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 might transfer the leaders at the very least 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, appearing as targetman in Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League house win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday and scoring twice within the 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague on November 4.
“He might have scored two targets the opposite night time,” Arteta stated of the Spain worldwide. “He was concerned in lots of optimistic actions and his work charge was unbelievable.
“He brings different issues to the desk: his intelligence, the way in which he competes, the way in which he masters lots of the issues which are essential for us.”
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Chelsea collected certainly one of their greatest outcomes since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in June 2024 by beating Barcelona 3-0 at house on Tuesday, together with targets by 18-year-old Estevao and Liam Delap, netting his first profession purpose within the Champions League.
“It’s at all times good to share that type of second on the finish of the sport with everybody,” Maresca stated of the celebrations, describing the prospect of stopping Arsenal as “good” and “a special problem”.
“We have to plan in opposition to Arsenal another way. Arsenal can rating in opposition to any staff from set-pieces – in opposition to Bayern Munich, they scored their first from a nook.
“They’ve a system that works very properly and we’re going to attempt to defend in the easiest way. It’s very early and it’s essential to be the place we at the moment are in March, April.”
Chelsea v Arsenal staff information
Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) are “very, very shut” to returning for Arsenal, Arteta stated, 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 competition to function after 11 months out with a knee damage and centre-back Gabriel stays out with a thigh damage 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 through the worldwide break with a hip concern however got here off the bench in opposition to Bayern, whereas Arteta instructed that Piero Hincapie – a full debutant at centre-back within the 4-1 house win over Tottenham on Sunday – might play at left-back.
Playmaker Cole Palmer might 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
The right way to watch Chelsea v Arsenal: TV channel, on-line dwell stream
Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:30 GMT (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT), with dwell protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
Through 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 embody entry to all 12 dwell Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which presents dwell streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is obtainable on an unlimited number of gadgets through the Sky GO app.
