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Arsenal vs Chelsea preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

By James Cormack

Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (C) vies with Chelsea's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on November 6, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (C) vies with Chelsea's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on November 6, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal must get back on track when they take on a woefully out-of-sorts Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday night.

After being beaten by title rivals Man City 4-1 last Wednesday, the Gunners relinquished top spot in the Premier League table for the first time in seemingly forever after City beat Fulham 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The Citizens are now a point clear of Mikel Arteta’s side having played a game fewer.

This upcoming contest with Chelsea was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, but concerns over policing meant the game was moved to Tuesday. Arsenal head into it without a win in four and their title hopes are now slim. The Blues, meanwhile, are in disarray and are on course for their worst performance ever in the Premier League in terms of points per game.

Frank Lampard is yet to taste victory since returning to Stamford Bridge as interim boss following Graham Potter’s dismissal.

Arsenal vs Chelsea preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Tuesday night’s London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in November. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in November. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /

How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea on TV

When is kick-off? Tuesday 2 May

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League (UK) / fuboTV (Canada) / Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, UNIVERSO NOW, SiriusXM FC, USA Network (US)

Referee? Robert Jones

Arsenal team news

There are rumours that Thomas Partey has been carrying an injury in recent weeks (shock), and so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jorginho line up against his former employers on Tuesday. Many believe the Italian deserves a start anyway.

Leandro Trossard is also vying for minutes, but he’ll likely remain on the bench.

Arteta confirmed that William Saliba will miss out once again, but will the Spaniard re-jig his backline or stick with Rob Holding?

Chelsea team news

Kai Havertz is back in contention for the Blues and should start at the Emirates after Lampard deployed a ludicrously defensive starting XI against Brentford last Wednesday.

Mason Mount and Reece James have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, and Marc Cucurella is expected to be out of action for a couple of weeks.

Lampard confirmed ahead of the contest that Kalidou Koulibaly will also be missing on Tuesday.

Arsenal vs Chelsea predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Fofana, Chilwell; Fernandez, Kante, Gallagher; Felix, Havertz, Sterling

Arsenal’s recent form

Man City 4-1 Arsenal (26/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 3-3 Southampton (21/04) – Premier League

West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (16/04) – Premier League

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (09/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Leeds Utd (01/04) – Premier League

Chelsea’s recent form

Chelsea 0-2 Brentford (26/04) – Premier League

Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid (18/04) – Champions League

Chelsea 1-2 Brighton (15/04) – Premier League

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea (12/04) – Champions League

Wolves 1-0 Chelsea (08/04) – Premier League

Prediction

Arsenal were dominant against Chelsea in the reverse fixture, and they’ve generally enjoyed themselves in London derbies this season.

However, their confidence is on the floor following their recent barren run, and no game will be a walk in the park for Arteta’s side. Chelsea are without a win in eight games, with Lampard struggling to get anything out of his bloated and unbalanced squad.

Nevertheless, the former midfield hero will be desperate to get something at the Emirates, and I think the Gunners’ current issues in the absence of Saliba will render this a tight affair.

The hosts will just about edge it, though.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea