Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview: How to Watch, Predicted Lineups, Score Prediction & Team News

Arsenal host Chelsea on Saturday’s Boxing Day Premier League clash.

It could go one of two ways. Either all the merry spirit we enjoyed over the course of Christmas could evaporate the very next day, or Santa could hand Arsenal a late gift and extend our happiness for another few days.

And if Arsenal do claim the spoils in their London derby, it’ll likely be as a result of magical outside sources, not of internal doing.

Slumping to a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, while yet again there were multiple facets of the performance that were still lacking, it’s hard to ignore that three of the key players tasked with guarding the goal – Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Alex Runarsson – were hopelessly poor.

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If there was a trio of other players in their positions it certainly wouldn’t constitute victory, but the margin of defeat could have at least been less stark.

No excuse, however. It can’t be claimed that Arsenal deserved to win, but there were ever so faint signs of what could be further down the line with an impressive Gabriel Martinelli showing and an equally composed cameo from Emile Smith Rowe.

Chelsea will not be easy opponents at the Emirates, as ever. Frank Lampard’s side have added solidity to their wealth of attacking talent and are a far cry from the leaky outfit we saw for the majority of last season.

If Arsenal can harness the elements that were good against City – iron out the errors and build on the decent spells in the game – then they may have a chance. Fans are begging for the youngsters to get their chance. Will Mikel Arteta finally turn a corner?

Here is your preview of Saturday’s Premier League showdown.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 26th December
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Michael Oliver

Team News

North London takes a collective breath over the Christmas break, anxiously waiting for the news on Gabriel Martinelli’s injury.

The Brazilian was caught by goalkeeper Zack Steffen, suffering a cut to his shin that swelled up to the point of forcing him off the pitch. Assessments throughout the week will determine the severity of the injury, but the hope is that the purely impact-related knock will ease up in time for Saturday.

Similar concerns remain with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose calf problem will be looked at in the days building up before a final decision is made. It’s mostly guesswork at this point.

Granit Xhaka returns from a three-match suspension to be in line for a start, while Thomas Partey continues to undergo rehabilitation on a thigh injury that is yet to receive a return date. However, it’s unlikely to be this calendar year.

Willian, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and David Luiz played no part on Tuesday but are all fit to come into the side if Arteta opts to use them.

As for Chelsea, they head into the weekend’s fixture missing both of their first-choice full-backs.

Reece James sat out on the win over West Ham with a knee injury, but while he has avoided needing surgery for the issue, Saturday will come too soon for him. As for left-back, Ben Chilwell was forced off against the Hammers after ten minutes with an ankle problem, one Lampard has stressed makes him highly doubtful to face Arsenal.

The other doubt for the Blues is Hakim Ziyech, who wasn’t deemed fit enough to make the bench last time out but has returned to training following a hamstring pull.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Nketiah, Martinelli

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Silva, Emerson; Havertz, Kante, Mount; Pulisic, Abraham, Werner

Arsenal vs Chelsea Score Prediction

Where do we start?

Back in the (good) old days, you never knew which Arsenal would going to show up. Maybe it would be the free-flowing, electric and destructive attacking force usually seen at the Emirates, or perhaps the limp, physically weak side who normally turned up away from home.

At least now we know what we’re getting: different variations of the latter.

One win in ten Premier League fixtures and just two points in the last seven, against a side six points off top spot and 11 clear of Arsenal. Is this the game to stop the rot? If it is, it would feel damn sweet.

Beating Chelsea is up there with the best in the Premier League, although at this point beggars can’t be choosers. We’d happily take a win over Boreham Wood to lift the mood.

Arsenal can’t capitalise on anything, let alone opposition absences, but the Blues coming into this one with both their first-choice full-backs missing is another opportunity on a plate that must be exploited.

Emerson is fairly dreadful and Cesar Azpilicueta, while supremely experienced, has lost a far few yards of pace. Take advantage of that and hope Timo Werner continues his poor run in front of goal and Arsenal stand a chance.

There is absolutely nothing that can be clung onto from the form Arsenal have shown this season to indicate they can win this game. Nor is there much weakness in Chelsea to suggest they can’t.

With Martinelli and Saka in the team, there is always a chance. The less said about the rest the better. However, as much as there is a faint inkling that Saturday will be a turning point (really tempted to go for a win), you just can’t ignore form and cold hard facts. Can you?

Ah, sod it. It’s Christmas.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea