Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Sunday, 24 January
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
Guus Hiddink inflicted Arsenal’s heaviest ever Premier League defeat at the Emirates when we won 4-1 there in May 2009, but whilst we travel back across the capital today, Hiddink will know these are very different times.
Arsenal won’t get a better opportunity to win the league than this season, with only City realistically to battle it out with. As for us, if we avoid the drop (and that’s not something I’m ruling out), I can’t see Roman letting us get in this position again either.
As far as today’s game goes, we just need to get through with it and hope it’s not too painful.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says “Even if Chelsea are not in the best position, look at their squad. It’s a big game because of the quality of the players on the pitch. We play at the Emirates and know how important it will be to win this game.”
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink meanwhile, says “Arsenal are doing very well and making a good battle for first position. And Chelsea are way down under at this moment. Reality. This club is used to thinking about being top three or four in England. Winning these games might bring confidence to the club and the team to ask, ‘Hey, where do we belong?’ And think about why this team has fallen so deeply in the recent period.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Arsenal, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla (both knee), Jack Wilshere (leg) and Francis Coquelin (knee) are all out, whilst Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) and Mesut Ozil (foot) are fit. New signing Mohamed Elneny awaits his debut.
For Chelsea, Radamel Falcao (thigh) remains out. Eden Hazard (groin) could be available and Diego Costa (shin) is expected to be fit.
TEAMS
ARSENAL (Possible line-up): Cech, Bellerín , Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Campbell, Özil , Walcott, Giroud
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Mikel, Willian, Fabregas, Pedro, Costa
LAST SEASON
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea (28th April 2015)
CURRENT FORM
ARSENAL: WLWWDD
CHELSEA: WDDWDD
OTHER STUFF
~ Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea in any of their past eight Premier League meetings
~ Three of the last four Premier League meetings at the Emirates have ended goalless.
~ Arsenal are unbeaten in nine Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium
~ Arsenal haven’t conceded a penalty this season.
~ Petr Cech has kept 10 Premier League clean sheets this season
~ Chelsea are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League
~ Chelsea’s win against Palace in their last away game was their first in eight attempts on the road.
~ If Chelsea fail to win they will set a new record for fewest points by a reigning champion after 23 Premier League matches.
~ Chelsea are 27 points worse off than at the same stage last season
PREDICTION
Broad shoulders required after this one I reckon.