Arsenal take on Chelsea in the decisive London derby showdown at The Emirates. A win for the home side will see them trailing their Sunday’s opponents by just 7 points, while a win for Jose Mourinho’s side will all but wrap up their fourth title.
Team News
Per Mertesacker is a doubt for Sunday’s game due to an ankle injury, with winter recruit Gabriel replacing the German centre-half. Captain Mikel Arteta and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are not available for selection due to their ankle and groin injuries respectively.
Chelsea top scorer Diego Costa will be assessed by Jose Mourinho ahead of the game. The Spanish hitman’s incurring hamstring injury kept him out for the last two games, but is in line to start contrary to his scheduled return. Teenage forward Dominic Solanke could be seen on the substitute’s bench.
Key Battles
Eden Hazard vs Hector Bellerin
Chelsea’s best player of the season could soon be crowned as Premier League’s player of the season. The scintillating Belgian scored the all-important winner against Manchester United last weekend, and has improved ever since his arrival at the Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old’s industry and artistry down the left-wing have become the Blues’ lethal weapon, and Hazard has hardly failed to make an impact in his sides’ big games this season. Would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t run away with the player of the year.
Olivier Giroud vs John Terry
Arsenal’s recent resurgence has unsurprisingly coincided with the return of Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has netted 14 goals this season, and is only behind Harry Kane, Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero and Charlie Austin in the top-scorers chart despite having played lesser games than the aforementioned four. Along with goals, his intelligent one-touch and hold-up play, has, on multiple occasions been a source of goals. And with able runners around him, the 28-year-old has started to flourish in the real sense for the Gunner. Chelsea captain John Terry is bound to be on his toes against the Frenchman.
Francis Coquelin vs Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is set for a hostile reception from the home fans, with the former Arsenal captain having joined their rivals earlier this summer. And while Fabregas will try and retort the whistles and boos, his efforts will be stifled by Arsenal’s destroyer Francis Coquelin. The young Frenchman has nailed down a starting berth for himself in Arsene Wenger’s plans, and will look to continue his impressive season against the returning former hero.
Opta Facrs
Wenger has lost just five competitive home games by a 3+ goal margin during his tenure as Arsenal manager; three of which have come against Chelsea.
Mourinho has never lost as an opposition coach against Arsene Wenger in any competition (W7 D5).
Arsenal have won just two of their last 12 league clashes with Chelsea (D2 L8).
Chelsea have kept four clean sheets in their last six clashes with Arsenal, conceding just two goals in total.
In the reverse fixture against the Blues back in October, Arsenal failed to have a shot on target for the first time in a Premier League match since September 2003 (Manchester United away).
Diego Costa scored one of Chelsea’s two goals when they beat Arsenal back in October.
Manager Quotes
Arsene Wenger
“It is not a confrontation (between managers), it is a confrontation of two teams. Football is down to the fact that the performance on the day will decide the game and the result, so let’s focus on that. We have not always lost, first of all, in 12 attempts. We have come close to beating them a few times and they have always had very strong teams. We are on a good run and we have an opportunity to beat them at home, and we want to take it.”
Jose Mourinho
“For me, achievement is to win (on Sunday. It’s not the other 12 matches that we played before against Arsenal. It’s a big club with the same objectives that we have in the competitions we play. Because of that always comes a little bit of rivalry. He’s not my rival. I just feel he’s the manager of a big club in the same city where I work and I live.”
Predicted line-ups
Arsenal
David Ospina, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal will come in for Wojciech Szczęsny, Mathieu Debuchy, and Keiran Gibbs. Gabriel will replace the injured Mertesacker.
Chelsea
Diego Costa will come in for Didier Drogba. An unchanged side otherwise.
Prediction:
0-0
Expect Chelsea to play deep again, and look for an early goal which they will be able to defend. However it won’t be easy at the Emirates, and much depends upon the availability of Diego Costa. As for Arsenal, it would be difficult to break down the resolute Chelsea back-line, coupled by the extra body in Kurt Zouma.