Arsenal and Chelsea will go head-to-head in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as both sides look to cement their spot in the top four for potential Champions League qualification next season.
Mikel Arteta’s side cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the last round, but were held to a 1-1 draw by Man Utd at Old Trafford in their last league outing. Enzo Maresca’s side on the other hand progressed to the quarter-final of the Europa Conference League with a comfortable win over FC Copenhagen, following on from their 1-0 win over Leicester last weekend.
Both teams are dealing with some injury problems and have selection headaches for this game, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the teams to line up.
Arsenal Team News
Saka still unavailable
The Gunners have had limited attacking options in recent weeks after injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, which has seen Kieran Tierney and Mikel Merino used out of position.
But while Martinelli returned recently, Saka is still unavailable and won’t return until after the international break. Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out for the season, but Arteta has plenty of options in defence and midfield to choose from. Raheem Sterling is ineligible for this game against his parent club.
|
Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Raheem Sterling |
Ineligible |
02/04/2025 |
|
Bukayo Saka |
Hamstring |
02/04/2025 |
|
Takehiro Tomiyasu |
Knee |
01/06/2025 |
|
Kai Havertz |
Hamstring |
01/06/202 |
|
Gabriel Jesus |
Knee |
22/11/2025 |
Arteta Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta shared an update on his squad.
“No [Saka isn’t ready], he’s getting closer, he’s stepping up and making very good progress I would say.
“Now we have more options but it’s true that we have to really manage the load and he’s [Martinelli] been a little bit ahead of schedule and that’s what we didn’t want to take and we don’t want to take anymore because we’ve been loading in with more minutes.”
Arsenal Predicted XI
Trossard to start up front
- Arsenal Predicted XI: Raya; Timbert, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli.
- Arsenal Predicted Substitutes: Neto (GK), Calafiori (DEF), White (DEF), Tierney (DEF), Kiwior (DEF), Zinchenko (DEF), Jorginho (MID), Merino (MID), Butler-Oyedeji (FWD).
With Sterling ineligible and Martinelli fit again, Arteta could go for a more fluid forward line with Leandro Trossard leading the line. That should see makeshift striker Mikel Merino return to the bench alongside fellow big-earners Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White.
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Chelsea Team News
Fofana back in contention
The Blues were able to work their way into the next round in the Europa Conference League despite resting several players, and they should be able to welcome them all back. Wesley Fofana is fit again and should return, while Romeo Lavia is also in contention to be selected.
Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto are all unavailable due to injury though, while Mykhailo Murdyk remains suspended pending a hearing over a doping ban.
|
Chelsea Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Malo Gusto |
Knock |
16/03/2025 |
|
Marc Guiu |
Hamstring |
02/04/2025 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
Hamstring |
02/04/2025 |
|
Noni Madueke |
Hamstring |
02/04/2025 |
|
Omari Kellyman |
Hamstring |
Unknown |
|
Mykhailo Mudryk |
Suspended |
Unknown |
Maresca Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Maresca shared an update on the squad ahead of this game.
“Yes, it will be Robert playing against Arsenal. I’ve said many times we are happy with both goalkeepers. But sometimes, you have to be flexible.
“Since we started, the idea wasn’t to change the goalkeeper but you have to be flexible; we do this with the game plan, the way we want to attack and defend, but we also have to be flexible with players [changing the personnel].
“We hope after the international break [for their returns].
“At this moment in the season, we have lost key players who score goals: Nico Jackson and Noni Madueke with injury.
“It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality for all clubs when you lose important players. Other players have to come in and do well and they have done.”
Chelsea Predicted XI
Neto to start up front
- Chelsea Predicted XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto.
- Chelsea Predicted Substitutes: Jorgensen (GK), Chalobah (DEF), Badiashile (DEF), Tosin (DEF), Lavia (MID), Amougou (MID), Dewsbury-Hall (MID), George (FWD), Mheuka (FWD).
After being rested in the week Cole Palmer should return to the starting lineup for this game, as he looks to end the longest goal drought of his Chelsea career. £45,000-a-week midfielder Lavia is only likely to make the bench after suffering with injury recently, while youngsters Tyrique George and Shim Mheuka take their place on the bench also.
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