Chelsea v Arsenal @ Stamford Bridge
Saturday September 19 @ 12:45pm
With just four points from five games, Chelsea host Arsenal this weekend needing a win to avoid falling into the relegation zone.
Jose Mourinho’s side have taken just four points from five games this campaign, while Arsenal have managed twice this amount.
Despite this discrepancy in the league, Chelsea had the better of it in the two side’s midweek Champion’s League fixtures.
Mourinho’s men ran out 4-0 winners at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Arsenal were defeated 2-1 in Croatia as they faced Dinamo Zagreb.
Despite this confidence boost, Chelsea will still be desperate to get their Premier League campaign back on track, having won just once in the league this season.
They do have every reason to feel confident however, being unbeaten in their last seven Premier league meetings against Arsenal.
Last years double winners will be without both Pedro and Willian, with the wingers injured against Everton and Maccabi respectively.
Much of the Chelsea squad have underperformed so far, most notably Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fàbregas.
Mourinho will find comfort in the return of Oscar, as well as the performances of his second-string side midweek, particularly Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ghanian international Baba Rahman.
For Arsenal, it is a game they will feel they can get something from, having already beaten Chelsea in the Community Shield last month, a game that saw Petr Čech face the side he made over 300 appearances for.
Arsenal will be further bolstered by the return of Per Mertesacker, who is expected to return to the side after four games out with illness.
In a game which has so often focused on the clashes between Mourinho and Arsène Wenger, Chelsea will hope the only taking point is them improving on performances that have led to their worst start for 30 years.
