Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League – Planned lineup, bench and score

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Heading into day one, Arsenal have sidelined four players due to COVID-19 and will face Chelsea without six or seven options as fans get off to a quick start to the season by checking the weekly injury reports. Lacazette, Partey, Gabriel, Nketiah, Willian and Runarsson have all been ruled out for Sunday, but captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still a possibility. After an opening night loss to Brentford and facing a form and strengthened, Chelsea are a huge test for Mikel Arteta’s side.

However, there is hope. Arsenal have signed Martin Odegaard (not yet cleared in time to feature on Sunday) and Aaron Ramsdale, who is now making five plays to strengthen the squad and all under the age of 24. The Gunners return to the Emirates to what is expected to be their biggest home crowd in 17 months. And despite the different table positions last season, Arsenal have beaten Chelsea the last three times the two teams have met, including a combined score of 4-1 in their Premier League fights in 2020-21. Can they get an unexpected result this weekend?

XI planned

Bench

  1. Aaron Ramsdale
  2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
  3. Hector Bellerin
  4. Mohamed elneny
  5. Pablo Mari
  6. Nuno tavares
  7. Reiss nelson
  8. Folarin Balogun
  9. Calum Chambers
  • Excluded: Sead Kolašinac, Cédric, Lucas Torreira & Arthur Okonkwo
  • Outside: Martin Odegaard (Visa pending), Thomas Partey (ankle), Eddie Nketiah (ankle), Gabriel (knee), Alex Lacazette (COVID), Alex Runarsson (COVID), & Willian (COVID).
  • Last season Arsenal had notable success against top clubs using a three-way defender and wingers. Considering Chelsea’s expected lineup, the addition of Lukaku and Arsenal’s absences, focusing on defense is Arsenal’s best bet for a favorable result on Sunday. With Xhaka starting in midfield, he can fall into the baseline as Saka joins the attack and using this formation allows Tierney, Saka and Smith Rowe to start while still allowing the defensive structure.
  • Arteta still has a number of issues to resolve when building a starting XI and trying to create a bench that can offer options (which will be limited for this game). Partey, Gabriel and Nketiah are injured (with the first two starters likely, if they are fit), Lacazette, Willian and Runarsson remain with positive COVID cases (Lacazette would be ideal against Chelsea from Arsenal’s current options), and the new creative signing, Odegaard, will not be fully allowed to play on time.
  • I moved Holding into the starting XI instead of Mari, because in a returning trio I think Tierney performs better on the left, White is the better option for the center (it could be him or Gabriel at the future), and Holding works better than RCB in this situation. Rob also had a strong season last year against some of the best teams in the Premier League – he started with away wins against Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as the home draw against United and the home win. against the Blues (total score of 5-1 over those four matches).
  • Given that roster, adding Elneny over Sambi would be too defensive in my opinion and the young midfielder looked solid in his first game for the Gunners. Sunday will be a very different test, but I’d rather invest minutes in him than in Elneny who I only see as depth this season.
  • You can choose from four different options at the rear right. I think Cédric is a functional full-back, but a little less dynamic than what is needed from a winger on the attacking side. Reports indicate that Hector Bellerin is still pushing to accept a pay cut in order to leave before the transfer window closes. While Calum Chambers is up and running, and after starting week one, he could very well be the favorite here. But I think Maitland-Niles’ best position is at the back, and the role that brought him into the England squad. Of the four, he offers the most flexibility to help the defense while also liaising with Sambi and Pepe on the right flank.
  • At the top, Pepe and Smith Rowe are locks to begin with. Balogun was unable to make an impact in his first start and Martinelli’s move will trouble Chelsea’s backline more than Folarin can offer at the moment. He and Nelson are better off as options from the bench on Sunday. Which then leaves us with club captain Aubameyang. After missing the last game due to COVID, he tested negative and is back in training. However, not knowing his physical form at the moment, it is difficult to put him against Chelsea from the start. Instead, use it for the last half hour for Martinelli.

How to watch

Sunday (8/22) at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT on NBCSN.

Prediction

Arsenal – 1

Chelsea – 2

Arsenal are back this weekend in front of a crowded Emirates for the first time in a year and a half. It doesn’t matter what the result is on Sunday or who is missing. Hopefully the place is loud and supports the team throughout the game. The Gunners have signed five signings (GK, AM, RB, CM and CB) this summer, all under the age of 24, as the club take another step towards rebuilding the squad and re-establishing them in the top four of the Premier League. competitor.

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