Premier League leaders Arsenal face another tough test of their newfound title credentials as they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Sunday, with the potential to open up a 13 point gap between the two sides should they come away with a victory over Graham Potter’s men.
After navigating a tricky October, Mikel Arteta’s side head to one of their happier hunting grounds in recent years, with Chelsea having only beaten the Gunners once in their last five home games, and with the Spaniard having defeated them to lift his only trophy to date, the 2020 FA Cup.
Read on to find out how we expect the Gunners to line up, and the latest fitness issues around the north London side.
Predicted XI
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Saka boost
The biggest news to come out of the Arsenal camp this week was that the injury to Bukayo Saka was not as serious as feared, with the Englishman playing the final half hour in the Europa League win over FC Zurich.
Saka limped off the pitch during the first half of the 5-0 rout of Nottingham Forest, having to be replaced by Reiss Nelson, but should be fit enough to start at Stamford Bridge.
Fullback injury switch
Arsenal were further boosted by the return of Olexsandr Zinchenko from injury after he spent a month sidelined with a calf injury, though the Ukrainian was an unused substitute against Zurich and is unlikely to make the starting XI.
However, as one fullback returned, another was injured, with Takehiro Tomiyasu suffering a late injury against the Swiss side, with Mikel Arteta afterwards claiming that he ‘felt something’.
It means that Kieran Tierney is set to start at left-back for the Gunners, having lost his role in the Premier League to the Japanese defender.