Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal | Premier league

Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal | Premier league

Arsenal face a major test on their return to Premier League action on October 21 as the Gunners head across the capital to face Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta finally secured his first Premier League win over Pep Guardiola and Manchester City ahead of the international break and he will be looking to maintain that momentum at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal only trail leaders Tottenham by goals scored ahead of this clash, but Chelsea are improving, after notching up successive Premier League wins for the first time since Mauricio Pochettino’s summer arrival.

With a daunting run of fixtures to come, the Blues will hope to build some momentum and dent Arsenal’s title challenge in the process.

Injuries remain a key concern for both managers and there are a handful of important players who faced late fitness tests ahead of this fixture.

Arteta will want his players to build on that win over Manchester City to potentially overtake Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou’s side in action at home to Fulham on October 22.

However, there are signs of positivity for Pochettino, as he looks to balance his expensively assembled squad and battle against an ongoing injury crisis at Chelsea this season.

Chelsea vs Arsenal lineups
Arteta and Pochettino were assessing their squad options up to the last moment as players returned from international duty at different times ahead of this fixture.

Chelsea’s injury list still includes a host of key stars, including Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia and Ben Chilwell, but Arsenal have been able to call on Bukayo Saka.

Below are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams ahead of their Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on October 21.

Chelsea starting 11
(4-3-3): Sanchez — Gusto, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Cucurella — Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez — Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk

Subs: Petrovic, James, Maatsen, Badiashile, Disasi, Ugochukwu, Madueke, Washington, Jackson

Injured: Fofana, Nkunku, Lavia, Chilwell, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Broja, Chukwuemeka

Suspended: None

Malo Gusto’s return from suspension allows him to return at right-back, with Levi Colwill starting at centre-back as the improving Marc Cucurella keeps his place. It was reported in The Standard that Pochettino could risk throwing captain Reece James straight back into action, but he is only on the bench.

Armando Broja is fit enough for the bench, with Raheem Sterling leading the attack alongside Mykhailo Mudryk and Cole Palmer.

Arsenal starting 11
(4-3-3): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard — Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Subs: Hein, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Havertz, Trossard, Nketiah

Injured: Timber
Suspended: None
Bukayo Saka is fit enough to return after missing out on England duty through injury, and William Saliba is also able to start. Leandro Trossard only makes the bench.

Jorginho is named in the centre of midfield despite his struggles in the Gunners’ previous London derby against Tottenham.