This weekend’s headliner fixture in the Premier League is a London derby at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea FC host Arsenal on Saturday evening in a match-up between two big clubs which found themselves on the outside looking in last season. Heading into this one, Chelsea are very fortunate in that they have no new injuries and overall a very match fit side.
Superstar Eden Hazard made a brief cameo in the rout over Huddersfield Town last weekend and should be selected for the first team in this one.
Who will he replace? It will have to be one of the three- Willian, Pedro or Alvaro Morata. We’re predicting the struggling to find his form former Real Madrid man to be benched.
The Sports Bank Starting XI Prediction
Forwards: Willian, Eden Hazard, Pedro
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Cesc Fabregas
Defenders: Marcos Alonso, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea Summer Transfer Window Analysis, Report Card: go to this link
Chelsea Season Preview: go to this link
Arsenal FC: go to this link
Match preview, TV info: go to this link
Odds via Betway: Chelsea 4/5, Draw 14/5, Arsenal 100/30
Kickoff Time: 5.30 p.m. BST, 12.30 p.m. ET, Saturday, August 18
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Arsenal 1
Arsenal are improved from last year, but oh boy do they still have a lot of room for improvement. The Blues have plenty of question marks themselves, but they should be able to take business at home against one of their bitter arch-rivals.
Feel free to post your own Chelsea and/or Arsenal starting XI predictions, as well as your final score predictions.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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