Key events
Frank Lampard talks to Sky. “We’re coming to a really good team … it’s going to be tough for us … the challenge might not be a bad thing for us, because the players have to react … we have to show what we can do … individually we know there is a lot of talent in the squad but the nature of being a team against what has become a team with a real identity here is a challenge for us … [Aubameyang] has a history of scoring goals and maybe a motivation to play here … Noni has trained really well, and when you come in with a big squad you need players who show something in training and he’s shown that … it’s a big job, it’s a challenge, as a club we’ve been really successful for a long time and this is a year of transition on many levels … that can bring obvious difficulties but also excuses and we have to put those to bed … you don’t succeed unless you have togetherness, standards, spirit, and maybe that’s been affected this year … so it’s difficult to put a time frame on it … it may take time … it has to be a collective … Arsenal are a good reference point … we’ve got a hard run-in but the players have a lot to play for … I see a team low on confidence … but the natural talent is there … this league is unforgiving … I’m very positive about the squad but the players need to work and work hard.”
Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, considers the six-day break Arsenal have enjoyed since the City defeat. “It was necessary to reset, recharge the batteries and bring some clarity again, and focus on the big game tonight … we conceded too many goals, we had to shake it up, to give people opportunities they deserve … there are players who deserve to play minutes … they have a lot of players who are great on the break and we need some control of the game … City were exceptional on the day and reached a level we could not reach, I cannot fault the players … we didn’t win enough duels the other day … there are a lot of things we have to do much better today … we must play really well tonight, be us … and if we win this game we are top of the league again with four games to go.”
Arsenal make three changes to their starting XI from the Manchester City match last week. Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard replace Rob Holding, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli, who all drop to the bench. William Saliba remains unavailable.
Chelsea make two changes in the wake of that home defeat to Brentford. Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher are benched. Noni Madueke and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang take their places. Aubameyang is making his first start since November.
The teams
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.
Subs: Turner, Holding, Tierney, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, W Fofana, Silva, Chilwell, Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic, Madueke, Aubameyang, Sterling.
Subs: Mendy, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Ziyech, Havertz, Felix.
Referee: Robert Jones
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧱 Kiwior at the back
⚖️ Jorginho in the middle
🪄 Trossard on the wing
Three changes from our last game – let’s do this, Gunners! pic.twitter.com/J5tVFLhaZF— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 2, 2023
Preamble
Arsenal don’t need to win else all is lost, not quite yet. But they could do with the three points that’d end a four-game winless streak and take them back to the top of the table. Chelsea … well, mid-table Chelsea don’t really need anything either, but having lost their last five and not won in eight, they could do with something. Kick off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
