- Arsenal ‘gaining in confidence’ to sign Bruno Guimaraes
- Arsenal ready to spend £60m to sign Michael Olise
- Arsenal have Marcus Thuram as Joshua Zirkzee’s back up plan
- Ferdi Kadioglu has agreed to join Arsenal this summer
- Arsenal eye swoop to sign Amadou Onana this summer
- Arsenal lead race to sign Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee
- Arsenal ready to sell trio to fund Bruno Guimaraes deal
- Arsenal target Xavi Simons can only leave PSG for a hefty fee
- Youssouf Fofana speaks out on future amid Arsenal interest
- Arsenal in battle to sign £55m Marc Guehi this summer
Confirmed line-ups: Chelsea vs Arsenal – Holding & Elneny start
Arsenal desperately need to come away with a positive result when we take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight.
Mikel Arteta must have read my article from earlier [just joking, obviously!] as he’s decided to start Rob Holding alongside Gabriel with Ben White moving to right-back. Nuno Tavares keeps his place at left-back with Cedric Soares dropping out.
Mohamed Elneny is also recalled to make a rare start in midfield with Albert Sambi Lokonga making way. Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard join Elneny in the Arsenal midfield this evening.
Eddie Nketiah retains his place up front so Alexandre Lacazette has to make do with a place on the bench after returning to the squad following covid.
Gabriel Martinelli drops to the bench with Emile Smith Rowe recalled to join Bukayo Saka in Arsenal’s attack. Nicolas Pepe is also named among the substitutes but there is still no place for Takehiro Tomiyasu in the squad.
As for Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku starts up front with Timo Werner. N’Golo Kante lines-up in midfield along with Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Andreas Christensen starts in defence along with Malang Sarr so there is no place for Antonio Rudiger or Thiago Silva.
These are the line-ups for the game:
Chelsea
Mendy; James, Christensen, Sarr; Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Alonso; Mount; Lukaku, Werner
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Jorginho, Silva, Barkley, Pulisic, Ziyech, Havertz, Saul
Arsenal
Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Holding, Tavares; Elneny, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Smith Rowe
Subs: Leno, Cedric, Swanson, Lokonga, Azeez, Hutchinson, Martinelli, Pepe, Lacazette