Chelsea takes on Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were closing up on Chelsea in the Premier League, but a slump in form has seen the Blues pull away by eight points. The Gunners have previously been defeated by Thomas Tuchel’s side this season, with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates in August.
Recent News
The Blues will be missing Mateo Kovacic, who injured his ankle in the first half of the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. On the treatment table, Kovacic joins Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson Odoi.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has been out for 11 games due to a calf injury, is close to returning, but that this game is too soon for him. Other players who are injured and absent due to injuries include Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney, while Alexandre Lacazette is uncertain due to a Covid-19 infection.
Preview for Both the Clubs
Arsenal has lost both of its away-league London derbies this season, falling 2-0 to Brentford and 3-0 to Crystal Palace. They haven’t lost three games in a row since April 2017, and they’ve never lost three games in a row without scoring a goal.
Timo Werner scored twice in Chelsea’s 6-0 win against Southampton last time out, after scoring just twice in his previous 27 Premier League games. The German has only scored in consecutive Premier League games once previously, in November 2020.
Mason Mount will make his 100th Premier League appearance for Chelsea if he plays. With 23 goals and 18 assists in his first 100 Premier League games for the Blues, he has scored more goals than any other English player (41). Thiago Silva would be the oldest outfield player to ever play for Chelsea in the Premier League at 37 years and 210 days on the day of this game. Graham Rix (37 years 203 days) was the previous oldest, having played against Arsenal in a 2-1 victory in May 1995.
Chelsea last played at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, losing 4-1 to Brentford — they haven’t lost successive home London derbies since March/October 1999, when they fell 3-2 to Arsenal thanks to Kanu’s late hat-trick.
Premier League Match Prediction
Both teams are in polar opposite situations coming into Wednesday’s match. Chelsea has now won three games in a run, while Arsenal has now lost three games in a row. Tuchel and his teammates will be full of confidence, while Arteta and his teammates will be motivated by a dichotomy of feelings in their dressing room as they look to end their bad run of form facing their London rivals.
Chelsea achieved another FA Cup final after putting their Champions League heartbreak behind them, and they will see Arsenal as the ideal opportunity to extend their winning streak to four games.
