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Two of the Premier League's front-runners meet today as Chelsea host Arsenal in the Premier League.
Cole Palmer is on the bench for the hosts, while William Saliba misses out for the visitors after picking up a knock in training.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Estevao; Joao Pedro.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Hincapie, Mosquera, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Better news for Arsenal is that strikers Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are both back on the bench. Jesus has been absent since an ACL injury in January, while Gyokeres was sidelined shortly before the international break.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Chelsea, winning seven and drawing three. They're unbeaten against the west London club in their last seven meetings since a 2-0 loss at the Emirates in August 2021.
Additionally, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six visits to Stamford Bridge, winning three and drawing three.
Enzo Maresca made it very clear he didn't think Chelsea were in a title challenge when they were in a similar position this time last year, but changed his tune a little when asked about it on Friday.
💬 “It's different compared to one year ago. It's because we spent one more year together. We went through moments where we can learn from that moment. Then again, for me it's very early.
“We are still at the end of November, December. So it's very early and it's important to be where we are now in March, April and then we'll see.”
It’s undoubtedly a blow for Arsenal to lose Saliba, especially with Gabriel already sidelined.
Hincapie and Mosquera have acquitted themselves well when called upon, but this is an unfamiliar partnership in a huge game: a big test for the summer signings.
Not surprising to see Estevao Willian on the front cover of Chelsea’s matchday programme after his Barcelona heroics last Tuesday.
So Cole Palmer returns for Chelsea as head coach Enzo Maresca revealed on Friday but his first appearance for two months begins on the bench.
There was a lot of focus on whether Estevao Willian would play after his heroics against Barcelona and fans will be delighted to see his name in the first XI once more.
The fact Maresca has made just one change to the side that beat Barcelona, Joao Pedro coming in for Alejandro Garnacho, is noteworthy. The Italian is known for making several changes every game but understandably has gone with pretty much the same side that outclassed the La Liga champions.
And what about this for a boost for Arsenal fans — Viktor Gyokeres is on the bench.
Arsenal subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Well, a familiar face has returned in welcome news for Chelsea fans.
Chelsea subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.
Here’s Mikel Arteta’s team to take on Chelsea this afternoon…
Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Hincapie, Mosquera, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Here is how the hosts line up today…
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez, James, Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Estevao; Joao Pedro.
We have reached half-time in the mid afternoon matches in the Premier League today, following on from a vital three points for Manchester United in the early kick-off. Here’s a look at the scores:
It hasn't been a seamless start to this season for Chelsea, but the facts are that they are Arsenal's closest challengers for the Premier League title coming into this game.
Enzo Maresca's men started the weekend second in the table, ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa, but six points back from the leaders.
It still doesn't quite feel that this Chelsea team are ready to challenge for a title but victory today would put them within punching distance of their visitors. Looking at it more pessimistically, a win for Arsenal would give them a mountain to climb.
These two teams last met back in March, when Arsenal were already resigned to Liverpool winning the Premier League and with Chelsea chasing a Champions League spot.
Despite their hopes of going above the runaway leaders dwindling, it was Mikel Arteta's side who emerged victorious at the Emirates Stadium. One goal was enough to win it and that came from makeshift striker Mikel Merino at a corner in the 20th minute.
This is always one of the stand-out match-ups to look out for when the fixtures are announced every year. There is almost always drama when these two teams meet and that is certainly what we're hoping for today.
In the Premier League era, it is a rivalry that Arsenal have enjoyed most.
Arsenal have a pretty decent record at Stamford Bridge, too — they have won 10 times here, compared to 13 defeats.
I mentioned Arsenal's squad planning earlier on and they showed just how strong it has been in that statement victory on Wednesday evening. James McNicholas was our man at the Emirates Stadium and this is a snippet of what he had to say.
📝 When you have a winning team, everybody wants to be part of it.
Arsenal have assembled one of the most formidable squads in Europe. On the evidence of Wednesday’s 3-1 win against Bayern Munich in the league phase of this season’s Champions League, it is striking an enviable balance, one where each player sees every start as a privilege, every minute on the pitch as an opportunity.
It is that rarest, most fragile football phenomenon: healthy competition. Competition that invigorates. Mikel Arteta’s side are six points clear in the Premier League as we head into December and have won the first five of their eight games in this opening stage of the Champions League.
Arsenal are in that perfect state of equilibrium. The players picked to start feel simultaneously supported by and under threat from those on the bench. The ones named as substitutes for a match see it not as demotion or chastisement, but as a chance to contribute later on in the game.
Read the full piece below.
GO FURTHER
Arsenal’s squad depth is a frightening prospect for their rivals
For me, the pick of the midweek Champions League fixtures was Bayern Munich's visit to face Arsenal — the Premier League leaders against the Bundesliga leaders, with both teams looking well among the favourites to go all the way in Europe.
The first half was brilliantly competitive and ended 1-1 after goals from Jurrien Timber and Lennart Karl. But, in the second half, Arsenal went to another level and played Bayern off the park.
Substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli got the goals in a superb second-half performance which only further stamped Arsenal's trophy ambitions this season.
In that brilliant win on Wednesday night, Marc Cucurella put in a superb performance and was rightly the recipient of the Player of the Match award. But the man who really got me off my seat was Estevao.
The 18-year-old is a joy to watch and is one of those players who reminds why you fell in love with the game.
For him to mark a great performance with a stunning goal was the cherry on top of the cake. Steve Madeley broke down that goal and why it showed how the young Brazilian is made for the big stage.
Check it out below!
GO FURTHER
The brilliant Estevao goal that shows he belongs on the Champions League stage
This was always going to be a significant week for Chelsea in the context of their season; two home games against very good sides at a crucial juncture in the campaign. And they will be pretty happy with the way they started it.
Hosting Barcelona in the Champions League is no easy feat, but Chelsea made it look very easy.
After a slow start, Chelsea took the lead in the 27th minute when Jules Kounde couldn't sort his feet out on the goal line and watched the ball trickle into the back of the net. As the hosts continued to press the accelerator, they forced Barca captain Ronald Araujo into an error which earned him a second yellow card just before half-time.
From there, it was all Chelsea and they got the goals their performance richly deserved. Estevao slammed a right-footed effort past Joan Garcia in the 55th minute before Liam Delap wrapped up the points from close in the 73rd.
Arsenal are currently top of both Premier League and Champions League tables having had a string of first-team players injured at different stages this season.
They have won 12 of their last 13 games in all competitions — only drawing against Sunderland — without their best team available. Even Gabriel's ill-timed injury during the international break hasn't seemed to derail them, as many were expecting.
Their squad planning has been criticised over the last couple of years, but current evidence suggests Mikel Arteta and Co. have got it spot on.
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