Date: Monday, December 23 Venue: Emirates Stadium Kick-Off: 20:00 Can Arsenal reclaim top spot in the Premier League to sit top of the tree on Christmas Day when they play host to Chelsea on Monday night?
Team News
Arsenal will be without defender Laurent Koscielny due to a cut to his knee. Jack Wilshere is also out - the midfielder serving the first of a two-match ban for misconduct - but striker Lukas Podolski could feature following his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Chelsea will welcome right-back Branislav Ivanovic back from suspension, meaning Cesar Azpilicueta reverts to left-back and Ashley Cole drops to the bench. Michael Essien is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Sunderland. (bbc)
Key Stats
Chelsea have won the three most recent encounters between the two sides, including a 2-0 away win at Emirates Stadium in the fourth round of the League Cup on 29 October. If Arsenal lose, it would be a third consecutive loss for the first time since they were beaten by Barcelona, Tottenham and Wigan in quick succession in the spring of 2010. Arsenal are one shy of 1300 Premier League points under Arsene Wenger. Arsene Wenger has never won against Jose Mourinho as an opposition manager. His record is four draws and five defeats in nine league and cup games.
Arsenal will be hoping to return to the summit of the Premier League and sit top of the tree on Christmas Day when Chelsea visit Emirates Stadium tonight. But manager Arsene Wenger will have to put to an end a miserable sequence of results against opposite number Jose Mourinho for that to happen - the Gunners chief currently win-less in nine encounters between the pair. Chelsea have also been to this stadium and left comfortable winners once before this season, having prevailed 2-0 in the Capital One Cup at the end of October, and a repeat here will mean we have new league leaders. The Blues themselves can go top - though, barring an outrageous goal-swing, it looks more likely Liverpool will retain first place - as Arsenal find themselves unseated. That 6-3 mullering to Man City last weekend raised questions over their title credentials and this meeting tonight will likewise serve as a barometer for success this term. And though I expect Arsenal to compete for honours this season, I'm going for a narrow Chelsea win in a fiercely-contested encounter. Prediction: 1-2
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
