EPL: Arsenal v Chelsea preview
Arsenal v Chelsea preview
Arsenal host Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday as they attempt to regain momentum following Sunday's 1-1 draw at West Brom.
Arsene Wenger and his players were left incensed by referee Mike Dean's decision to award a late penalty for a Calum Chambers handball, as Jay Rodriguez converted to rescue West Brom a point.
The incident saw Wenger charged by the FA over his conduct towards match officials, while the draw left Arsenal trailing behind in the race for the top four.
Chelsea currently sit third, seven points above Arsenal, and know victory at the Emirates Stadium will see them leapfrog Manchester United into second.
The Blues have dropped just two points over the festive period so far, having won four of their last five league games, most recently sticking five past struggling Stoke.
Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny have an outside chance of returning from injury to face Chelsea on Wednesday.
Koscielny's likelihood of playing is rated at 30 per cent by Wenger while Ozil is close to recovering from a knee problem and will be assessed.
Sead Kolasinac, however, will be out for two weeks after taking a knock to his ankle against West Brom on Sunday. Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud (both hamstring) and Nacho Monreal (ankle) all remain sidelined.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says using all his players will be crucial as they enter the second half of the season
Chelsea have no fresh injury problems for the trip to Arsenal, though defender David Luiz (knee) and forward Charly Musonda (groin) remain out.
Both have returned to training and could feature in Saturday's FA Cup trip to Norwich.
The incident saw Wenger charged by the FA over his conduct towards match officials, while the draw left Arsenal trailing behind in the race for the top four.
Chelsea currently sit third, seven points above Arsenal, and know victory at the Emirates Stadium will see them leapfrog Manchester United into second.
The Blues have dropped just two points over the festive period so far, having won four of their last five league games, most recently sticking five past struggling Stoke.
Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny have an outside chance of returning from injury to face Chelsea on Wednesday.
Koscielny's likelihood of playing is rated at 30 per cent by Wenger while Ozil is close to recovering from a knee problem and will be assessed.
Sead Kolasinac, however, will be out for two weeks after taking a knock to his ankle against West Brom on Sunday. Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud (both hamstring) and Nacho Monreal (ankle) all remain sidelined.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says using all his players will be crucial as they enter the second half of the season
Chelsea have no fresh injury problems for the trip to Arsenal, though defender David Luiz (knee) and forward Charly Musonda (groin) remain out.
Both have returned to training and could feature in Saturday's FA Cup trip to Norwich.