Preview – Chelsea vs Arsenal
Once a clash between two of England's biggest teams, the latest edition of Chelsea vs Arsenal will see the Blues take on a Gunners side fighting to finish in the top half of the Premier League table. 3:15 p.m. ET is the kick-off time for this Stamford Bridge battle as the north London giants look to get the better of their rivals from the English capital.
Arteta's men head into this clash on the back of a 3-1 triumph over West Brom, a result that confirmed the Hawthorns' relegation. While victories are always celebrated, this weekend triumph brought little joy to the fan base as it did close to nothing to relieve the pain of their UEFA Europa League exit.
It has been less than a week since Aubameyang and Co. bowed out of UEFA's second-tier club competition, losing 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to a Villarreal side led by former head coach Unai Emery. The lackluster display at the Emirates Stadium saw them draw nil-nil when the onus was on the Gunners to get a goal.
As a result, a European-less 2021/22 campaign appears inevitable for Arteta's men, with many fans demanding the Spanish boss be sacked. Defeat at the Bridge would only amplify those calls, hence the importance of winning on Wednesday. The last time these two London giants faced off, it was Arsenal that emerged triumphant, recording a lovely 3-1 triumph over the Blues, but it should be noted that Arteta got the better of Frank Lampard on that day, as Thomas Tuchel was yet to be appointed.
Hence, this will be Mikel's first run-in with the in-form German tactician. Since replacing Lampard, Tuchel has been nothing but a revelation, guiding Chelsea, a club who were in danger of missing out on a top-four finish when he arrived, to third in the table while leading them to the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals.
Since arriving in London, the former PSG boss has suffered only two defeats – a 5-2 thrashing at home to West Brom and a meaningless 1-0 loss to Porto in the UCL. Chelsea have recorded 18 clean sheets under the German's guidance and have beaten the likes of Man City, Real Madrid, Atletico, Tottenham, and Liverpool.
Mount and Co. have won their last three fixtures in a row, most recently triumphing 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium against Guardiola's Cityzens. The Blues have, as a result, moved into third, enjoying a one-point lead over fourth-placed Leicester. While this tie is not a do-or-die fixture for Chelsea's top-four hopes, Tuchel will want to keep the momentum going ahead of the May 29 Champions League final.
Team news
Chelsea: Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen are out for this clash, with the latter picking up a tendon injury in the City victory. The likes of Kai Havertz, Jorginho, and Ben Chilwell will be keen on returning to the lineup, having sat out the victory over the Cityzens.
Arsenal: Arteta has a few worries, with David Luiz being ruled out and Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari being huge doubts. Emile Smith Rowe picked up a hamstring issue in the 3-1 victory over West Brom and is thus unlikely to feature, but Martin Odegaard should be back in time.
Key stats
Arsenal have not won at Stamford Bridge since 2011, losing six and drawing two in their eight Premier League trips to Chelsea.
The Blues could lose both home and away to the Gunners in a single EPL campaign for the first time since 2003-04.
The north London giants look to record three consecutive victories over Chelsea, a first since winning four in a row in succession between March 2003 and February 2004.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
