Arsenal face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their second game of the new Premier League season, with Unai Emery’s side hoping to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Manchester City.
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After a massive test against Pep Guardiola’s side last week, Arsenal now travel to London rivals Chelsea for another big game. The two teams met in pre-season, with the Gunners coming out on top after a penalty shootout, but this time around promises to be a completely different tie.
For a start, both teams have their full starting eleven back with them. Arsenal were missing the majority of their midfielders in the pre-season game, as well as Nacho Monreal, whilst Chelsea were missing Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante and their first choice goalkeeper.
How will the Arsenal team look this time around then?
Goalkeeper and Defence
Cech is set to start in goal once again, according to reports coming from inside the club. Unai Emery also seemed to suggest that would be the case in his pre-match press conference, though he didn’t completely rule out Bernd Leno getting his debut.
The main reason I’d bet on Cech for this fixture is because he performed so well against Chelsea in pre-season. He’ll have confidence he can do the same on this occasion, and Emery will similarly have confidence in the goalkeeper as a result.
Sead Kolasinac is out with injury, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles is now out as well, so hopefully Nacho Monreal will return in time for this fixture. The Spaniard’s been back in full training for a week, so it shouldn’t be a problem for him, but if he is still struggling then Stephan Lichtsteiner will have to fill in.
Meanwhile, with Laurent Koscielny out and Calum Chambers leaving on loan, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi will likely start in central defence again.
Hector Bellerin had a good game against Manchester City, even if he didn’t quite get the credit he deserved for it, so he should start again on Saturday.
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Midfield
If there’s one thing Arsenal fans are hoping for in Emery’s team selection, it’s that Lucas Torreira will make his first competitive start for the club. The Uruguayan was excellent in his short spell on the pitch against Manchester City, and there should be a lot more to come from him.
Matteo Guendouzi had a solid game against City in general, but on this occasion I think he might have to make way. Aaron Ramsey will start, and Granit Xhaka seems more likely to get the nod in the third midfield spot, given his experience and how he usually performs against Chelsea.
It was worth taking the risk on Guendouzi last weekend, considering Elneny, Xhaka and Torreira all returned to pre-season late. But now they’re all back fit and ready, it’s hard to see Emery doing the same again.
Forwards
In the forward three, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Özil should start. Henrikh Mkhitaryan started last week, and is looking good in training, but it was undeniable how much better Arsenal performed once Lacazette entered proceedings.
That’s no surprise, considering Arsenal generally looked better with the French striker on the pitch in pre-season. See his goals against PSG, his late equaliser against Chelsea, or his assist for Aubameyang against Lazio.
The duo work well together, and with Özil alongside them they could form an exciting front line.
Full predicted starting eleven
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