Chelsea vs Arsenal - Preview ,prediction, missing players, available players,team news, lineups,Kick - off time
Chelsea and Arsenal prepare for battle in Wednesday's Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge, following contrasting weekend results.
The Blues defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 in their FA Cup semi-final over the weekend, while Mikel Arteta's side suffered their third consecutive defeat on the road to Southampton.
Team Updates
Mateo Kovacic suffered an ankle injury after only 26 minutes of Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win over Palace, and the extent of the damage is currently unknown, Tuchel admitted after the game that the injury appeared to be serious.
Long-term absentees Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi keep Kovacic company in the treatment room, while Ross Barkley missed the Palace win due to illness, but that could have been a tactical decision by Tuchel.
In Kovacic's absence, N'Golo Kante will expect to slot straight back into the engine room, and Tuchel may consider giving Romelu Lukaku a start given how much he terrorized the Arsenal backline at the Emirates earlier this season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to return to team training before Wednesday's game and may be in line for a starting spot However, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney are still out.
Captain Alexandre Lacazette's participation is also uncertain after he tested positive for COVID-19 before the Southampton game, so Eddie Nketiah could be tasked with leading the line once more at Stamford Bridge.
Arteta does have the option of moving Gabriel Martinelli into a central role and bringing Emile Smith Rowe back in on the left side - a formula that Arsenal fans have been clamoring for - and the England international has fond memories of the stadium after scoring the game-winning goal in Arsenal's 1-0 victory there last season.
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