Arsenal v Chelsea- Team news and predicted line-up

Arsenal will welcome London rivals Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day as Mikel Arteta’s side look to gain any sort of confidence and momentum.

Arsenal is coming off yet another poor display midweek, a 4-1 loss to Manchester City while Chelsea is coming off a comfortable 3-0 over West Ham and will be looking to take another three points when they face the Gunners.

Team news

Arsenal

Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is again a doubt after the Gabon international has missed Arsenal’s last two matches with a calf problem. According to reports, he could be available for Mikel Arteta although given the type of injury Aubameyang sustained if he is to feature it will likely be from the bench.

Youngster Gabriel Martinelli is also a doubt after a heavy collision with City goalkeeper Zach Steffen in their EFL Cup tie forced the Brazilian to be withdrawn just after half time.

Granit Xhaka is also available after completing his three-match suspension and will likely return to the starting XI for the boxing day clash.

Mikel Arteta will no doubt make changes from the clash with Manchester City with Bukayo Saka, Bernd Leno, and Kieran Tierney all certainties to be recalled and Alexandre Lacazette should keep his spot in the side at the expense of Eddie Nketiah.

Chelsea

Hakim Ziyech is still sidelined with a thigh problem and both Reece James Ben Chilwell are both likely to miss the clash as Frank Lampard will be looking to the same side that beat West Ham comfortably to do the same against Arsenal.

Potential lineup:

 Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Lacazette, Pepe.

Much like the Manchester City clash, all indicators point to Chelsea heaping more misery on Mikel Arteta’s side as they are now without a win in the Premier League since November.

Arsenal has to arrest the slide eventually and what better team to do it against than Chelsea however many expect this to be an uphill battle for the Gunners.

There will be goals but expect Chelsea to come away from the Emirates with the three valuable points as they head into the New Year with back to back wins.