Chelsea players celebrate after a goal. (Getty Images)
Chelsea travel to Emirates as they take on their rivals Arsenals in a high-intensity encounter on Sunday afternoon.
Frank Lampard’s men have endured a bad patch of form mid-way through the season and nothing but a win against the Gunners would ensure their spot in the top-four. They are heading into this game on the back of a poor 0-2 loss against Southampton on Boxing day.
On the other hand, Arsenal would be hoping to perform well under their new manager Mikel Arteta after a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in midweek.
However, this will be a test for both the managers who are looking to improve the standards of their respective sides and this fixture would guarantee a blockbuster show.
Marco Van Ginkel is still recovering from a knee injury and his return to action is unknown. Another victim, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also said to continue on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury earlier this season.
Reece James is considered to be doubtful for the game after he contracted an ankle injury recently.
The Spaniard did well against Southampton but could not do anything about the two goals. He is the first choice in between the sticks and would start for the Blues.
His experience will be vital in the fixture against the Gunners and is expected to start ahead of Reece James, who has been excellent this season.
The German was out of action for a long time but his return hasn’t been good enough for the team. He is expected to retain his spot and put in a solid defensive performance.
The academy product has done well so far but he would be hoping to help the team with a clean sheet. He is expected to start ahead of Kurt Zouma, who has been shaky this season.
The only bright spark within the team in the last outing, Emerson is growing to become a threat while attacking. He would start for sure.
The Frenchman has not lived up to the expectations so far in this campaign. Huge responsibilities would be rested on his shoulders to control the game against Arsenal, as he can be lethal on his day.
Despite starting the season well, the Italian has been in and out of the team for quite some time in recent weeks. He will be key to hold off any of Arsenal’s threatening attacks.
The Croatian is expected to return to the starting line up after serving his suspension. He can cause all sorts of troubles to the opponents from outside the box.
Though he has got his fair share of game time, Willian was unable to emulate his performance which saw him score twice against Tottenham. His pace will play a major role in taking of Arsenal’s shaky defence.
Pulisic was pushed to the bench in the last outing and if Chelsea want to create opportunities and score, he must be starting at any cost.
The youngster has been in fine form and would be hoping to be clinical with his finishes. He is expected to lead the attack as usual.
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…
In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…
Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…
If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…