2 Key Changes With Start For Odegaard: Predicted 4-3-3 Arsenal Lineup vs Chelsea

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It is the mouthwatering London derby on Sunday evening as Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League.

The Gunners have suffered a dip in form of late, winning just one of their last four games across all competitions. They were beaten 1-0 at Newcastle United in the Premier League before slumping to their first Champions League defeat of the 2024/25 campaign at the hands of Inter Milan in Italy.

A three-game winless run in the league has Mikel Arteta's side fifth in the table, seven points behind league leaders Liverpool. They are in desperate need of a lift and that would be possible with a win over Chelsea, who are keeping Arsenal out of the Champions League places by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal were dealt a big blow ahead of the Inter Milan game as Declan Rice suffered a broken toe in the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. The midfielder remains a big doubt, although he is desperate to be available for the Chelsea game.

Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) will not be back this side of the international break, while loanee Raheem Sterling cannot face his parent club.

Kai Havertz suffered a big cut on his head after colliding with Yann Bisseck in midweek and Arteta ultimately decided to replace him with Martin Odegaard, who made his long-awaited return from an ankle injury.

Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper

David Raya has been a reliable presence in goal for Arsenal since last year. The Spaniard must come up with big saves and stops if Arsenal are to win the London derby.

Defence

William Saliba and Gabriel are arguably the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League, and they will be tasked with keeping Nicolas Jackson quiet. Ben White should continue at right-back, while Jurrien Timber aims to produce a solid display from the left-back position in the Arsenal lineup.

Midfield

Declan Rice is trying his best to recover in time for the weekend fixture. There is a good chance he makes it and starts in midfield.

Martin Odegaard came on as a substitute for the last few minutes at San Siro, and Arteta should have no doubts about throwing him back into the Arsenal lineup amid his team's creativity issue. Rice and Odegaard are expected to join Thomas Partey in the engine room, and the trio have to work well as a unit to stop the Blues.

Mikel Merino, Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri have to be satisfied with roles on the bench.

Attack

Despite suffering a big cut to his head in midweek, Kai Havertz should be expected to lead the Arsenal attack against his former employers. Bukayo Saka is the visitors' best attacker and deserves to keep his place on the right flank in the Arsenal lineup, while Arteta could again give the out-of-form Gabriel Martinelli the nod ahead of Leandro Trossard on the opposite flank.

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