ARSENAL vs CHELSEA
- Arsenal have never lost a Premier League home game against Chelsea when they’ve scored first
- Only Liverpool and Manchester City have scored more away goals than Chelsea’s tally of 22
- Arsenal could lose four consecutive home fixtures in all competitions for the first time in 60 years
- Chelsea have kept just two clean sheets in their 10 most recent league fixtures
Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Luiz, Saka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Chelsea XI: Kepa, Rudiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Kante, Emerson, Mount, Willian, Abraham
Twitter reaction
Michael: I much prefer Granit Xhaka in the midfield alongside Lucas Torreira. Our squad lacks depth and it’s no surprise where we are at. If Xhaka goes we will miss him.
Cheetah: Alexandre Lacazette doesn’t deserve to start, FFS! Playing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the wing doesn’t benefit us. Nicolas Pepe should come in.
Dan: That Chelsea team looks set up to contain; can see Arsenal having a large amount of possession. If they score early, it could be a tough afternoon for Frank Lampard.
Oja: If Mikel Arteta was English I would say he’s favouring his country boy over Nicolas Pepe but he’s not and I have no idea what Reiss Nelson adds to this team even on the bench, pure waste of space, we’re better off playing with a red card that’s how clueless Nelson is when it comes to football.
Steady on, Oja.
Elsewhere…
Not sure if you’re interested (or care at all) but the 423rd Old Firm of the season is underway at Celtic Park. Lots of challenges flying in and most of those are on resident hot-head Alfredo Morelos. He’s managed to stay calm for 32 minutes – which is an achievement in itself.
Celtic have also just missed a penalty. For LIVE coverage of that you can click here to join my former friend (I jest) and colleague Adam Powers.
Line ups
And the team news and line ups arrive. The headline news is that Christian Pulisic has been dropped completely while Mesut Ozil starts once again. Full analysis coming shortly.
Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Luiz, Saka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Willock, Smith Rowe, John-Jules, Pepe.
Chelsea XI: Kepa, Rudiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Kante, Emerson, Mount, Willian, Abraham.
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Lamptey, Jorginho, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi.
Deja vu…
So the Manuel Pellegrini experiment has failed at West Ham.
With the Hammers a point above the drop zone and facing a crunch match with fellow strugglers Bournemouth on New Year’s Day, joint-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold swung the axe.
Pellegrini’s expensively assembled side started the season in fine form, but a run of two wins from 14 matches – and four straight home defeats – saw them tumble from fourth to 17th in the space of three months.
And with 13 wins out his last 65 Premier League games – why wouldn’t you return to man, myth, legend David Moyes to bail you out of trouble!