TEAM NEWS
Malo Gusto returns for Chelsea after a three-match ban, while Reece James, who has been out for two months, has resumed training and will be assessed.
Axel Disasi and Nicolas Jackson are doubts after withdrawing from international duty through injury.
Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia are all ruled out.
Arsenal will continue to monitor Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
They are both nursing hamstring issues, while William Saliba – who is managing a toe problem – is also an injury concern but Jurrien Timber is the only confirmed absentee.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal have won six of their past seven matches against Chelsea in all competitions, as many victories as in the previous 25 meetings.
- The visitors are vying to win four consecutive league games versus Chelsea for the first time, in what will be the 173rd league fixture between the sides (all in the top flight).
- The Gunners’ three-match winning streak has come against Mauricio Pochettino’s three predecessors as head coach: Frank Lampard, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea
- The Blues are hoping to claim three consecutive league victories for the first time since a run of four from September to October last year.
- They have scored six goals in their past two top-flight games, one more than they managed in their opening six fixtures.
- However, Chelsea are also in danger of losing three successive Premier League home fixtures for just the second time – when they did so in 1993, the third match in that run was a 2-0 defeat by Arsenal.
- The 3-0 win against Luton in August is their only victory in the past 11 league games at Stamford Bridge (D5, L5).
- Mauricio Pochettino has never lost a Premier League home match against Arsenal, winning three and drawing three of six meetings.
Arsenal
- Their record of six league wins and two draws, with 16 goals scored and six conceded, matches exactly the performance of the ‘Invincibles’ after eight games in 2003-04. The ninth fixture of that season was a 2-1 victory against Chelsea at Highbury.
- Arsenal can become the first team to win their opening four away games in a top-flight season without conceding a goal.
- They are one of two teams unbeaten in this season’s Premier League, while their tally of six goals conceded is a joint low with Manchester City.
- The Gunners are unbeaten in 15 Premier League London derbies (W11, D4), the third-longest run by any team in the competition’s history.
- Mikel Arteta has won five of eight Premier League fixtures as a manager against Chelsea (D1, L2). That win ratio of 62.5% is bettered only by Kenny Dalglish (76.9%) and Pep Guardiola (64.3%).
- Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are both one short of 100 Premier League appearances.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
Injuries: Broja, Chukwuemeka, Chalobah, Lavia, Nkunku, Chilwell, Fofana, Bettinelli
Doubts: Jackson, Disasi, James
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Doubts: Saliba (toe), Saka (hamstring), Trossard (hamstring)
Injuries: Timber (knee)
Time and date: 5.30pm BST, Saturday October 21, 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
