LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Starting lineups for the English Premier League clash between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with both teams hoping to land all three points in their push to win the title this season.
Chelsea v Arsenal: Watch Live on NBCSports and Live Soccer
“It’s a massive game for us and we just want to focus on the game, as I did on the 999 before,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said ahead of the clash.
“What you learn with experience is that you suffer when you don’t prepare well so I have enough experience now to focus on what’s important.”
Chelsea have been very impressive at home, but manager Jose Mourinho isn’t focus on that.
“I don’t care about the [home] record, I just care about points and good performances and to make our fans happy,” he said.
“That’s our objective. Arsenal are one of the top teams in the country so when two of these teams play each other it’s normal to have expectation.”
Meanwhile, in team news, midfielder Tomas Rosicky has passed a fitness test on his ankle and has started for Arsenal, while January signing Kim Kallstrom has been named on the bench.
Mourinho, in the meantime, has named David Luiz in his Chelsea midfield, while Samuel Eto’o leads the attacking line, with Fernando Torres on the bench.
Chelsea v Arsenal
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Matic, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard, Eto’o. Subs: Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Salah, Ba, Schwarzer, Kalas.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. Subs: Vermaelen, Flamini, Fabianski, Sanogo, Jenkinson, Kallstrom, Gnabry.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
