Team
news, stats, predictions and how to follow the Premier League this week,
including Chelsea vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports on Wednesday.
Team news: Thomas Tuchel hinted at a start for striker Romelu Lukaku when
Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, live
on Sky Sports.
The club-record signing has not started a Premier League game for two months
due to injury and lack of form, but Tuchel suggested Lukaku may be needed in
an effort to ease the load on Kai Havertz.
The Blues must do without midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who will miss at least a
fortnight with ankle ligament trouble.
Callum Hudson-Odoi remains sidelined with a back problem, but is on the road
to recovery, while Ben Chilwell will not play this season in his long-term
rehabilitation after knee surgery.
Arsenal will assess Alexandre Lacazette, who missed out at
the weekend due to a positive Covid result, ahead of the trip across London.
Full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu is nearing fitness after missing the past 11
weeks with a calf problem but is not likely to return against Chelsea. With
Lacazette a doubt, Eddie Nketiah could once again lead the line.
Jones Knows prediction...
Thomas Tuchel takes charge of Chelsea for the 50th time in the Premier
League and he can celebrate that milestone by keeping another clean sheet
against the misfiring Gunners, who look set to lose a fourth straight
Premier League game for the first time since 1995.
Tuchel's side have kept 25 clean sheets in his 49 Premier League games in
the hot seat. It's resulted in his team having conceded the fewest goals of
any Premier League side during his reign at the club (36).
Arsenal aren't a million miles away from being able to compete with Chelsea
when at full strength but their lack of cover in key areas of the field is
threatening to derail what has been a very positive season.
Without Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey, Arsenal's win rate in the Premier
League drops from 71 per cent to 36 per cent. In 14 games this season when
both have been missing, Arsenal have lost eight of those matches. Mikel
Arteta's side have also lost all five Premier League games against the
current top three by an aggregate score of 15-1.
Having scored just two goals in their last five Premier League games,
confidence in attack must be at rock-bottom so a Chelsea win to nil
certainly makes appeal at the prices.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Opta stats...
Chelsea are looking to complete their first league double over Arsenal since
2015-16, following their 2-0 victory at the Emirates earlier this season.
Chelsea have lost their last two home games in all competitions (1-4 v
Brentford, 1-3 v Real Madrid), as many as they had in their previous 27 at
Stamford Bridge (W17 D8). The Blues haven't lost three consecutive home
games since November 1993, the third game of which was a 2-0 loss to
Arsenal.
Arsenal have lost each of their last three Premier League games, their third
run of three straight league defeats in their three seasons under Mikel
Arteta. The Gunners haven't lost four consecutive league games since March
1995 under Stewart Houston.
If Mason Mount plays, it will be his 100th Premier League appearance for
Chelsea. With 23 goals and 18 assists, he's been involved in more goals than
any other English player in their first 100 Premier League games for the
Blues (41).
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