William Maxwell’s tips for Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge include a win for the hosts with an in-form striker finding the net.
There is a massive London derby at Stamford Bridge on Sunday when both Chelsea and Arsenal will be looking to take an opportunity to try and get back into the Premier League title race.
The Blues are ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side on goal difference and will be looking for an improved show on the one they posted in their 1-1 draw at Manchester United last week as they look to at least snare a top-four finish this season.
Arsenal’s ambitions may be loftier after two successive runner-up finishes to Manchester City, but they have ground to make up if they are to make a strong challenge as they are already seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
A 1-0 Champions League defeat at Inter Milan on Wednesday, their first in this season’s competition, will also take some recovering from, so the pressure is on Arteta to get a positive result across the capital.
Chelsea v Arsenal best bets
Chelsea to win
9/5
Nicolas Jackson to score at any time
9/4
Jurrien Timber to be booked
7/2
Blues may just hold the edge
Chelsea and Arsenal were both in European action this week, but their experiences were a lot different and that could prove crucial in Sunday’s showdown.
While Arsenal had an intense clash against Serie A champions Inter, Chelsea cruised to an 8-0 win over Noah in the Conference League, even though manager Enzo Maresca was able to field a second-string line-up.
So the Blues’ big names should be nice and fresh, even though there is an injury scare concerning star midfielder Cole Palmer, and they can get the better of the jaded Gunners, who could be without Declan Rice and showed little when losing 1-0 at Newcastle last week.
Chelsea were not firing on all cylinders in Sunday’s draw at Old Trafford, but they can be expected to pick themselves up and, as their one defeat in their last 12 league games came against champions Manchester City, they could hold the edge in this one.
Jackson can rise to challenge
Palmer has received most of the plaudits at Chelsea this season, but striker Nicolas Jackson is also having a strong campaign and it would not be a surprise if he boosted his goal tally on Sunday.
The Senegalese forward has scored six goals in the league this season and had 13 shots on target, so he won’t be shy in trying his luck and will perhaps be mindful that he is playing for his place in the team.
Christopher Nkunku is breathing down his neck after recovering from an injury-hit season at the Bridge to score six goals in five Conference League games, but Jackson has displayed the ability to suggest he can still be Maresca’s main man and can find the net again.
Timber could go into the book
It looks set to be a highly charged atmosphere at the Bridge so that could mean plenty of cards and one could be heading Jurrien Timber’s way.
The Arsenal left-back is now a regular after an injury-plagued first season at the Emirates and he has picked up three yellow cards in seven league starts this term, including one at Newcastle last week.
The Dutchman committed three fouls that day and the same number at the San Siro in midweek, so there looks a good chance he could be cautioned again.
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