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Premier League | Gameweek 2
Aug 18, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

3-2

Pedro (9'), Morata (20'), Alonso (81')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Mkhitaryan (37'), Iwobi (41')

How Chelsea could line up against Arsenal

Sports Mole predicts how Chelsea will line up for their Premier League showdown with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will be aiming to make it two Premier League wins from two under Maurizio Sarri when they play host to rivals Arsenal this weekend.

The Blues bounced back from their Community Shield loss at the hands of Manchester City by brushing aside Huddersfield Town 3-0 at the John Smith's Stadium on the opening matchday.

Sarri has some big selection calls to make for this next outing, with star man Eden Hazard approaching full fitness and summer signing Mateo Kovacic also in contention for a first start.

Ahead of Saturday evening's showdown, Sports Mole predicts how the Italian will set out his side at Stamford Bridge.



Chelsea possible XI vs. Arsenal
Hazard impressed during his 14-minute cameo from the bench against Huddersfield, but Sarri revealed after the match that the Belgian forward is still not ready for a full outing.

Given the solid showings from Pedro and Willian on the flanks, plus the fact that Hazard has had so little time to adapt to Sarri's methods, the ex-Lille ace may well have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

Kovacic has only had a week to adjust to life at his new club, but reports suggest that the Real Madrid loanee will go straight into the starting lineup to face Arsenal, likely in place of Ross Barkley.

Barkley was used heavily in pre-season and retained his place in the side against Man City and Huddersfield, yet it seems unlikely that he will feature quite so much now that Sarri has strengthened in the middle of the park.

The back five, including new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, should remain unchanged after the clean sheet at Huddersfield, while elsewhere Cesc Fabregas is carrying a knock that could rule him out against his former club.

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Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga strikes a pose on August 11, 2018
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham197842825329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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