Arsenal, in a do-or-die situation, will face Chelsea in a battle to secure the top four spot on Saturday as they both breathe in a six points gap. Chelsea stands on the fourth spot while Arsenal is on the other side of the danger spot and they are aware that one defeat will cost them to end their campaign.
The troubles are in plenty in Arsenal’s basket with Ozil’s exit from the squad against West Ham last weekend, but Emery has insisted that the doors are still open for the playmaker to work his way back into the team. The move is yet to be made, but Arsenal would be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan again as he is still to recover from his foot injury. But the likes of Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal are likely to return in the starting XI this weekend.
Hazard is likely to lead the line for Chelsea, with Giroud nursing a swollen ankle and out-of-favor Morata repeatedly being linked with a move away from the club.
Willian and Pedro were on the scoresheet against Newcastle and should have done enough to retain their starting roles, which means that Callum Hudson–Odoi will again be limited to a place on the bench.
The only other position of regular contention in Chelsea’s XI comes in midfield, where Mateo Kovacic appears to be above Ross Barkley in the pecking order at the moment.
Probable Line-ups:
Arsenal: Leno (GK); Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny; Bellerin, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Iwobi.
Chelsea: Kepa (GK); Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Hazard, Willian.
My Playing XI:
PlayerzPot Prediction:
It could go either way, but we’re sitting on the fence with a draw which would suit Chelsea far better than it does the hosts.
