Chelsea vs Arsenal – betting tips and predictions

However, while a win over Bournemouth last weekend, coupled with Thursday’s 3-1 win over FC Cologne in their delayed Europa League encounter, will have boosted morale prior to their short trip across the capital, Arsenal come into this one as underdogs and for good reason.

With Alexis Sanchez scoring a controversial opener for Arsenal and Chelsea’s Victor Moses sent off for diving, it was a bitter conclusion to an otherwise flawless first season in charge for Conte. I would like to see Mertesacker in the middle with Koscielny and Mustafi either side and those three defenders have the ability between them to handle anything Chelsea can throw at us.

The Spain global only won an FA Cup with the Gunners, and has won the Premier League twice with Chelsea since coming back to the Premier League. “We were unlucky, if you remember the first goal it was very unusual”, Conte said of the Cup final.

For Arsenal, it was to be their only victory all season against any of the teams who finished in the top four.

“Look, if you look at my record you will see that I played two years in England, in the Premier League, without losing games away from home”, Wenger said.

Against Mark Hughes’ side, Arsenal created a lot of chances, but were unsuccessful in converting them.

But the Blues boss knows the threat Arsenal pose, having lost to the North London outfit on the last two occasions – the FA Cup final and the Community Shield last month.

Should Arsenal concede here, it will equal their longest run of away games without a clean sheet against a specific opponent in Premier League history (13 against Liverpool between 1999 and 2012). In that game they dominated us from the start until the end.

“I believe that, on the day [against Liverpool], everything went against us”.

“I feel very attached, even now, to Arsenal”. “He’s a part of the team, so we want everyone to be involved at their best”.

Particularly important ahead of this match is the fact that the Blues don’t have any players injured or suspended, so they can use the best starting formation.

Arsenal’s dealings in the transfer market were heavily criticised by fans, but Wenger says the club are happy with their business, and also insists the transfer market does not reward sides like Arsenal who attempt to balance spending.