TEAM NEWS: Torres starts for Chelsea against unchanged Arsenal

20 Jan 2013 12:40:00

Theo Walcott must be content with a place on the right flank for the visiting Gunners while Blues forward Demba Ba is dropped despite scoring in midweek against Southampton

Fernando Torres starts for Chelsea with Demba Ba on the bench as the Blues host Arsenal in the Premier League.

For the Gunners, as Goal.com exclusively revealed earlier on Sunday, Theo Walcott celebrates the signing of his new contract by starting on the right flank in an unchanged XI.

Home boss Rafa Benitez, in the absence of John Obi Mikel, plays Ramires and Frank Lampard in the centre of midfield against a youthful Arsenal trio of Francis Coquelin, Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere, the latter the more advanced of the three.

Despite scoring his third goal in four games in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Southampton in midweek, new signing Ba is withdrawn in favour of the struggling Torres, with David Luiz dropped from the matchday squad in the only other change from Wednesday's game. Recovering captain John Terry is again a substitute.

The north Londoners are unchanged in their starting XI but Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both absent due to illness.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres.

Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Bertrand, Ake, Marin, Ba.

Arsenal starting XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Coquelin, Wilshere, Diaby; Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla.

Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Santos, Frimpong, Ramsey, Arshavin.