Arsenal v Chelsea Match Preview and Predictions, 03 Jan 2018

The Match Is Over. Score: 2-2

The Gunners host Chelsea in a clash that will mark the 52nd league match-up between the two London rivals as they face off on Wednesday at Emirates. Read on to get free predictions for the upcoming occasion.

Match status: 2017/18 FA Premier League - Matchweek 22
Kick-off: Wednesday 03 Jan 2018, 07:45pm GMT
Venue: Emirates Stadium in London, England

Arsenal v Chelsea Team News

Blues will feel confident heading into this one after extending their unbeaten run with last Saturday's 5-0 hammering of Stoke at bet365 Stadium to five games. In terms of this season, the arch-rivals have twice met, in both playing out 0-0 and 1-1 draws.

Arsene Wenger's side have suffered a recent setback in form as they have drawn three of their last five fixtures, winning only 1-0 to Newcastle at home and the hard-fought 3-2 win at Crystal Palace last week.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte gave rest to some of his key players for the Stoke game on Saturday, with Fabregas and Eden Hazard ready to make returns for a more important fixture.

For Arsenal, it's a little tougher to assemble a fully fit matchday squad when first-choice players like Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Nacho Monreal have been either ruled out of or doubtful for this fixture through injury problems.

Teams' Possible Starting Lineups:

Arsenal: Cech - Mustafi, Mertesacker, Chambers - Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Bellerin - Sanchez, Welbeck - Lacazette (3-4-2-1 formation)

Chelsea: Courtois - Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta - Alonso, Bakayoko, Kante, Fabregas, Zappacosta - Hazard - Morata (3-5-1-1 formation)

Missing Players of Arsenal and Chelsea:

Arsenal: Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny.

Chelsea: David Luiz, Charly Musonda.

Head-to-Head PL Record: Arsenal v Chelsea

2017/18 Premier League
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

2016/17 Premier League
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal

2016/17 Premier League
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea

2015/16 Premier League
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Arsenal v Chelsea Match Odds:

Arsenal 15/8
Draw 5/2
Chelsea 8/5
All odds are with Betfair and are subject to change.

Conclusion and Predictions:

A win for Chelsea will ensure they overtake Man United - who won an easy game yesterday at Everton - to go second behind league leaders Man City. The same result would see Arsenal remain in fifth with 41 points but might drop to sixth should Tottenham get a win the day before.

To be fair, it looks even to call with Gunners having had little success over Chelsea so far this term, but with how Chelsea are hitting a superb form, we will go for that they don't lose.