Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face off against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on Boxing day in what is expected to be an exhilarating London derby.
The Gunners are currently 15th in the league table having won just four out of their fourteen games so far and are under immense pressure to find a win. Winning will be paramount tomorrow if Arteta wants to repay the faith shown in him by the board, and also to avoid a run of eight consecutive games without a win.
Chelsea put up a brilliant performance at home against West Ham on Monday night, winning comfortably on the back of two consecutive defeats against Wolves and Everton. Lampard’s side are 5th in table, just two points off second and six points away from Liverpool at the top.
The Blues also boast of an impressive record against their opponents in recent times, and have lost just twice to the Gunners in their previous seventeen head-to-head league fixtures.
Arsenal have not lost a single Boxing day fixture at home since 1987 and will have to put up a huge performance against the Blues if they want to extend that run.
When and Where?
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Saturday, 26th December 2020
Time: 17:30 (GMT)
Team News
Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains a doubt for this fixture following a calf injury and will be assessed before the fixture. Youngster Gabriel Martinelli limped off in their midweek EFL cup tie against Manchester City having just returned from a long time out with an injury, but is expected to be ready for the game tomorrow. Granit Xhaka is now available for selection after serving a three-match ban for picking up a red card against Burnley.
Arsenal are clearly missing the presence of Thomas Partey, who still remains sidelined for the foreseeable future with a thigh injury.
The misfiring attack has been a huge worry for Mikel Arteta, as the Gunners have managed to score a measly 12 goals from their 14 games so far, while their opponents have already scored 29 goals. Aubameyang and Lacazette have scored just three goals each, Nicolas Pepe has scored just two and Willian is open his account for the Gunners in the league.
Both of Chelsea’s first choice full-backs Reece James and Ben Chillwell picked up injuries last week meaning Lampard will start with Emerson and Azpilicueta at left back and right back respectively. Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech is still recovering from a muscle injury he picked up at the start of December.
Despite their new signing Timo Werner failing to score and struggling in front of goal in recent weeks, unlike Arsenal, Chelsea forwards Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud have proved equally capable of getting the goals for the Blues.
Predicted Lineup
Arsenal(3-4-3):
Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Lacazette, Pepe
Chelsea(4-3-3):
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Silva, Emerson; Mount, Kante, Kovacic; Werner, Abraham, Pulisic
