Chelsea vs Arsenal: LIVE scores, highlights and updates from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Arsenal: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League scores, highlights and updates from Stamford Bridge

12:55: Gary Neville’s not too optimistic about Arsenal’s chances today.

And when I say ‘not optimistic’ I actually mean that he thinks Chelsea are going to bulldoze them.

The Sky Sports pundit is astonished that Arsene Wenger has selected Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka in midfield, a month after starting in the 4-0 loss to Liverpool.

“I just saw Ramsey and Xhaka in midfield. They played at Anfield didn’t they. I’m amazed. I really am amazed, I expect Chelsea to bulldoze them,” Neville said on Sky Sports.

“I think if we are talking at the end of the day where Arsenal have surprised us then ‘oh great’, Arsene Wenger has stuck with those two.

“But at Anfield, those two were nothing short of shocking in that central midfield. Had no idea how to play central midfield, how to defend, not running back, not protecting that back three and they’re back again today. So I expect the same result as I stand here now.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Danny: Arsene Wenger’s put Alexis Sanchez on the bench and Jack Wilshere’s not in the squad. We are f*****.

Marcel: Nothing against Alex Iwobi but when you have Alexis Sanchez why isn’t he starting??? Wenger has lost it. Arsenal do something!

Eric: I’m really looking forward to seeing Arsenal’s three centre-back system struggle again…

12:40: Arsene Wenger has been forced into one change for today’s clash. Mesut Ozil is out of the squad entirely after sustaining an injury in training. Alex Iwobi replaces him.

Elsewhere it’s a back three with Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin providing the width at full-back.

Alexandre Lacazette leads the attack with Danny Welbeck and Alexi Iwobi playing just behind.

Alexis Sanchez, who started against Cologne on Thursday, starts on the bench but is likely to feature at some point.

12:35: Let’s start with the hosts. Antonio Conte has made three changes from the midweek victory over Carrier Bag, I mean Qarabag.

Alvaro Morata, who was rested, returns in place of Michy Batshuayi, while Gary Cahill and Victor Moses are back in the starting XI in place of Davide Zappacosta and Andreas Christensen.

Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko both feature on the bench, alongside Eden Hazard, who’s still not quite ready to start. Arsene will be relieved.

12:30: And here’s the team news folks. A quick glance tells me that Alexis Sanchez has been named on the bench, while Alvaro Morata returns for Chelsea.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Moses, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Willian, Pedro, Morata.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Hazard, Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Batshuayi, Christensen.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Iwobi, Welbeck, Lacazette.

Subs: Mertesacker, Sanchez, Giroud, Ospina, Walcott, Maitland-Niles, Elneny.

12:28: Those starting XI’s will be dropping any moment now folks. I wonder if Arsene Wenger will treat supporters to another one of his experiments…

12:25: So, Arsenal haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 2011. Here’s their last six away results against the Premier League champions…

• February 4, 2017: Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1 (Alonso 13, Hazard 53, Fabregas 85 / Giroud 90)
• September 19, 2015: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0 (Zouma 53, Chambers og 90)
• October 5, 2014: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0 (Hazard pen 27, Costa 78)
• March 22, 2014: Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 (Eto’o 5, Schurrle 7, Hazard pen 17, Oscar 42, 66, Salah 71 / Gibbs sent off 15)
• January 20, 2013: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1 (Mata 6, Lampard pen 16 / Walcott 58)
• October 11, 2011: Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5 (Lampard 14, Terry 45, Mata 80 / Van Persie 36, 85, 90, Andre Santos 49, Walcott 55)

12:20: The pressure will be on Arsenal to avoid a third successive league defeat on the road having already come unstuck at Stoke and Liverpool, where they were thrashed 4-0.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have once again learned from their mistakes to put together a three-match winning run following a shock opening-day home defeat by Burnley.

12:15: How’s everyone feeling this morning?

I’m at the age where it’s compulsory to attend a wedding virtually every week. So in addition to hemorrhaging money for gifts, my liver is packing up at a rate of knots.

I always start the day feeling like Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers, and finishes with me dancing like a sweating lunatic to the Macarena…

12:10: Good afternoon folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea v Arsenal from Stamford Bridge.

This clash a year ago marked the turning point in a season that finished with the Premier League title heading to Antonio Conte’s side at Stamford Bridge.

Arsene Wenger’s team inflicted a 3-0 defeat on their rivals at The Emirates that day but Conte used the experience to change his formation and Chelsea went on a 13-match winning league run.

For Arsenal, it was to be their only victory all season against any of the teams who finished in the top four.

Whatever plans you may have had, cancel them. This is going to be epic!

CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater is expected to be out until the October international break and will miss today’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.

Drinkwater was an unused substitute against his former club Leicester last Saturday and missed the midweek Champions League win over Qarabag with a calf problem which means he could be out for four weeks.

Chelsea are likely to rotate their options after making changes for the Qarabag contest, with playmaker Eden Hazard in contention to start for the Blues for the first time this season.

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Arsenal are likely to recall a host of first-team regulars for the short trip to Chelsea.

Manager Arsene Wenger made nine alterations for the Europa League win over Cologne but the likes of Petr Cech, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Alexandre Lacazette will all return to the squad at Stamford Bridge.

Alexis Sanchez will feature after playing the whole game on Thursday night, where Theo Walcott (calf) hobbled off. Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (ankle) are definitely out.

PROVISIONAL SQUADS

Chelsea squad: Courtois, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Kante, Morata, Hazard, Pedro, Bakayoko, Moses, Kenedy, Musonda, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Clarke-Salter, Scott, Eduardo.

Arsenal squad: Cech, Ospina, Mertesacker, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal, Mustafi, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Wilshere, Coquelin, Xhaka, Elneny, Ozil, Giroud, Walcott, Sanchez, Iwobi, Welbeck, Lacazette.

HISTORY

Last season: Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Chelsea 0

Last five league matches: Chelsea W L W W W; Arsenal W W L L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) 3; Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) 3