Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge as the Blues welcome Arsene Wenger's side
Chelsea are nine points clear at the top of the table as they welcome their London rivals Arsenal to Stamford Bridge, who need a win to put themselves back in the hunt for the Premier League title.
Arsene Wenger's side beat Chelsea 3-0 earlier in the season at the Emirates stadium and the result was a wake up call to Antonio Conte's men, who then changed their system to play a 3-4-3 formation. This resulted in a club record breaking 13 match winning streak in the league.
A win for Antonio Conte's side could all but end Arsenal's title hopes, after they lost 2-1 at home to Watford in mid-week, as Chelsea got an impressive point away to Liverpool.
CHELSEA INJURIES
Willian and David Luiz are the biggest question marks going into Saturday's game with Arsenal as both players picked up knocks in Tuesday's match at Anfield. Luiz, who was man of the match against Liverpool, spoke about having troubles with his right knee.
Although, if they recover, Chelsea could have a full complement of players available for Arsenal and have had one of the best injury records in the league so far this season. Branislav Ivanovic has left the club for Zenit St Peterburg after he struggled to get any game time.
Charly Musonda and Kenedy have joined up with Chelsea's first-team and are available to play after the club decided not to loan them out again in January. Nathan Ake has been integrated back into the squad and impressed on his comeback against Brentford in the FA Cup.
CHELSEA SUSPENSIONS
Chelsea have no players suspended for their match with Arsenal and they have had few issues with discipline all season.
In 2017 the rules alter slightly regarding suspensions for an accumulation of yellow cards, with 10 bookings now being required to get a ban. Pedro and N'Golo Kante are the closest players to Chelsea's next suspension as they moved to six bookings picked up in league and cup competition.
Conte will keep using his tried and tested line up after a positive result against Liverpool in a match that his side almost won as Diego Costa missed a penalty in the 76th minute.
Chelsea are having success by making fewer rotations than their rivals while playing in a 3-4-3 formation. Pedro and Willian have been battling it out for places along with Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas - but expect few other changes to the side that drew at Anfield.
Diego Costa will lead the line as he competes with the likes of Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez for the Premier League golden boot.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Granit Xhaka will miss out through suspension after he was red carded for a dangerous tackle against Burnley this month, earning a four game ban. Santi Cazorla remains out with an ankle injury.
Wenger confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will miss out with a calf strain, but that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit to play despite injury concerns. Mohamed Elneny is still at the African Cup of Nations and will miss the match at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal fringe players Mathieu Debuchy and Yaya Sanogo are also set to miss out as they come up against a team with far fewer concerns.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
- Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in September was their heaviest against them since April 1997 (also 3-0). They were previously unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Arsenal (W6 D3).
- Diego Costa has scored in two of his four league games against Arsenal and has been booked in the other two.
- The 3-0 loss to Arsenal in September was Antonio Conte’s heaviest league defeat since October 2010 when he was manager of Siena (0-3 vs Empoli).
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