Chelsea vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

Arsenal Team News vs Chelsea

Arteta is sweating on the fitness of four players for the upcoming London derby, three who didn’t feature on Sunday and one who had to withdraw early.

The first is Emile Smith Rowe, the third player over the past few weeks to have suffered a hamstring injury. After scoring his first Premier League goal for the club against West Brom he had to be taken off earlier in the second half (he should have come off anyway) after feeling something in his hamstring.

"“I don’t know [how long he’ll be out for],” Arteta said. “Sometimes he cramps and that’s something that’s been happening for a while because he’s still adapting to the league, to the amount of games every three days. Hopefully it’s nothing major.”"

There were two defenders absent to face the Baggies with both David Luiz and Pablo Mari not fit to make the bench. Luiz is recovering from his own hamstring problem while Mari sprained his ankle against Villarreal.

Both are due in training ahead of facing the Blues but are touch and go to feature.

Finally there is Granit Xhaka who suffered a groin strain in the warm-up to the Villarreal draw, someone whose presence is only keenly felt once he’s out of the team. Of all the injured players it’s the Swiss who is needed the most, thus it’s fingers crossed.

Chelsea are in good condition for this one with Mateo Kovacic potentially available for some minutes ahead of the FA Cup final, while Andreas Christensen suffered a thigh injury which looks to be their only absentee.