EPL: Chelsea vs Arsenal at Stamford Bridge [London Derby Preview]

• Posted on August 17, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Chelsea host Arsenal in the first major London derby of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign on Saturday.

New managers Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery will have their first competitive impressions of the match on Saturday after having already met in a 1-1 pre-season draw, which Arsenal won 6-5 on penalties.

The pair experienced vastly different opening games of the season as Sarri and the Blues travelled to Huddersfield for a 3-0 win, while Emery and the Gunners suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of champions Manchester City.

What the managers are saying:

Unai Emery: “We can improve and we need to improve playing in the difficult games We need to work hard, we need to work together and we need to suffer together when we lose.”

Team news:

Chelsea: Eden Hazard is expected to return to the Chelsea starting XI having now had an extra week to train with the team since returning from the World Cup.

Cesc Fabregas will likely miss the match due to the knee injury which kept him out against Huddersfield.

Arsenal: Lucas Torreira could start for Arsenal after initially appearing as a substitute against Man City.

Petr Cech will remain in goal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has now been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a broken leg, joining Sead Kolasinac on the sidelines.

Therefore, Stephan Lichtsteiner will likely start at left back, or Nacho Monreal if he is fit enough.

Predicted teams:

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Luiz, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Barkley, Jorginho, Kante, Hazard, Morata, Willian

Arsenal: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Bellerin, Torreira, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Ozil, Aubameyang.

Source: talkSPORT