Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Arsenal vs Chelsea in the Premier League
on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm.
Team news
Arsenal could welcome back captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Sunday's
London derby at home to Chelsea.
Aubameyang missed the 2-0 loss at Brentford after returning a positive
Covid-19 test, as did fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette, goalkeeper Alex
Runarsson and winger Willian.
Willian could also return while Lacazette and Runarsson are still missing,
as are defender Gabriel Magalhaes (knee), striker Eddie Nketiah and
midfielder Thomas Partey (both ankle), while new signing Martin Odegaard is
not available as he awaits a visa.
Christian Pulisic will miss out for Chelsea after testing positive for
Covid-19.
The USA forward is fully vaccinated and has not experienced any symptoms,
but is in self-isolation.
Midfielders Hakim Ziyech (shoulder) and N'Golo Kante (ankle) could return,
while £98m recruit Romelu Lukaku may make his second Chelsea debut.
Arsenal vs Chelsea is live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm; kick-off
4.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog
on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the
Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel
shortly after the final whistle.
Prediction: Jones Knows writes...
Arsenal have won the last three meetings in all competitions between these
two - and gave me one of my most enjoyable ear cupping moments of last
season when I tipped them up at 4/1 to win this very fixture. However, many
things have changed since then. But the two most important factors are:
Thomas Tuchel is now manager and Romelu Lukaku is their centre-forward.
Chelsea are a different animal.
During Tuchel's reign, Chelsea rank first for goals conceded (13), clean
sheets (12) and shots on target (117). The basis for a title-winning side is
there. So, what's been missing? Lukaku, that's what.
During that same period, they ranked 15th in the Premier League for shot
conversion rate (nine per cent). It's worth noting that Lukaku scored 24
league goals last season, four more than the combined total of Timo Werner
(6), Tammy Abraham (6), Olivier Giroud (4) and Kai Havertz (4). Lukaku is
the difference maker.
Meanwhile, Arsenal still look in the early stages of a huge rebuilding job.
They got bullied all over the pitch in the defeat at Brentford and didn't
possess the finishing skills required to seriously test a very inexperienced
defence. Mikel Arteta's young side might get another lesson here in what it
takes to play title challenging football.
I'm not one for steaming into an odds-shot but I'm all over Chelsea at 3/4
with Sky Bet. They are a must for the weekend accumulators.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2
BETTING ANGLE: Chelsea to win to nil (15/8 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
Arsenal won both of their Premier League matches against Chelsea last
season, last winning three in a row against the Blues in the competition
between January 2003 and February 2004.
Chelsea have only won three of their last 14 games against Arsenal in all
competitions (D5 L6), losing each of their last three games against the
Gunners (2020 FA Cup final, both 2020-21 Premier League meetings).
Arsenal are opening their league season with two London derbies - against
Brentford and Chelsea - for a second consecutive season, having played
Fulham and West Ham last season. Prior to this, they'd only done so once, in
2015-16, while Chelsea have only started a league campaign with two London
derbies in 1989-90 previously, against Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers.
Chelsea have won their last four away Premier League London derbies, last
winning five in a row between January 2005 and January 2006 under José
Mourinho.
Arsenal haven't beaten Chelsea in any of their last 10 Premier League
meetings on a Sunday (D2 L8) since winning 2-1 in November 2008 at Stamford
Bridge. The Gunners are, however, unbeaten in their previous eight Premier
League Sunday matches overall (W6 D2).
Chelsea have won 15 of their last 20 away Premier League matches in August
(D3 L2), although this is their first away league match against Arsenal in
this month since 1984, when they drew 1-1 at Highbury with Kerry Dixon
cancelling out Paul Mariner's opener for the Gunners.
Though they've won their first home league game in each of the last two
campaigns, Arsenal have lost their first league match at the Emirates in
five of the last 10 seasons (W4 D1). The Gunners had only lost their first
home league game in five of the previous 29 seasons.
Arsenal (who ranked 11th for total shots in the Premier League last season)
had more attempts than any other top-flight side on MD1 (22). However, the
Gunners failed to score, and had just the 13th highest expected goals figure
(1.2).
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