The Blues remain on course to secure a top four finish and Champions League football for another season, though Leicester’s win over Manchester United means the pressure is back on, with West Ham six points behind and Liverpool one further, though the Reds have an extra game in hand ahead of their trip to Old Trafford tomorrow.
Thomas Tuchel also has the FA Cup final to consider, with Brendan Rodgers’ side possessing an extra rest day ahead of this weekend’s game at Wembley Stadium, while there is also the Champions League final to consider too, as the German rotates his squad in a bid to land what would be a remarkable double inside a few months in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta’s side ran riot against the Blues on Boxing Day during Frank Lampard’s time in charge in the reverse fixture earlier this season and the Gunners will hope to complete a double here in what has been a mostly forgettable season. A win should boost their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League next season, with north London rivals Tottenham four points ahead in seventh currently.
Follow all the action live below, with minute-by-minute updates, reaction and analysis from this London derby:
12 mins: Kai Havertz should have put Chelsea in front! He catches Pablo Mari on the ball and takes it off the Arsenal centre-back to run in behind. Havertz carries the ball into the Arsenal box and draws Bernd Leno off his line. The Chelsea forward then lifts the ball over the Arsenal goalkeeper but can’t find the target and sends his effort over the crossbar. A hugh chance goes begging for the Blues.
9 mins: Arsenal see a little bit of joy on the right wing. First Aubameyang makes a run out wide and collects a through ball. Saka bursts into the box but drifts offside as the ball is passed into him. Then Odegaard runs into space on the right but his cross into the middle is dealt with by Thiago Silva.
6 mins: Kurt Zouma sends the ball out to the left wing where Mason Mount is in space. He brings the ball down well and knocks it past Bukayo Saka before outpacing the wingback to regain the ball. An attempted cross into Kai Havertz is blocked by Rob Holding and Saka is able to boot the ball out of the box.
3 mins: Arsenal have set up with a back three of Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Gabriel with Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka filling the wingback roles. Chelsea have started with a high forward press and Reece James wins a throw in deep on the right hand side.
Kick off: Another London derby gets underway as Arsenal get the game started Gabriel attempts to play Kieran Tierney in behind Reece James with a long ball up the left wing but Kepa Arrizabalaga is quickly out of his goal and manages to claim the ball as it bounces into the box.
Thoma Tuchel spoke to Sky Sports before kick off saying that he trusts his team despite making seven changes to the starting line up:
You scare me now! Seven [changes] from the City game? Didn’t feel like we had so many changes but yeah, some of them were out for one match so still have two matches in a week. We have a strong line up today. Full trust to them.
“Every step is a big one in the last weeks, that has not changed. This is another tough game coming up against a strong Arsenal side.
“It is difficult to create big chances against them, it is a London derby and it starts from zero again.”
Mikel Arteta is 39 years and 47 days old and should Arsenal win, he will be the youngest manager to complete a top-flight double over Chelsea since Trevor Francis in 1991/92.
Chelsea’s joint-leading league scorers this season all have six goals: Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Jorginho. The lowest total by a player who finished a campaign as Chelsea’s top Premier League scorer is nine, in 1992/93 and 1996/97.
Arsenal could keep three consecutive away clean sheets in the league for the first time since April to May 2013 but they have equalled their club record of 13 defeats in a 38-match Premier League season, first set in 2017/18.
Chelsea could equal the top-flight record of eight London derby victories in a season. They have lost just two of the 25 games that Thomas Tuchel has been in charge this year.
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