The Emirates Stadium braces itself for a London derby as Arsenal and Chelsea lock horns in a pivotal clash for the Premier League title race.
The Gunners got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the previous gameweek after a recent stumble against Aston Villa. Leandro Trossard’s exquisite finish and a last-minute goal from Martin Ødegaard secured all three points for Arsenal. A solid overall performance saw them end a three-game winless run and move back to the top of the Premier League (same points as Liverpool but better GD), albeit having played a game more than Manchester City.
Chelsea come into the match on the back of a frustrating FA Cup semi-final defeat. They were narrowly edged out by Manchester City thanks to a solitary goal from Bernardo Silva. However, their most recent Premier League outing was a much happier affair, as they thrashed Everton 6-0. Cole Palmer, a strong contender for the Golden Boot with 20 goals this season, exploded for a four-goal performance in that game. Chelsea are trailing behind on fixtures currently and are positioned at 9th, if they do manage to get points from all the remaining games they could see themselves in Europe competition next season.
The reverse fixture in October at Stamford Bridge saw the host take the lead twice through Palmer’s penalty and Mudryk’s goal but Arsenal managed to turn back the tie as they came back from behind through goals from Declan Rice and a super sub strike from Trossard. Things could heat up with plenty of goals scored this time around which guarantees this to an entertaining Noth London derby.
Can Pochettino upset Arsenal at the Emirates or will Mikel Arteta end Chelsea’s European hopes for next season?
When and Where?
Date: 23rd April 2024, Tuesday.
Time: 20:00 HRS BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Match Officials
Referee: Simon Hooper.
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long.
Fourth official: Graham Scott.
VAR: Peter Bankes.
Assistant VAR: Simon Bennet.
Team News
Arsenal currently boast a clean bill with no players sidelined. Jurien Timber recently recovered from an ACL injury and made a successful return playing and scoring a goal for the Arsenal U21 side.
Takehiro Tomiyasu who missed the fixture against Wolves as a precaution after picking up a knock in the Bayern fixture is expected to play vs Chelsea. Manager Mikel Arteta might consider rotating the squad to manage fatigue after a busy period of matches.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be facing a significant challenge in attack as their top scorer, Cole Palmer, is ruled out due to illness. They also have a lengthy injury list that includes Nkunku, Colwill, Reece James, Lavia, Fofana, and Robert Sanchez. Malo Gusto is also a doubt as he undergoes medical treatment. This lack of attacking options could force manager Pochettino to adjust his tactics for the crucial North London derby.
Pre-Match Tactical Analysis
Arsenal will look at this fixture not only from the derby factor with emotions running high but also as they have the massive title to aim for. Arteta side would want their most consistent performers to turn up and make the difference on the brightest of stages.
Chelsea have shown moments of brilliance all throughout the season, but one word that sums up their season is inconsistency. Inconsistency in front of goal or even at the back, they lack that cutting edge in being clinical and always being dependent on 1-2 of their star players to deliver them performances and take them over the line.
The Blues have been that side who thrive when space is given, mostly benefitting from quick counterattacks. It’ll be of utmost importance for Arsenal to win the midfield battle, necessarily playing a double pivot of Rice and Jorginho. Central progression being blocked and wings being overloaded will give Chelsea very little to create from.
Arsenal have been struggling to break open a midblock lately, vs Villa and Bayern. If Chelsea do manage to play one with their midfield generals Enzo and Caicedo with Gallagher running the length of the pitch, things could get tricky for Arsenal’s midfield to get on the ball and dictate terms and show their creativity.
Key Players
Leandro Trossard
Arsenal’s most clutch player this season has been Trossard, always delivering when being called upon. Leandro was the driving force behind Arsenal’s victory at the weekend over Wolves. Scored his 3rd goal in his last 5 appearances and upped his tally to 14 goals in all competitions this season. His versatility to fit anywhere into the front line poses a significant threat. The cool and composed nature and ability to score goals from any opportunity you present to him makes him a key asset in Arsenal’s set-up.
Enzo Fernandez
The Argentinian international has been at the heart of their midfield ever since he’s signed for the Blues. Often made to set the tempo and dictate play for the Blues, Enzo is a key player for Chelsea in many ways. His vertical passes after receiving the ball from the first phase and chipped balls in open spaces that end up opening up a defence is something to look out for. If Chelsea does play a mid-block and make things difficult for Arsenal, Enzo shows resilience and discipline maintaining a block which could be a real task for Arsenal to break open.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Chelsea: Raya, White, Saliba, Maghalaes, Tomiyasu; Rice, Partey, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Arsenal: Sanchez, Cucurella, Chalobah, Silva, Disasi, Enzo, Caicedo, Gallagher, Madueke, Sterling, Jackson.
