Saturday, at 17:30, the Premier League football day ends with the Arsenal duel – Chelsea, in the 23rd round of the championship. Chelsea is on the 4th place (goal 40-17), while Arsenal is on the 5th position (goal 46-32) and has the last chance to get closer to the Champions League. A new failure, however, makes Unai Emery’s “tuners”
It was a contrasting season for Arsenal, who started the season hard, lost important points, and then went through an exceptional form, which brought her close to the top. However, the season’s heavy start has set its mark on the standings, and now any white-red spot is decisive in the Top 4 fight. As a result, Arsenal (41 points) has only the victory against Chelsea approaching three points of the London rival (47 points). But the defensive “guns” look very vulnerable in 2019.
Arsenal is coming from a disappointing 0-1 win at West Ham, where Unai Emery’s team attacked predictably and was once again on the wrong side. Prior to this match, Arsenal had won the Blackpool (3-0 in the Cup) and Fulham (4-1 in the championship), but Liverpool was revered by Anfield 1-5. In dueling with the big teams, Arsenal did not manage to defend successfully and received goals easily, and Chelsea knows he can take advantage of the weaknesses of the adversary system. The guests come after a lucky 2-1 with Newcastle, who has lost the bitterness caused by Tottenham’s failure (0-1) in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals. Overall, Chelsea has shown something more consistent in the past few months and has a player who can decide the derby in Hazard (10 goals and 10 decisive passes).
In four of the last five direct duels, they scored both bands, which happened in the tour, when Chelsea was forced home 3-2, not without emotion, Mkhitaryan’s and Iwobi’s achievements giving hopes to “guns” at some point. Chelsea has only one victory in the last 5 games on Emirates, where we expect Sarri’s students to play a cautious game, based on careful possession and quick counterattacks. With Willian, Hazard and Jorginho at the game’s “direction,” the guests should build enough opportunities to hope for a good result, but the possession of the white-reds, who know how to press when playing in front of their fans. Arsenal boasts 13 wins in the last 16 stages played on home ground, but Chelsea comes after three victories in a row, all at a goal difference. It will be a balanced derby, at least until the break!
Holders, Mkhitaryan and Welbeck will not be able to play from the hosts, while Maurizio Sarri can not rely on Loftus Cheek and Morata (uncertain). The Spanish striker is even rumored to be leaving the London group this winter, which further limits his chances of entering the field in the Saturday derby.
ARSENAL – CHELSEA PROBABLE TEAMS:
Arsenal: Leno – Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny – Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac – Aubameyang, Lacazette, Iwobi
Chelsea: Kepa – Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso – Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic – Pedro, Hazard, Willian
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.52
