Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Chelsea

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The pressure has mounted at Arsenal, where a loss in this fixture would bring negative emotions to a head at a very inopportune time. The Christmas break is a time for a club to take stock of its season thus far and gauge its chances at capturing the title.

For a season that has gone so successfully for the Gunners, back-to-back losses to Manchester City and Chelsea would surely suffocate any celebration. Such are the pressures heaped on a team at the top of the table: Every team is gunning for you, no pun intended.

In the prime-time of Monday night, title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea will face off at The Emirates. For both clubs, it presents a fantastic opportunity. Win, and you’ll be right there at the top of Barclays Premier League table. Lose, and you’ll be looking up at Manchester City, Liverpool, and your opponent walking off the North London pitch.

This will be a creative test of control in midfield. Arsenal will boast midfield dynamos Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla against the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Andre Schurrle. Which trio is more decisive in its movement and passing, and ability to create cutting-edge opportunites will most likely decide the match.

With the wealth of talent that both squads have, every square foot of the pitch will match strength and strength. Battles such as Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott against Chelsea defenders John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, and Fernando Torres versus Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczęsny will be interesting to watch and integral to the match result.

Injury Notes:

-Arsenal Centre-half Laurent Koscielny will not play after suffering a gash to his knee in the 6-3 defeat at Manchester City

-Forward Lukas Podolski is available again after three months gone with a hamstring injury.

Match Notes:

– Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season at Sunderland.

-Jack Wilshere is also banned, starting a two-match suspension.

-Chelsea left back Ashley Cole is set to be on substitutes’ bench or in the stands in this match against his former club.

-Chelsea won both match ups against Arsenal in the 2012/13 seasons, capturing 2-1 score lines in the September and January fixtures.