Arsenal's recent form has had its ups and downs. They suffered their first Premier League loss of 2024 against Aston Villa and then fell short against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, their win against Wolverhampton was crucial, thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard. This win also set a new club record for Arsenal, with six consecutive clean sheets on the road, and returned them to the top of the league table, ahead of Manchester City, who were busy with their FA Cup commitments.
A win on Tuesday would give Arsenal a four-point lead over Manchester City, though the reigning champions will have a chance to catch up later in the week. Arsenal hasn't lost consecutive home league games since April 2022 and has not suffered back-to-back defeats at the Emirates without scoring since November 2020, so they're hoping to keep that record intact.
On the other hand, Chelsea has been on a rollercoaster. They struggled against Manchester City in the FA Cup, with several missed chances. Despite creating many opportunities, Chelsea couldn't find the back of the net, and a deflected goal from Bernardo Silva was enough to send them packing.
This result followed their strong 6-0 win over Everton in their last Premier League match, where they scored at least two goals for the sixth consecutive game. Chelsea's inconsistency remains a concern, though they've scored in their last 15 Premier League games.
Chelsea is currently in ninth place, thanks to an eight-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League. They are still in the hunt for a European spot as the season nears its end. In their previous encounter with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, the game ended in a 2-2 draw, extending Arsenal's unbeaten run against Chelsea to four games.
This upcoming match has significant implications for both teams. Arsenal aims to maintain their lead at the top of the table, while Chelsea looks to solidify their chances of a European competition spot. It’s bound to be a heated clash, with both teams eager to make a statement.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Arsenal's injury list has grown, with Jurrien Timber, who is recovering from an ACL injury, set to play in an Under-21 match on Monday to aid his return. Takehiro Tomiyasu also missed the win over Wolves after picking up a knock during Arsenal's midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.However, the team indicated that his absence was just a precaution, suggesting he could be ready for the upcoming match at the Emirates.
Even if Tomiyasu isn't ready for the derby, Arsenal might consider making changes in defense after Jakub Kiwior's tough game at left-back on Saturday. This could open the door for Oleksandr Zinchenko to take his place.
Chelsea's injury woes are more severe. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will be without several key players, including Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Lesley Ugochukwu (thigh), Reece James (thigh), and Christopher Nkunku (thigh). Nkunku might be the only one to return before the season ends.
Levi Colwill (toe) and Robert Sanchez (illness) are expected to recover soon, but they're still out for now. Adding to Chelsea's troubles, their top scorer, Cole Palmer, is likely to miss the game due to illness, a significant blow for the visitors.
Raheem Sterling could fill in for him. Additionally, Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell are dealing with knee injuries and will undergo late fitness tests to determine if they can play.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Disasi, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sterling, Gallagher, Mudryk; Jackson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
With minimal recovery time on both ends, Tuesday's London derby should not be a goal-laden classic - especially with Arsenal losing their way in the final third recently - but the Gunners, who have opened the scoring in 25 Premier League games this term, can strike first and shut up shop to continue looking down on the other 19 teams in the division.
