Chelsea look to take a huge step towards a top four finish as they welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in Wednesday Night Football.
Victory would put Chelsea back into third whereas Arsenal can climb to eighth on goal difference with a win.
Team News
Andreas Christiansen is ruled out for Chelsea after suffering a suspected thigh injury in Saturday’s win at Manchester City.
Mateo Kovacic (hamstring) remains absent but could be fit for Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Leicester.
Arsenal could be without Emile Smith Rowe after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s win over West Brom.
David Luiz (hamstring), Granit Xhaka (groin) and Pablo Mari (ankle) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have lost just two of their last eight league meetings against Arsenal (W3, D3, L2).
- Arsenal have failed to win any of their last eight league visits to Stamford Bridge (D2, L6).
- Ten of Jorginho’s 12 Premier League goals for Chelsea across three seasons have come from the penalty spot.
- Seven of Arsenal’s 49 league goals this season have come from headers.
- This is Chelsea’s first home match of this season in all competitions to be refereed by Andre Marriner.
Prediction
Chelsea enter this match off a comeback win at Manchester City last Saturday despite wasting many chances, yet they did improve their defensive pressing in the second half which enabled them to eventually dominate City and snatch a late winner.
Arsenal meanwhile made a slow start on Sunday evening but clinical finishing proved the difference against West Brom, despite producing poor defensive pressure on Matheus Pereira to block pockets of shooting space for his strike but there was definite progress.
This though is Chelsea’s to lose because Arsenal just are too unpredictable at present but Thomas Tuchel will likely rotate his Blues, so I am going for a score draw if Arsenal can play like they did on Sunday.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Result: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
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