Chelsea host Arsenal on Sunday, so HITC Football has taken a look at a combined XI. There are places for Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount in our line-up, but not for Raheem Sterling.
The Gunners travel from north to west London this weekend looking to stay atop the table for another week. A dominant 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest kept Mikel Arteta’s men above Manchester City by two points. It was also their 10th win over 12 games this season.
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No team other than Arsenal has recorded a double-digit tally for wins so far this term, with Manchester City the only one with nine. Chelsea have clinched all three points in just six of their 12 fixtures so far. Three draws for a total of 21 points has the Blues sixth in the table.
Half of Chelsea’s wins and two draws to date have come at Stamford Bridge, with Graham Potter’s side unbeaten at home. Yet the Blues only rank 11th in the Premier League home form table. Arsenal are the best team on the road with four wins and one draw to one loss.
Arteta will want to maintain his team’s record on the road when the Gunners travel across the capital. A win would also be a third successive triumph at Stamford Bridge for Arsenal. The Emirates Stadium natives beat Chelsea 0-1 and 2-4 in their past two visits to the Blues.
So, ahead of Arsenal’s latest trip to the Bridge trying to move 14 points clear of their rivals, HITC Football has taken a look at a combined XI of Potter’s Chelsea and Arteta’s Gunners…
Aaron Ramsdale (GK): Arsenal star could be England’s No.1 in Qatar this winter
Aaron Ramsdale is creating a case to be England’s No.1 at the World Cup in Qatar. The 24-year-old has kept five clean sheets in his 12 Premier League games this term. He has also made a number of crucial saves, putting his body on the line to protect the Gunners’ goal.
Ben White (RB): Arsenal ace earns a combined XI place with Chelsea’s James injured
If Reece James was fit, he would make our combined Chelsea and Arsenal XI. But with the England ace recovering from knee ligament damage, Ben White gets the spot. He may also earn the spot in the Three Lions’ World Cup set-up after impressing with a box-to-box role.
William Saliba (CB): A composed and confident presence in Arsenal’s defence
William Saliba has stepped into Arsenal’s defence this season and regularly offered a calm and confident presence. A few errors have crept in over recent weeks, but the Frenchman responded against Nottingham Forest. He handled the Reds’ threat in behind throughout.
Thiago Silva (CB): The Brazilian keeps his younger compatriot out of our XI
Thiago Silva keeps his younger compatriot across the capital, Gabriel Magalhaes, out of our combined XI. Chelsea’s 38-year-old rock is showing his age is just a number with the most minutes by any Blues player (900). He has also offered a raft of crucial one-on-one tackles.
Ben Chilwell (LB): Chelsea spending big for Cucurella has not totally paid off yet
Chelsea paid Brighton & Hove Albion £62m to sign Marc Cucurella from Potter’s former side this August. Yet Ben Chilwell makes our combined XI as the costly Spaniard has been costly to the Blues’ form in recent weeks. Brighton’s pressure particularly proved to be too much.
Thomas Partey (CDM): Ghanaian gives Arteta a crucial defensive presence
Thomas Partey is crucial to Arsenal’s table-topping start to the term and will be vital when Arteta’s XI visit Chelsea. The Ghanaian provides the Gunners with a key defensive presence in the engine room. He is also finally scoring goals with his shots from the edge of the area.
Granit Xhaka (CDM): A strong Player of the Season contender at Emirates Stadium
Granit Xhaka is a strong contender to win the Gunners’ Player of the Season award after a third of the term. The Swiss has been a revelation in Arteta’s team with a greater freedom to push up the pitch. His runs from deeper areas could cause Chelsea problems on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka (RM): England breathes a sigh of relief over the Arsenal star’s injury
England have breathed a sigh of relief over Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star limped off in the early stages against Nottingham Forest. The Sun notes that the Gunners are ‘cautiously optimistic’ the dynamic winger did not suffer a serious ankle injury and could face Chelsea.
Mason Mount (CAM): Arsenal will hope to keep the Chelsea ace quiet on Sunday
Arsenal will hope they can be the latest team to keep Mount quiet when they visit Chelsea. The England midfielder can ghost through matches without making much of an impact. But the 23-year-old is also able to pull the strings when given enough time to grow into games.
Gabriel Martinelli (LM): Arsenal star gets a combined XI spot over Chelsea’s Sterling
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli earns the left-wing spot in our combined XI over Chelsea’s Sterling. The Brazilian makes an immediate difference in games and is a consistent thorn in teams’ sides. While the England attacker is currently struggling to make his chances count.
Gabriel Jesus (ST): The Brazilian is justifying Arteta’s decision to pay Aubameyang off
Gabriel Jesus is justifying Arteta’s decision to pay Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave this January. The Times reported the Gunners paid the Gabon forward £7m to end his £350k-a-week contract. He then joined Barcelona, who later sold the attacker to Chelsea for £12m.
Arsenal could have regretted letting Aubameyang leave when they failed to qualify for the Champions League last season. But Jesus has shone since a £45m move from Manchester City, pulling defences apart with his determined approach even when goals do not follow.
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