Lineups, stats, Premier League streaming
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 might transfer the leaders at the very least 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 residence win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday and scoring twice within the 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague on November 4.
“He may have scored two objectives the opposite evening,” Arteta stated of the Spain worldwide. “He was concerned in lots of constructive actions and his work charge was unbelievable.
“He brings different issues to the desk: his intelligence, the way in which he competes, the way in which he masters numerous the issues which are essential for us.”
Chelsea collected considered one of their greatest outcomes since Enzo Maresca’s appointment in June 2024 by beating Barcelona 3-0 at residence on Tuesday, together with objectives 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 stated of the celebrations, describing the prospect of stopping Arsenal as “good” and “a special problem”.
“We have to plan in opposition to Arsenal differently. Arsenal can rating in opposition to any workforce from set-pieces – in opposition to 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 one of the simplest ways. It’s very early and it’s vital to be the place we at the moment are in March, April.”
Chelsea v Arsenal workforce information
Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) are “very, very shut” to returning for Arsenal, Arteta stated, however fellow ahead Leandro Trossard is a doubt after coming off in opposition to Bayern.
Striker Gabriel Jesus is again in coaching however could not but be in rivalry after 11 months out with a knee damage and centre-back Gabriel stays out with a thigh problem sustained whereas enjoying for Brazil in a pleasant in opposition to Senegal on the Emirates Stadium.
Full-back Riccardo Calafiori missed each of Italy’s video games through the worldwide break with a hip downside however got here off the bench in opposition to Bayern, whereas Arteta recommended that Piero Hincapie – a full debutant at centre-back within the 4-1 residence win over Tottenham on Sunday – may play at left-back.
Playmaker Cole Palmer may 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
Easy methods to watch Chelsea v Arsenal: TV channel, on-line reside stream
Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:30 GMT (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT), with reside protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Major 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 reside Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which provides reside streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is offered on an enormous number of gadgets by way of the Sky GO app.
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