Arsenal vs Chelsea | 2022/23 PL | Team News, Injuries & Predicted Lineup

Let’s take a look at the team news as Arsenal look to get their Premier League title challenge back up and running against London rivals Chelsea. The London derby carries significant weight for the Gunners, as a victory is crucial for their chances of staying in the title race. Their previous encounter resulted in a 4-1 defeat to title rivals Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta, Frank Lampard — Image obtained via: Getty

On the other hand, Frank Lampard’s time as the interim Blues manager has been fraught with difficulties, as his team has lost all five of their recent matches. Arsenal have had the upper hand in the past six meetings against Chelsea, winning five of them. The only exception to this was their 2-0 Premier League loss to the Blues at the Emirates Stadium in August 2021.

Injury/Suspension List:

Mikel Arteta admitted that Saliba won’t recover from his back issue ahead of the defeat to Manchester City, and there are now concerns that the young centre-back may not feature again this season. Tomiyasu and Elneny are also out with knee injuries, but there are no fresh concerns for the Gunners to contend with.

William Saliba injury — Image Obtained via The Independent

Meanwhile, the Blues have suffered their own injury setbacks, with Mason Mount and Reece James both out for the rest of the campaign due to pelvic and thigh problems respectively. Cucurella is also set for a brief spell on the sidelines, while Broja and Bettinelli are still recovering from knee and unspecified issues.

Koulibaly and Havertz are also nursing injuries, with the latter expected to be fit for the upcoming London derby. If Havertz is cleared to play, Aubameyang may once again have to settle for a place on the bench as Joao Felix looks to boost Chelsea’s misfiring attack.

Player To Watch Out For – Enzo Fernandez

One of Enzo Fernandez’s most notable skills is his excellent ball control. He has a great first touch and is able to dribble the ball past defenders with ease. He is also comfortable playing in tight spaces and can create space for himself and his teammates. Additionally, Enzo has a strong work ethic and is able to cover a lot of ground on the pitch.

The Argentine is also an exceptional passer of the ball. He has a wide range of passing and is capable of playing both short and long passes with accuracy. He has the ability to create opportunities for his teammates and is always looking for ways to unlock the opposition defence.

Defensively, the 22-year-old is a strong tackler and has good positional awareness. He is able to read the game well and is often in the right place at the right time to make interceptions and break up opposition attacks. The midfielder is also not afraid to put in a hard tackle when necessary.

Overall, Enzo Fernandez is a technically gifted midfielder with a wide range of skills. His versatility and work ethic make him an asset to any team, and his ability to control the midfield and create opportunities for his teammates is truly impressive.

Arsenal Form:

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Chelsea Form:

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Arsenal Predicted Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Aaron Ramsdale (GK); Ben White (RB), Rob Holding (CB), Gabriel (CB), Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB); Granit Xhaka (CM), Thomas Partey (CM); Bukayo Saka (RW), Martin Odegaard (CAM), Gabriel Martinelli (LW); Gabriel Jesus (ST).

Predicted Score:

Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea

Arsenal, who are eager to stay in the title race, must come out guns blazing against their bitter local rivals Chelsea. In the wake of their heart-breaking defeat to Man City midweek, Mikel Arteta should consider making some changes to the starting lineup.

Nketiah, Trossard, and Jorginho are all pushing for a spot in the starting eleven, while Tomiyasu, Saliba, and Elneny remain sidelined with injuries. In contrast, the Blues’ season has been far from impressive, and following their lacklustre performance in a 2-0 defeat to Brentford, the hosts seem like the better bet.

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