The Gunners face up to a Chelsea team tomorrow evening, who currently sit six points ahead and in pole position for a top four place. With this gap and Manchester United now chasing us on level points, Emery's men know that nothing but a win will do in this one. Lose and it could be a top four place all but gone, win and it's a one game gap that would rejuvenate hopes and keep the pressure on. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have Europa League football to come in February but depending on the result here, that could be all that Arsenal have left to play for come four or five week's time.
Arsenal
Form: W D L W W L
League Position: 5th
Goals Scored: 66
Goals Against: 39
Chelsea
Form: W W D W L W
League Position: 4th
Goals Scored: 60
Goals Against: 24
A lot has gone on internally at the football this past week with tensions said to be running extremely high at senior management level with Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat rumoured to be unhappy and almost out the door, whilst Aaron Ramsey seems to have signed on the dotted line for Juventus in a pre contract agreement. Petr Cech has also announced his retirement at the end of the season and speculation continues around the relationship between Unai Emery and Mesut Ozil. So whether we like it or not, change is afoot but change can sometimes be good and it's more about sound planning and direction going forward now rather than change itself. That being said, it will surely help Arsenal's players as humans to get back to playing football and escape the obvious politics and internal tension at the club. Unfortunately, it's a clash with Sarri's Chelsea who will be keen to get another one over on Arsenal having already done so in the reverse fixture back in August.
Unai Emery is now only missing three first team players from his squad (with Mkhitaryan only weeks away) so with almost a full pool of talent to choose from, we could see a few changes from last time out. With Chelsea unlikely to field an out-and-out striker (as Morata seems to be on his way out, whilst ex Gunner Giroud seems to be a plan b option only), Arsenal could revert to a back four in a 4-2-3-1 shape. This would allow for a creative source to have free reign in a number ten role which should combat recent issues with creativity but most importantly, deploying two full backs and two wingers should push Chelsea's wingers back onto their full backs, reducing their forward successes. This could potentially play into Chelsea's hands though as they're likely to play on the counter attack, picking Arsenal off at select opportunities. However, even if this is the case, a back four in a 4-2-3-1 should be best for Arsenal's application. We have been so desperate for a creator of late so one of Mesut Ozil or Aaron Ramsey should come back into the starting XI to fulfill this role.
In defence, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal could come into the starting XI also, whilst Mustafi and Sokratis is the most likely central partnership if Hazard's in town. Granit Xhaka looked way off the pace last time out and could possibly be dropped as he was that bad but in fairness he now needs Torreira next to him to perform to his best. The partnership was at its best against Spurs and Liverpool in the league - and look how we played! It's obvious that although Guendouzi is a good technical player, he's yet to fully find his feet and learn how to dictate a game from midfield. He is a busy player but doesn't quite compliment Xhaka or Torreira like they do each other as a pair. Xhaka-Torreira is by far Emery's best engine room combination and much like big games gone by, he needs to start the two together again. Going forward, personally I want to see Mesut Ozil back in at number ten. If this is to be then it's unlikely that both Aubameyang and Lacazette will start as it's just too attacking in a game where the opposition are capable of so much damage on the counter. We cannot afford to be caught so high with too many attacking players. This would also strengthen the bench for a second half onslaught, if required. A conservative set of wingers is the likely outcome if Ozil starts in an orthodox number ten role, creating only two free players in front of two solid banks of four when defending. This could see Ainsley Maitland-Niles deployed out wide on one side with Alex Iwobi on the other.
The visitors are also in a state of change at present with former Gunner Cesc Fabregas having departed last week. A replacement is expected in the coming weeks as is a new forward in Gonzalo Higuain - with the unsettled and badly out of form Alvaro Morata seemingly on his way to Atletico Madrid. Young Callum Hudson-Odoi could also be leaving the club should Chelsea sanction a move to Bayern Munich. So at least two ins and two outs in the Winter transfer window which is quite the haul of moves so Sarri will be looking for his new additions to settle quickly, as and when they arrive. Fortunately, Chelsea come into this one with Giroud as their only natural striker and of late he's only seen action from the bench, with Hazard starting in a false nine flanked by Pedro and Willian. This front trio is the expected starting line once again with Sarri's men looking for what would be a huge win in their chase for the top four. Chelsea have found the Emirates Stadium a happy hunting ground in recent times and will be more than confident of a point at least, if not all three. Daivd Luiz and Antonio Rudiger are the go-to centre backs these days and both are likely to start once again in an attempt to stop the league's top marksman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Skhodran Mustafi
CB: Sokratis
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
RM: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CAM: Mesut Ozil
LM: Alex Iwobi
ST: Pierre-Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-2 with Ozil finally returning to the party creating a goal or two with PEA grabbing a brace.
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