feel like Arteta has the freedom to take such risks at this present time.

Who would you like to see make the line-up in Aubz/Gabi’s absence?

Patrick

Tags Arsenal v Chelsea Chelsea Martinelli Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Thomas Partey

24 Comments

      1. What a game to get off the mark though – we can dream, hey?!! Xhaka will walk straight back in… 😖
        It was great, thank you, very busy!! How about you? And did you get any Arsenal merch?! 😉

  1. I think ESR should start, but won’t. In my view, he needs to play some part in this game, but with GM and Auba probably starting from the bench, that doesn’t look too likely.

    1. Also, Balogun is an interesting option, as mentioned in the article – but I think it would be a brave call from Arteta to start him

  2. I would like to not see Xhaka again in an Arsenal shirt unless he apologizes for the red card. If every other player has to apologize, so should Xhaka.
    Double standards are not going to endear Arteta to fans or even his players.

    —————–Leno——————–
    Bellerin—–Luiz—–Gabriel——Tierney
    ————Elneny—-AMN————–
    Pepe———-Ceballos————Saka
    ——Martinelli/Balogun/Laca——–

    1. you guys like bellerin and don’t know why.
      that lady is useless,why can’t we go with AMN at right and ceba,saka and elneny in midfield.willian,laca and martinelli if fit, if not i prefer smith rowe over that lazy pepe of yours.

      1. I don’t like Bellerin, but he’s better than Cedric, and AMN I feel should be tried in the center as we have no decent central midfielders who can run with the ball (except Willock, but he’s worse than AMN).
        Agree about Pepe, but ESR is not a winger.

        1. Willock isn’t worse, he just doesn’t have energetic players around him, atleast you see the way he played in the cup games.

  3. Willian starts again along with Xhaha. This combination is not winning games for Arsenal. The best result expected against Chelsea is a draw. However, if Chelsea score first, Arsenal will lose the game. Arteta definitely, needs to bring in some younger players into the squad and try something different. If he retains the same core of players, I don’t expect a positive and favorable result. I hope Arsenal is not thrashed today.

    1. why does he persist with Willian& Xhaha both should not be considered as they offer little to our team, let some of the young guns play they cant de worse that those two!!!

  4. What should we do with a dodgy manager ???What should we do with a dodgy manager ???What should we do with a dodgy manager ???
    As revenge for loosing

    That’s the only thought that cracks me up from 44toon when I see Arsenal now a days ..😜

  5. No Willian no pepe and definitely no xhaka but all 3 will probably start but to be honest I’m past caring I just want 3pts so I’m going for a 2-1 win.
    Got to keep positive for today and if we dont then it’s all over for ma

  6. If he starts any 3 from willian xhaka elneny Pepe bellerin then it should be obvious we have a clueless manager … in any event a loss will surely see him go … his inability to develop a style of football over a year and his record over last 10 matches would be enough if we were still a top flight and serious club … we are neither at this moment … the attitude of clubs that have been way more successful than us over last decade … from borussia to Bayern and psg (to no doubt shortly)Barca … to to a drop in standards is telling .. absentee ownership doesn’t work in football

  7. We can only be lucky to get a point today.
    Arteta ruined this season when he sold our best goal keeper and shut out our best midfielders.
    His poor team selection and terrible tactics also contributed to his failure.

  8. Why is Edu after Brazilian players, I think it’s bias, beginning to think Edu and the board are after their own pocket,

    You forgave Xhaka, yet punished Guendouzi who’s by far a better player, gave lame excuses for Saliba,

    Arteta finally played some teenagers but used a very weak defense and keeper,
    Beginning to sound like a setup.

  9. Once again same old squad. Arteta is demonstrating that he doesn’t have confidence in the young talents and he is bankrupt of ideas. A lost today warrants his departure. His team selection and stubbornness will cost him the Arsenal job. Overall, I think Arteta really need to be released as his inexperience is impacting the
    results adversely, and the job has proven to be too overwhelming. Arteta should therefore move to a smaller club and lower league to transition and learn his trade. Arsenal should get Allegri in January. Because, if not, Arsenal will stand to lose majority of the young talents to rival clubs as they seek opportunities to play, which are not forthcoming under Arteta.

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