Chelsea Vs Arsenal Preview: Team News, Probable Lineups, Prediction

At 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, Arsenal will visit Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for their Premier League Matchday 9 London derby.

Chelsea are going into the game after going three games in a row without a defeat for the first time since Graham Potter’s last few weeks in March 2023. Despite that, they are still in the 11th place in the Premier League ranking.

The lavishly assembled hosts could continue building on their recent form by winning three straight Premier League games, something they haven’t done since October 2022.

Interestingly, the game is coming two weekends after Arsenal finally defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Premier League. The win was a brilliant comeback for coach Mikel Arteta and his boys after Lens’s well-earned Champions League defeat.

So far in the 2023-2024 Premier League campaign, Arsenal are yet to taste defeat in the league making them just one of two teams to be so fortunate currently. This has kept them tied on points with first-placed Tottenham Hotspur who have not also tasted defeat this season and are leading Arsenal with just two goals difference.

If coach Arteta manages to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, they will be going into the new week as the league table-toppers pending the outcome of the game between Spurs and Fulham on Monday.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Team News:

Wesley Fofana (knee), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) are all certain to miss Chelsea’s game against Arsenal.

Malo Gusto is returning from a domestic ban to fill in on the right side even if captain Reece James who was pictured in training this week isn’t deemed fit enough to start. As for Nicolas Jackson (wrist injury), there is a high chance of him starting the game.

Other players at Chelsea who are expected to be back this weekend include Axel Disasi (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Cole Palmer (thigh), Armando Broja (knee), and Marcus Bettinelli (knee).

On the other hand, Arsenal could visit Stamford Bridge without three players, Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Leandro Trossard (hamstring), and William Saliba (toe). They all withdrew from international action this month due to fitness issues. However, Saka is most likely to make the team for the game.

Chelsea’s probable starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling

Arsenal’s probable starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Prediction:

Arsenal who have beaten Chelsea four times in their last five matches have a 42 percent chance of beating them again at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Blues stand a 30 percent chance of winning the game. However, the game is likely to end in Chelsea’s favour with a 2-1 win.