Arsenal should have enough about them to see off an injury-ravaged Chelsea.
By Ian King
Out of sorts in the league?
It was all so different for Arsenal at the start of February, basking in the glow of a 5-1 win against Manchester City which seemed to make a mockery of all that talk about how they should have signed a striker in the January transfer window.
But that was then. Arsenal have won one of the Premier League matches they’ve played since (and that was away to The Free-Fallin’ Leicester City), and they’ve failed to win their last three, scoring one goal in the process.
Chelsea also recently had a run of one win in four games but they’ve picked up in their last two, although the fact that these came against Leicester and Southampton casts doubt over whether this can realistically be called a ‘revival’ or not just yet.
Recent H2H not good viewing for the Blues
Chelsea’s record in this fixture in recent years has been pretty terrible. The two clubs have met eleven times over the last five years and Chelsea have only won once. Earlier this season they drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters looking for something positive to bring into this game can hold onto the fact that they have the biggest win in this fixture, a 6-0 rout at Stamford Bridge back in March 2014.
Key players
Arsenal’s only goalscorer over their last three Premier League matches has been Declan Rice, who scored an outstanding equaliser at Old Trafford last weekend. There are still goals to be found from midfield if the attacking players are struggling. For Chelsea, Cole Palmer has been going through a bit of a dip of late, best evidenced by his recent penalty miss against Leicester. Chelsea need him firing on all cylinders if they’re to get much from this match.
Team News
A 7-1 win in the first leg of their Champions League tie against PSV afforded Mikel Arteta the luxury of making seven players from the team that drew at Manchester United last weekend. Expect the majority of them to return.
Arsenal have no fresh injuries, but their list of long-term absentees was already long enough. Gabriel Martinelli was on the bench at Old Trafford last weekend but could start this one. Raheem Sterling is ineligible to play against his former club.
Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson and Chukwunonso Madueke will all be missing for Chelsea. Reece James and Cole Palmer have both been ill, while Malo Gusto picked up a slight injury but could also be in their squad. Romeo Lavia’s return from injury is also due soon.
Prediction
With Manchester City stumbling at Nottingham Forest last weekend Chelsea clambered up to fourth spot in the Premier League, but whether they can stay there is another matter. Arsenal should probably give up on hoping that Liverpool completely implode at the very top of the table, though they do need to just keep grinding out those wins. This one may not be a classic, but I’d still favour a narrow 2-1 win to Arsenal.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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