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Arsenal will welcome Chelsea to the Emirates tonight for the London derby, with both teams confirming that up to three players were out.
The Blues have already confirmed that summer signing Hakim Ziyech will miss the game through injury, and Frank Lampard also raised doubts during his pre-match press conference (via DailyMail) about the possibility that both the first wing backs Team Ben Chilwell as Reece James is also offside.
Arsenal will also have a single player confirmed by Arsenal.com as missing. Thomas Partey remains out of the game due to his thigh injury and has yet to return to full training after limping out of the clash with Tottenham earlier in the month.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been closely monitored for the past few days, and it remains a question despite the fact that both the club and the player have worked hard to try and bring him up to speed. I feel like we could see his name among subs, but we’re not quite ready to see the full 90’s.
Gabriel Martinelli made his first season start against Manchester City in the League Cup on Tuesday, but was unable to complete the match. He suffered a heavy collision in the first half, and although he was eager to continue, it was not possible shortly after the break. However, the club still hoped that on Christmas Eve he would be back in training before today’s clash, and with his fingers crossed he can participate in some way against the team that scored that incredible goal last season.
Planned XI:
Log
Luiz Gabriel Tierney buttons
Xhaka Elneny Saka
Willian Lacazette Pepe
Despite a return to the back three against Man City, I feel like Arteta still has a preference for the back four, and I think he will select Willian as the man to come in with Gabi and Aubz who will probably miss out.
Personally, I’d like to see Saka get another chance later on the field (with either Willock or Ceballos fulfilling their role), or see Balogun get a chance after another display of confidence midweek to play in place of Lacazette or Willian , but I don’t feel that Arteta is free to take such risks at this time.
Who would you like to see in the lineup in the absence of Aubz / Gabi?
Patrick
