Chelsea v Arsenal preview
Mikel Arteta has effusively praised Mikel Merino’s worth as a quantity 9 because the Arsenal head coach plots a victory at Chelsea on Sunday that may transfer the leaders a minimum of seven factors clear within the Premier League.
Amid a string of attacking accidents, midfielder Merino has thrived as a ahead once more in 2025/26, appearing as targetman in Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League house win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday and scoring twice within the 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague on November 4.
“He might have scored two targets the opposite night time,” Arteta mentioned of the Spain worldwide. “He was concerned in lots of constructive actions and his work price was unbelievable.
“He brings different issues to the desk: his intelligence, the way in which he competes, the way in which he masters a whole lot of the issues which can be essential for us.”
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Chelsea collected considered one of their finest outcomes since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in June 2024 by beating Barcelona 3-0 at house on Tuesday, together with targets by 18-year-old Estevao and Liam Delap, netting his first profession aim within the Champions League.
“It’s at all times good to share that form of second on the finish of the sport with everybody,” Maresca mentioned of the celebrations, describing the prospect of stopping Arsenal as “good” and “a unique problem”.
“We have to plan towards Arsenal another way. Arsenal can rating towards any group from set-pieces – towards Bayern Munich, they scored their first from a nook.
“They’ve a system that works very properly and we’re going to attempt to defend in the easiest way. It’s very early and it’s essential to be the place we at the moment are in March, April.”
Chelsea v Arsenal group information
Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) are “very, very shut” to returning for Arsenal, Arteta mentioned, however fellow ahead Leandro Trossard is a doubt after coming off towards Bayern.
Striker Gabriel Jesus is again in coaching however might not but be in rivalry after 11 months out with a knee harm and centre-back Gabriel stays out with a thigh subject sustained whereas enjoying for Brazil in a pleasant towards Senegal on the Emirates Stadium.
Full-back Riccardo Calafiori missed each of Italy’s video games throughout the worldwide break with a hip downside however got here off the bench towards Bayern, whereas Arteta prompt that Piero Hincapie – a full debutant at centre-back within the 4-1 house win over Tottenham on Sunday – might play at left-back.
Playmaker Cole Palmer might begin for Chelsea, having been sidelined since September with groin and toe accidents.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia is out and defender Levi Colwill and midfielder Dario Essugo have long-term accidents.
Chelsea v Arsenal predicted lineups
Chelsea beginning XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Estevao, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto
Arsenal beginning XI: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres
Find out how to watch Chelsea v Arsenal: TV channel, on-line dwell stream
Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:30 GMT (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT), with dwell protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
By way of Now TV, Sky Sports activities prices £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports activities memberships embrace entry to all 12 dwell Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which presents dwell streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is out there on an unlimited number of units through the Sky GO app.
