Giroud, Havertz And Hudson Odoi To Start, Werner Drops Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Play Arsenal

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

It was a scrappy performance against West Ham on Monday night but manager Frank Lampard would have been glad that Chelsea got back to winning ways after back to back defeats.

They will be facing a struggling Arsenal team at the weekend, who are languishing in 15th heading into the Boxing Day clash, with Mikel Arteta under serious pressure.

The Blues are undoubtedly the favourites for this London derby and the onus will be on them to put in a display and get the three points. So who will start for the away side against the Gunners?

Press the next page as we go through our predicted line up for the game.

GK – Edouard Mendy

The Senegalese international had very little to do against the Hammers and it could be another quiet evening for him if Arsenal’s woeful form in front of goal continues.

Mendy now has ten clean sheets from his first 16 appearances for Chelsea, conceding just seven goals in the process.

RB – Cesar Azpilicueta

With Reece James still a doubt for the Gunners clash, the club captain is expected to keep his place at right-back for a second consecutive game.

Azpilicueta did look a bit rusty against West Ham and does offer less going forward than James, but he was dependable as ever defensively, blocking a goal-bound effort from Pablo Fornals.

CB – Kurt Zouma

Reports suggest that Chelsea will open talks over extending the Frenchman’s contract and, on recent form, he is fully deserving of a new deal.

Zouma was dominant against Hammers striker Sebastien Haller in the air but he will come up against a different threat this weekend, with Alexandre Lacazette expected to play up top.

CB – Thiago Silva

The five-day gap between the West Ham game and the Arsenal clash should give the Brazilian enough time to recover. His goal on Monday was crucial to getting the Blues back on track and his leadership qualities are priceless.

Silva’s experience should also help him when he comes against a seasoned-pro like Lacazette on Saturday.

LB – Emerson Palmieri

With Ben Chilwell unlikely to be fit after turning his ankle in the victory over the Hammers, Emerson will almost certainly take his place in the lineup.

The Italian did not look that convincing either defensively or in the attacking third of the pitch on Monday evening and it will be hoped that he’ll put in an improved display against the Gunners.

CM – Mason Mount

The 21-year-old provided the assist for Silva’s opener versus West Ham and he has undoubtedly been Chelsea’s most consistent performer in the middle of the park this season.

Mount rarely misses a game and, although Lampard does have options if he wants to rotate, he will surely start against Arsenal.

DM – N’Golo Kante

With Jorginho taking the defensive midfield role on Monday, Kante was asked to play in a more advanced position by Lampard and it didn’t really work.

After some good recent performances as the solitary holding midfielder, the Frenchman may well be moved back deeper this weekend.

CM – Kai Havertz

The German international is struggling for form at the moment and Lampard opted to drop him to the bench for the West Ham game.

After Jorginho failed to impress versus West Ham, though, Havertz could come back in and replace the Italian in the side for the trip to the Emirates.

RW – Callum Hudson Odoi

Lampard may look to rotate the front three for the Gunners clash after what was a pretty poor performance going forward on Monday night.

Hudson-Odoi is back fit after his hamstring injury, being an unused sub for the West Ham victory, so recalling him on Saturday could well be considered.

CF – Olivier Giroud

Tammy Abraham may have scored two goals against West Ham but he was pretty anonymous for most of the 90 minutes so it wouldn’t be a shock if Giroud is brought back in to face his old team.

Giroud is in excellent goalscoring form at the moment, and he could cause all sorts of problems for Arsenal, who are fragile at the back.

LW – Christian Pulisic

The American is still feeling his way back to full fitness, and while we have only seen glimpses of what he can do in recent matches, he needs a run of games to get back up to speed.

Pulisic’s selection on the left would, though, mean benching Timo Werner, but the German’s poor form in front of goal recently means it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he was left out for this one.