A decisive battle in the Premier League
Arsenal and Chelsea meet in a successful first league event in the Emirates this Sunday, the two desperate parts of points in their respective campaigns. For the arsenal of Mikel Arteta, the objective is to run out of the domination of Liverpool at the top, while Chelsea d’Enzo Maresca remains focused on securing football in the Champions League next season.
The Gunners, seated at 15 points at the drift of the summit of the Premier League, will see this as an opportunity to gain ground, in particular with Liverpool occupied in the final of the Carabao Cup. A victory here would reduce the gap to 12 points – always an intimidating margin, but which maintains their weak hope of title.
For Chelsea, the momentum grows under Maresca. After sending Leicester last weekend, the Blues strengthened their European skills titles with a 1-0 victory against Copenhagen in the league of the conference on Thursday. Now attention turns to their most ferocious rivals in London in what promises to be a tactical battle between two progressive coaches.
Key team selections could shape the meeting
Arteta took full advantage of the 9-2 victory of the great arsenal champions over the PSV Eindhoven, key characters in goodbye in the return match. Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard have all started on the bench and should return to the XI of departure against Chelsea.
MARESCA, on the other hand, faces selection dilemmas. Chelsea’s list of injuries was a concern throughout the campaign, but there is hope that Reece James, recently sidelined due to an illness, will be able to return. Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella should also strengthen the defensive configuration of the blues.
Cole Palmer, a key figure for Chelsea this season, came back from the disease in time to make a late cameo against Copenhagen. It is likely to be restored in the departure training on Sunday. Raheem Sterling, however, is not eligible due to the terms of his Chelsea loan move to Arsenal, excluding a meeting with his former club.
Maresca confirmed that Robert Sánchez will start with the aim, a decision that could prove to be crucial against an arsenal attack wishing to exploit any defensive fragility.
Tactical approaches and what to expect
Arsenal’s recent draw 1-1 with Manchester United revealed some cracks in their form of the Premier League. After reaching a dominant victory over the PSV in Europe, they had a hard time breaking an obstinate united defense. Chelsea, however, is unlikely that the same in -depth approach, which could work in favor of Arsenal.
The Blues have shown greater intention to attack under Maresca, but the real question is whether they can match Arsenal’s intensity in 90 minutes. The battle in the midfield between Declan Rice and the Chelsea dynamic duo of Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández will be a crucial factor in determining the control of the game.
Despite the recent Chelsea resurgence, Arsenal at home remains great. Arteta will expect her team to dictate the game, use their width effectively and press High to force errors in the construction of Chelsea.
Prediction: the quality of Arsenal to point it
This match rarely disappoints, and the shock on Sunday should not be an exception. Chelsea has regularly improved, but Arsenal to the Emirates, with their most strong Xi in action, will be difficult to contain.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.