After starting out with a loss in their opening game of the season against defending champions, Manchester City, Arsenal will be hoping to get it right in Saturday’s derby clash away to Chelsea.
Saturday’s London derby will be involving two novices as it were as both Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery are not only new at Chelsea and Arsenal respectively, but freshmen as far as English football is concerned.
Both men faced each other in the preseason during the ICC tournament with Arsenal emerging tops in the game decided via penalty kicks.
That nonetheless, Sarri unlike his opposite figure at Arsenal is more relaxed going into this Saturday’s late kickoff having led his team to an opening day 3-0 away win last weekend.
It is expected that the Nigerian duo of Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi will play a part in Saturday’s London derby no matter how little.
Moses who only recently announced his retirement from International football got few minutes of action in Chelsea’s last outing while Iwobi was rooted to the bench as City beat Arsenal 2-0 in their Super Sunday clash at the Emirates.
The two league games involving these two sides last season ended in stalemates.
Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for Live Updates from Stamford Bridge.
Kickoff is 5.30pm
Starting Line up
*Chelsea*
1 Kepa Arrizabalaga (Goalkeeper)
28 César Azpilicueta (Defender)
2 Antonio Rüdiger (Defender)
30 David Luiz (Defender)
3 Marcos Alonso (Midfielder)
7 N’Golo Kanté (Midfielder)
5 Jorginho (Midfielder)
8 Ross Barkley (Midfielder)
22 Willian (Forward)
29 Álvaro Morata (Forward)
11 Pedro (Forward)
*Arsenal*
1 Petr Čech (Goalkeeper)
2 Héctor Bellerín (Midfielder)
5 Sokratis (Defender)
20 Shkodran Mustafi (Defender)
18 Nacho Monreal (Defender)
29 Matteo Guendouzi (Midfielder)
34 Granit Xhaka (Midfielder)
7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Midfielder)
10 Mesut Özil (Forward)
17 Alex Iwobi (Midfielder)
14 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Forward)
Kick off at Stamford bridge
David Luiz fails to find the target with a shot from outside the box
Chelsea trying to create an early goal
A great ball by Jorginho from Chelsea. He directs the ball behind the defence, but the chance eventually goes begging
Willian from Chelsea is ruled offside
Chelsea with the lead – Pedro Rodriguez with the goal
Chelsea dominating the game with 72% of possession presently
Missed chance!!! Arsenal striker Aubameyang blows away a good chance from 10 yards
GOAL!! Chelsea double their lead.. Morata makes it 2-0
Can Arsenal respond to this two goal deficit
Willian tries to locate Morata.. Mustafi breaks the pass
Xhaka gets a yellow card for a rough tackle on Pedro
Iwobi helps with the clearance as Chelsea continue to pile pressure on the Arsenal defense
Thirty minutes played already and it’s Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
Another miss chance by Arsenal
Mkhitaryan the latest culprit as he blows away a good pass from Iwobi
Pedro whips a shot from outside the box but Arsenal keeper makes a save
GOAL!! Arsenal pull one back
Mkhitaryan strikes from a distance to make it 2-1
Save! CECH parries a shot away from Morata
Pedro Rodriguez from Chelsea is ruled offside
GOAL!!! Iwobi gets the equaliser for Arsenal
Matteo Guendouzi tries his luck from distance but his effort ends up safely in the hands of Kepa Arrizabalaga
Arsenal come close again.. Aubameyang misses another decent chance
Iwobi doing quite well as Arsenal are bossing the game
Missed chance.. Iwobi fails to take Arsenal in front
So many missed chances by Arsenal.. Hope they won’t rue this many missed opportunity
We are back for the second half
Arsenal starting out strong
Goal kick for Arsenal as Pedro’s effort goes over the bar
Eden Hazard getting set to come in for Chelsea
Chance! Kante tries a shot but blocked
Corner kick for Chelsea but Arsenal clear out
Chance! Ross Barkley with a shot but Cech parries away for a corner kick
Ball in the net but no goal for Arsenal as Aubameyang already ruled offside
Double substitution for Chelsea .. Wilian snd Barkley off for Hazard and Kovavic
Barrage of attack coming now from Chelsea
Snap shot from Jorginho saved by Cech
Iwobi wins a free kick for Arsenal near the Centre circle
Arsenal sub: Mesut Ozil pulled out for Aaron Ramsey
Arsenal defending their lives now as Hazard causing troubles
The referee signals a free kick as Lucas Torreira from Arsenal trips Mateo Kovacic
Luiz takes a good kick and Cech makes a better save..
Alex Iwobi is off for Lacazzette
And Giroud also in for Morata as both Managers are looking for a derby win
Save! Kepa stops a shot from Aaron Ramsey
Header by Kante goes over the bar.
GOAL!!! Marcos Alonso gives Chelsea the lead again
Hazard did so well for the assist and Cech had no answer
Arsenal coach Emery pacing up and down as his side are trailing with five minutes to go
Petr Cech does well to deny Olivier Giroud’s effort from within the area. A corner has been awarded
Azpilicueta is penalised for pushing Matteo Guendouzi
Glorious shot from Aaron Ramsey but inches over the bar
As it stands now Arsenal are 17th on the log
Three minutes added time
Giroud shoot.. Cech Save!
Full Time.. Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal
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