Antonio Conte talks about team news, January transfers ahead of Arsenal clash

The Blues were beaten down by Arsenal in the fall, precipitating a change to a 3-man defense by manager Antonio Conte.

It sort of feels like Chelsea are playing Arsenal for the first time this season, but of course as Conte will tell anyone who’ll listen (including the players hopefully), the 3-0 humiliation at the Emirates must not be forgotten.

A controversial goal, as Alonso’s right arm caught the face of Bellerin, sending the right back crashing to the ground and forcing his substitution, with Gabriel Paulista having to take his place.

It took Chelsea five passes after winning the ball, and some magic from Eden Hazard to score the second goal, but he was hugely helped by Coquelin’s tactical ineptitude.

The Gunners need to hugely up their game to suggest they could yet deliver a shock in the title race, but their performance showed few signs of improving.

N’Golo Kante pushed up the pitch to press and win tackles in advanced areas, before Hazard put the game out of Arsenal’s reach with his latest moment of magic. But Hazard felt Chelsea could have won more convincingly.

Arsenal team news: Lots of important players are injured or unavailable.

Kane made no mistake from the spot after Son Heung-Min had tumbled under a challenge from Bernardo.

There was, however, a lapse in Chelsea’s concentration in stoppage time when substitute Olivier Giroud headed in a consolation.

Arsenal have “settled for fourth again” in the Premier League, according to former England defender Danny Mills.

Arsenal have finished no better than third in the Premier League in the last three successive campaigns and have failed to make it past the UEFA Champions League round of 16 in their last six consecutive seasons.

Still, it is worth noting that after three straight poor results in September (a draw with Swansea, then defeat against Liverpool and Arsenal), Chelsea won 13 games between October 1 and December 31, and after the defeat against Spurs, went on to topple Leicester City, Hull and clinch a point at Anfield.

Romelu Lukaku scored four goals, his first after just 30 seconds, in Everton’s 6-3 demolition of Bournemouth.

Arsenal will look to shrug off recurring doubts about their mental strength and the weight of recent history when they visit runaway Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

Everton led 3-0 at halftime and appeared to be cruising before two goals from Joshua King gave the Cherries some hope.

Sunderland left its former manager Sam Allardyce stunned by routing Crystal Palace in this battle of two sides fighting to avoid relegation.

“That might be a tricky one but if you look at it I think Arsene Wenger will decide when he leaves the club”, Keown said. On form, Chelsea at home appear hard to tip against it.

It’s a huge blow for mid-table Southampton, which recently lost its other starting centre back Jose Fonte to West Ham, the opponent today.

The Belgian global striker is the league’s leading marksman with 16 goals.