Arsenal host Chelsea tomorrow night in a London derby clash book-ending the festive period. Just about every manager in the big six, including the two facing off in this one, have hit out at the schedule makers for all the fixture congestion that accompanied the holidays.
The gunners come into this one as slight favorites, although across all competitions, no team has won more away games at the Emirates Stadium than Chelsea (5, level with Manchester United).
On the other hand, Arsenal won this exact fixture 3-0 last season, breaking a five-game winless run against their city rivals in league play at home.
For the starting XI predictions for both teams go to this link.
Some big news today as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be facing a stadium ban, as the FA charged him with verbally abusing a referee on New Year’s Eve. On the Chelsea side, Blues boss Antonio Conte has said that he expects David Luiz, who has been linked to Arsenal in back page transfer rumors, to stay put this January transfer window.
Additionally, Wenger said that both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are replaceable, should they leave. On the other side, Conte has dismissed the idea that his side will acquire his former player, Giorgio Chiellini.
Getting to the fitness/injury report for this match, we’ll start with the hosts.
Nacho Monreal, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey are all still out. Additionally, Sead Kolasinac has been ruled out for a couple of weeks after a collision at West Bromwich Albion Tuesday.
Meanwhile Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny are both facing late fitness tests for tomorrow night, with Wenger saying the Frenchman has a 30% chance of featuring tomorrow night. Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee due to an Achilles injury.
On the flip side, Chelsea enter this match very healthy. They will only be without David Luiz (knee) and Baba Rahman (knee), the latter of which is a long-term injury absentee. Eden Hazard, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas will all likely return to the team, after they were rested against Stoke City.
Odds: Arsenal – 15/8 Draw – 5/2 Chelsea – 8/5
Prediction: Arsenal 2, Chelsea 1
As always, feel free to post your own Chelsea or Arsenal starting XI prediction, and/or the score prediction, the comments section below.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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