Chelsea hope to continue their perfect start to the new season with another victory against an Arsenal team that feels very sorry for themselves already this year.
Thomas Tuchel’s men put three past Crystal Palace last weekend and hope for a similar return this time, especially if a certain Belgian gets the chance to be part of the fun …
This is how the Blues can set.
Chalobah & Azpilicueta celebrate against Palace / Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
Edouard Mendy (GK) – A game down, a clean sheet for Mendy. He wants the Golden Glove Award this year.
Trevoh Chalobah (CB) – Let the story continue. Chalobah has been outstanding in the first weeks of his senior Chelsea career and fully deserves a fresh start.
Thiago Silva (CB) – Silva has not yet appeared for Chelsea since the end of last season but has had plenty of minutes in friendly matches behind closed doors, so he should get his first taste of competitive action here.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) – Tuchel’s general on the pitch, Rudiger will try to add another clean sheet to his record and may even offer a kinky tackle or two. He loves to get into the derby spirit.
Kante can return / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
Cesar Azpilicueta (RM) – With Kieran Tierney proving to be Arsenal’s biggest threat, Azpilicueta’s defensive eye could make him perfect for this role.
N’Golo Kante (CM) – After missing the Palace game through injury, expect Kante to return to the starting lineup for this one.
Jorginho (CM) – When Jorginho finished Chelsea’s UEFA player of the year candidates, he was wrong when Arsenal won the last competitive meeting between the two and will be desperate to do good.
Marcos Alonso (LM) – Arsenal’s defense is fighting for good movement and physicality, and Alonso offers it in spades. He will lick his lips and think about meeting Calum Chambers.
Mason Mount (AM) – Chelsea’s star boy. Mount looked in good physical shape when he played the whole 90 against Palace, so here he hopes he has another full match in his closet.
Kai Havertz (AM) – We do not see Havertz in this midfield role so often nowadays, but he may return here permanently because …
RL9. # ️⃣ pic.twitter.com/1hLJdzzPDA
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2021
Romelu Lukaku (ST) – It’s time. Lukaku would not want his debut to come against anyone other than Arsenal, and after Ben White’s performance against Brentford, he will definitely drool over the possibility of scoring at least 30 goals this weekend.
