5 non-negotiable starters for Arsenal vs Chelsea in Premier League showdown

3. Martin Odegaard

Not that Odegaard has many (if any) doubters at Arsenal but he once again proved his worth to the side at the weekend. The captain will start in every match possible, that is how important he is to the team but ESPECIALLY in London derbies, towards crunch time of the season.

Last time out, Odegaard did not have the best performance at Stamford Bridge but he played excellently in this fixture last season. Odegaard is the kind of player who will keep testing Chelsea and their defensive resolve. All it takes is one killer pass, of which Odegaard produces many, to tear down the Chelsea defence, so he will surely start in this match.

From Mikel Arteta's perspective, he will want his best troops firing on all cylinders in this match. Even putting the Premier League title race to one side, this London derby is important anyway for bragging rights. Therefore, Odegaard will have an important captains role to play in this one.

Continued on the next slide...