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April 21, 2012 5:15 PM IST
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee:‬ M. Dean‎
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Arsenal - Chelsea Preview: The Blues have won three of their last six games away to the Gunners

Hosts hold a seven point lead over the visitors in the race for a top four position but a loss would let not just Di Matteo's side back into the hunt but also Spurs and Newcastle

By Jay Jaffa

More On :  Arsenal, Chelsea FC, Arsenal vs Chelsea FC
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL

Szczesny
Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos
Ramsey, Song, Rosicky
Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho
CHELSEA

Cech
Bosingwa, Cahill, Terry, Cole
Lampard, Essien
Ramires, Mata, Sturridge
Torres

They may have the more demanding schedule but Chelsea arrive with a far lighter injury list than their hosts.

The Gunners have lost Mikel Arteta for the rest of the season with an ankle injury and he joins long-term absentees Per Mertesacker (ankle), Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Emmanuel Frimpong (knee).

There is better news for Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby who are both expected to shake off knocks to make themselves available for the London derby, but Yossi Benayoun is ineligible because of his loan deal from the Blues.

Chelsea will have to get by without Branislav Ivanovic who will finish his three-game suspension after this clash.

On the injury front, David Luiz is expected to miss another week with a hamstring injury sustained in the FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham. Ryan Bertrand (calf) and Oriel Romeu (illness) could both make the matchday squad.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Arsenal have won 12, drawn two and lost two of their last 16 games at the Emirates.
  • The Gunners will be without Mikel Arteta for the remainder of the season and have not won a Premier League game without him this season.
  • Robin van Persie has scored against 17 of the 19 Premier League clubs this campaign.
  • The Dutch striker notched a hat-trick in the 5-3 reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, where Arsenal became the first side since Liverpool in 1996 to put five past Chelsea.
  • Chelsea have only won three of their last 19 trips to Arsenal but those have all come in their last six visits.
  • The Blues have conceded more goals (18) in the final 15 minutes than any other club in the Premier League.
  • Didier Drogba (right) has scored eight Premier League goals against the Gunners.

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Head to Head
English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 20-Jan-2013 Chelsea FC 2 - Arsenal 1
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 29-Sep-2012 Arsenal 1 - Chelsea FC 2
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 21-Apr-2012 Arsenal 0 - Chelsea FC 0
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 29-Oct-2011 Chelsea FC 3 - Arsenal 5
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 28-Dec-2010 Arsenal 3 - Chelsea FC 1
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Last Five Matches
Arsenal
19-May-2013Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
15-May-2013Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
04-May-2013QPR 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
28-Apr-2013Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 1EPL
20-Apr-2013Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
Chelsea FC
24-May-2013Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester City 4FR
19-May-2013Chelsea FC 2 - Everton 1EPL
16-May-2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2EL
11-May-2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
09-May-2013Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
3Bacary SagnaDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
6Laurent KoscielnyDefender
28Kieran GibbsDefender
7Tomas RosickyMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
20Robin van PersieStriker
14Theo WalcottStriker
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
21Lukasz FabianskiGoalkeeper
27Andre SantosDefender
20Johan DjourouDefender
2A. DiabyMidfielder
35Francis CoquelinMidfielder
27GervinhoStriker
29Marouane ChamakhStriker
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
19José BosingwaDefender
24Gary CahillDefender
26John TerryDefender
34Ryan BertrandDefender
5Michael EssienMidfielder
6Oriol RomeuMidfielder
15Florent MaloudaMidfielder
9Fernando TorresStriker
21Salomon KalouStriker
15Daniel SturridgeStriker
22Ross TurnbullGoalkeeper
3Ashley ColeDefender
19Paulo FerreiraDefender
8Frank LampardMidfielder
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
14Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
10Juan MataStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0