[ad_1]
Chelsea v Arsenal preview
Mikel Arteta has effusively praised Mikel Merino’s worth as a quantity 9 because the Arsenal head coach plots a victory at Chelsea on Sunday that will transfer the leaders no less than seven factors clear within the Premier League.
Amid a string of attacking accidents, midfielder Merino has thrived as a ahead once more in 2025/26, performing as targetman in Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League residence win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday and scoring twice within the 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague on November 4.
“He may have scored two objectives the opposite night time,” Arteta mentioned of the Spain worldwide. “He was concerned in lots of constructive actions and his work fee was unbelievable.
“He brings different issues to the desk: his intelligence, the best way he competes, the best way he masters quite a lot of the issues which are essential for us.”
Advisable provide
Guess £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
T&Cs apply.
Chelsea collected one in all their finest outcomes since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in June 2024 by beating Barcelona 3-0 at residence on Tuesday, together with objectives by 18-year-old Estevao and Liam Delap, netting his first profession purpose within the Champions League.
“It’s all the time good to share that form of second on the finish of the sport with everybody,” Maresca mentioned of the celebrations, describing the prospect of stopping Arsenal as “good” and “a distinct problem”.
“We have to plan in opposition to Arsenal otherwise. Arsenal can rating in opposition to any crew from set-pieces – in opposition to Bayern Munich, they scored their first from a nook.
“They’ve a system that works very effectively and we’re going to attempt to defend in one of the best ways. It’s very early and it’s necessary to be the place we at the moment are in March, April.”
Chelsea v Arsenal crew information
Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) are “very, very shut” to returning for Arsenal, Arteta mentioned, however fellow ahead Leandro Trossard is a doubt after coming off in opposition to Bayern.
Striker Gabriel Jesus is again in coaching however might not but be in rivalry after 11 months out with a knee harm and centre-back Gabriel stays out with a thigh difficulty sustained whereas taking part in for Brazil in a pleasant in opposition to Senegal on the Emirates Stadium.
Full-back Riccardo Calafiori missed each of Italy’s video games throughout the worldwide break with a hip drawback however got here off the bench in opposition to Bayern, whereas Arteta recommended that Piero Hincapie – a full debutant at centre-back within the 4-1 residence win over Tottenham on Sunday – may play at left-back.
Playmaker Cole Palmer may begin for Chelsea, having been sidelined since September with groin and toe accidents.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia is out and defender Levi Colwill and midfielder Dario Essugo have long-term accidents.
Chelsea v Arsenal predicted lineups
Chelsea beginning XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Estevao, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto
Arsenal beginning XI: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres
Learn how to watch Chelsea v Arsenal: TV channel, on-line reside stream
Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:30 GMT (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT), with reside protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
By way of Now TV, Sky Sports activities prices £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports activities memberships embrace entry to all 12 reside Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which provides reside streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is accessible on an enormous number of units through the Sky GO app.
[ad_2]
Source link
