Arsenal vs Chelsea: 5 key players in yet another necessary match

4. Sokratis

He’s become a regular in the key players lists at this point, but never has he been more key than this one against Chelsea.

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There is a chance that Gonzalo Higuain will complete the move to Chelsea and be available for this match (as of writing, he hasn’t). If that is the case, obviously the target man will be a huge threat to our defense, particularly in the air. Even if not, chances are we will see Olivier Giroud at some point – the superior target man.

As such, being the man that stays home on defense, Sokratis will be the primary defender dealing with the tip of the spear, whoever that may be.

And if it’s Eden Hazard? Then Sokratis’s focus will alter completely from aerial battles to ground combat.

Whatever the case, and it will likely change throughout the match, Sokratis will have to be at his absolute sharpest to hold this defensive back line together. Of course, he can be drastically helped by Mustafi and Koscielny, but as the centerpiece, the pivot, he is the key man.

Next up, the battle within the war.