Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be looking for his first win in 13 attempts against a Jose Mourinho managed team when the Gunners take on league leaders Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Head-to-head against Mourinho Wenger has in all competitions lost seven and drawn five, while his inform team lead the Premier League points total in 2015 with 33 knowing that a Chelsea win on Sunday will leave the Blues just three points shy of winning the title for the first time since 2010.
The key objective in tomorrow’s match is for Arsenal to score first as Chelsea are very difficult to beat once they have a lead and decide to park the bus looking to hit on the counter attack.
Arsenal will also have to take care of Eden Hazard, with the Belgium international favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award after some stunning performances that have seen him net 13 goals.
Missing for Arsenal will be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while defender Per Mertesacker faces a late fitness test after picking up an injury against Reading last weekend.
Goalkeeper
Ospina will return in goal for the Gunners after a nervy performance in the FA Cup by Wojciech Szczesny, and is statistically the only keeper in the Premier League not to have made an error that has led to a shot
Defence
Mathieu Debuchy was given a surprise start on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final with Reading and could very well challenge Hector Bellerin on Sunday. We however feel the young Spaniard should get the nod due to his pace and is a better candidate to nullify Hazard.
Monreal will be back in for Gibbs at left-back with if fit Per Mertesacker playing alongside Laurent Koscielny in the centre of the park.
Arsenal will also have the knowledge of knowing that the Blues will be without Diego Costa and possibly Loic Remy.
Midfield
This is where Wenger is spoiled for choice with Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Flamini, Santi Cazorla, and Tomas Rosicky all available for selection.
We however feel that the Frenchman will go with Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Sanchez and Ozil as all four of them have been outstanding so far in 2015.
Of that group the most important task might fall to Coquelin and his ability to take Cesc Fabregas out of the game.
Wenger knows that Chelsea’s biggest threat comes from midfield, and that if he can somehow stop Fabregas and Hazard from having too much of the ball there is no reason why Arsenal cannot close the gap at the top of the table.
Attack
We expect to see Olivier Giroud spearheading the attack once more following Danny Welbeck’s lacklustre performance against Reading, as the French striker looks to add to his impressive run of 10 goals in 12 games.
