Granit Xhaka publicly disagrees with Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's draw vs West Ham
FootballPossible Arsenal vs Chelsea Lineups As Mudryk Looks to Completely End Arteta’s Title Hopes
- Arsenal will look to keep their title hopes alive when they play Chelsea on Tuesday night
- Mykhailo Mudryk could be a protagonist in the fixture after rejecting Arsenal in January
- Chelsea are currently languishing in 12th as the Gunners hope to beat City to the EPL title
Frank Lampard will make the short travel across to north London, looking to pick up his first win in his second stint as Chelsea boss.
Chelsea have lost five consecutive games in all competitions under the club legend and a defeat at the Emirates Stadium could further damage his reputation. On the flip side, a Blues victory could effectively end Arsenal's title hopes.
A loss would leave Mikel Arteta's side one point behind Manchester City, with the defending champions having played two games less.
As far as the script goes, many feel this might be Mykhailo Mudryk's night to come alive. The Ukrainian was thrust into the limelight when he snubbed Arsenal for Chelsea in the January transfer window, per SkySports.
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Things are yet to happen for him in a Blues shirt, but his last two cameos off the bench have offered a semblance of hope. Imagine if he were to star against a team he rejected, to finish off their hopes for a first title since 2004.
Sports Brief takes a look at the probable lineups ahead of the Emirates Stadium clash.
1. Arsenal's possible squad
The Gunners are now on a winless run of four games, which culminated with the 4-1 drubbing at the Etihad Stadium last week. Arteta will be looking to inspire some confidence in his side and what better way to start against Chelsea, whose own confidence is at an all-time low?
His creative players struggled to keep up with City's intensity but they will be expected to keep their places. Rob Holding has been suspect in defence in recent times but against a Chelsea side that doesn't know where the goal is, he should be rather comfortable.
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FootballThe decision to omit Mudryk's plan B, Leandro Trossard from the starting eleven is one that Arteta continues to grapple with every matchday and against Chelsea, the Belgian is most likely to play a secondary role again. There could also be a first appearance against his former side for Jorginho.
Possible line-up: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Odegaard, Partey; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
2. Chelsea
With more than eight players arriving in January alone and with the poor season they have had, you never know who is going to make it in the Chelsea team - save for Thiago Silva when he is fit and perhaps Kepa Arrizabalaga who, despite Chelsea's struggles, has undergone some form of renaissance this season.
However, in light of recent games, Lampard might be forced to tinker with his line-up again, with Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang in line to face his former club. He did show some form of rustiness against Brentford, but perhaps playing against a manager who ostracised him might provide him with the necessary spark.
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FootballN'Golo Kante's return to full fitness also means the diminutive Frenchman has to start. Lampard could probably drop one of Enzo Fernandez or Mateo Kovacic to accommodate another attacker - preferably Mudryk. Chelsea's defence this season is much better than Arsenal's and a back three is expected to be used despite Reece James' absence.
Possible lineup: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell; Kovacic, Kante, Fernandez; Mudryk, Havertz
With Chelsea technically fighting for nothing this season, only local pride will be on the line.
Arteta's Aubayemang plea to Arsenal
At the same time, Arteta has pleaded with Arsenal fans to accord Aubameyang a warm reception ahead of the striker's return to the Emirates Stadium.
Sports Brief reported that Auba left the club in the 2022 winter transfer window after a fallout with Arteta, sealing a sensational free transfer to Barcelona.
Aubameyang had spent four years in London, having joined the Gunners in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund before he departed the club by mutual consent.