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Arsenal vs Chelsea. Premier League.

Emirates StadiumAttendance59,979.

Arsenal 2

  • A Lacazette (14th minute)
  • L Koscielny (39th minute)

Chelsea 0

    Arsenal vs Chelsea preview: Maurizio Sarri expecting tough Emirates test

    Lucas Torreira tackles Chelsea's Ross Barkley
    Image: London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea go head to head in the capital this weekend

    Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has warned his players to expect a tough examination when they face Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).

    Sarri's team enter the weekend in fourth place and victory in north London would see them go nine points clear of Arsenal, currently fifth, in the race for Champions League qualification.

    "This match for us is a risk and an opportunity," Sarri said. "They're really a very good team. [In] the offensive phase they are one of the best teams in the Premier League.

    "We can be dangerous against these opponents, but we have to stay on the match. We have to defend with a very high level of application and attention for 95 minutes."

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    Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says he does not know how close Gonzalo Higuain is to signing for the club

    Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata may start up front, if Sarri goes with a recognised striker, or Eden Hazard could continue in the 'false nine' role which the Italian believes makes his side more defensively sound.

    Unai Emery's side, meanwhile, host Chelsea with the London rivals vying for a spot in the Premier League top four.

    Arsenal were beaten at West Ham last weekend, with Mesut Ozil not included in the matchday squad at the London Stadium.

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    Arsenal head coach Unai Emery says he has not considered the possibility of Mesut Ozil leaving the club

    The German could be in line to return against the Blues, although Emery remained tight-lipped over Ozil's chances of a recall.

    "I've spoken to him because I want consistency," he added. "He's had some injuries and these injuries mean that sometimes he is okay and sometimes he isn't okay. I want every player to give the same work everyday to be okay for every match. With Mesut it's the same.

    "He didn't play the last matches but to me he's just like any other player. This Saturday he can be with us if he's okay. Now? He's training consistently with his work over the past two weeks and I think he can be."

    Team news

    Emery could welcome Ozil back into his squad after he was dropped for last weekend's 1-0 defeat at West Ham.

    Unai Emery greets Mesut Ozil during Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in August 2018
    Image: Mesut Ozil may feature for Arsenal against Chelsea

    The Gunners have no fresh injury concerns heading into the game, with Rob Holding (knee), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) still missing.

    With only Ruben Loftus-Cheek (back) out, Sarri has choices to make against Arsenal, particularly up front.

    Opta stats

    • Arsenal have won just one of their last 14 league games against Chelsea (D5 L8), with that win coming at the Emirates in September 2016 (3-0)
    • Chelsea are looking to do the Premier League double over Arsenal for the fifth time, after doing so in 2005-06, 2009-10, 2012-13 and 2015-16. Only Liverpool and Man Utd (5 each) have done so against the Gunners this many times in the competition
    • Only Liverpool (13) have kept more Premier League clean sheets this season than Chelsea (10), while only Fulham (2) have kept fewer than Arsenal (3)
    • Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League London derbies at home (W9 D3), winning the last five in a row. Their last such defeat was in January 2016 vs Chelsea
    • Arsenal have scored 20 goals in their seven Premier League London derby matches this season, twice as many as any other side
    • Arsenal have lost two of their last three Premier League games, more than they had in their previous 17 in the competition (W11 D5 L1)
    • Chelsea are looking to win four consecutive Premier League away games within the same season for the first time since December 2016 (a run of six)

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    Unai Emery admits it's difficult to sign players in the January transfer window that will improve the quality of the current Arsenal squad

    Merson's prediction

    Arsenal have to win this game otherwise it's all in for the Europa League, which may actually help as they can then concentrate on that competition as they will be out of the top-four race.

    There is no way they can balance both - the squad is not strong or big enough.

    I fancy an away win.

    PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)

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