Enzo Maresca will face one other Pep Guardiola protege on Sunday as his Chelsea facet takes on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The 2 former Manchester Metropolis assistants collide for the primary time of their managerial careers, with Maresca aiming to maneuver three factors away from the supposed title hopefuls with a victory at Stamford Bridge.
It was a chastening event for the Blues the final time these two capital rivals confronted off, however the feeling surrounding Chelsea is way brighter heading into Sunday’s bout in comparison with what it was in April.
Mauricio Pochettino was with out Cole Palmer because the west Londoners had been thumped 5-0 on the Emirates, and there are doubts over the Englishman’s standing for the upcoming contest. With that in thoughts, this is the group Maresca might choose for Arsenal’s go to this weekend.
GK: Robert Sanchez – The Spaniard was drawn into committing one other error final weekend, nevertheless it appears as if Maresca will proceed to stay by Sanchez, who should take pleasure in an uptick in type quickly.
RB: Reece James – There may very well be a reshuffle within the backline given Malo Gusto’s woes at Outdated Trafford final weekend. James is definitely higher suited to taking on extra superior positions given his depraved crossing supply and spectacular ball-striking.
CB: Wesley Fofana – The aggressive French defender will meet hearth with hearth as he faces up towards former teammate Kai Havertz on Sunday. Fofana was out injured when Chelsea succumbed to a beating in north London the final time these two met.
CB: Levi Colwill – Colwill was additionally absent from April’s 5-0 battering however has been a relentless in Maresca’s Premier League XI this season. He’ll be tasked with offering help down the left with Bukayo Saka persevering with to function Arsenal’s principal man.
LB: Marc Cucurella – Cucurella’s sound efficiency one-on-one towards Saka within the Euro 2024 last might persuade the Chelsea boss to utilise him in a specialist function on Sunday.
CM: Moises Caicedo – He’ll need to exhibit his much-improved type on the large event once more this weekend. Caicedo was excellent within the 1-1 draw at Man Utd.
CM: Romeo Lavia – Lavia enhances Caicedo fantastically, and the pair have established a wholesome dynamic in the course of the park. Enzo Fernandez’s assist-laden show towards Noah on Thursday won’t be sufficient to convey him again into the group.
RM: Noni Madueke – Madueke’s enduring a little bit of a lull after a superb begin to the season, and he has his work reduce out if he is to get the higher of one-on-one grasp Jurrien Timber this weekend.
AM: Cole Palmer – Palmer hasn’t achieved a lot coaching within the build-up to Sunday’s recreation after he was caught by Lisandro Martinez late on in final weekend’s draw at United. Nevertheless, Maresca has supplied optimism on his standing for Sunday and it would be a shock to see him neglected.
LM: Pedro Neto – The midweek common earned a breather on Thursday which might level in direction of one other Premier League begin on Sunday. Neto has usurped Jadon Sancho within the pecking order.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – The previous Villarreal ahead is proving his price in Chelsea colors, and he’ll be key to a Blues triumph on Sunday. He continues to blossom in tandem with Palmer, who’s excellent at selecting out the prepared Jackson in behind.
