PL: Arsenal v Chelsea

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With the PSV second leg complete and Arsenal into the Champions League quarter-finals, Mikel Arteta will need to refocus his squad on matters closer to home. It’s a London Derby on Sunday as Arsenal host Chelsea.

With the Premier League challenge effectively over, Arsenal will need to solidify their hold on second place. A few more draws, and they will find themselves in a dog fight for the top four. One way to ease the nerves? Beat the Blues.

In the return fixture, Arsenal managed a draw at Stamford Bridge. The return of Gabriel Martinelli adds a very welcome forward option to the Gunners, and it will be interesting to see if he returns to the starting lineup. Mikel Merino has continued in the center forward role, but does Gabby’s return potentially mean Leandro Trossard will slide into the middle of the attack? One thing is for sure: It will be nice to have another option.

Chelsea, whose own title challenge ended a few months ago, have struggled of late and find themselves in fourth place. Recent returns of Reece James and Wesley Fofana will add some stability to a backline that has not been convincing. Starman Cole Palmer has now gone nine games without scoring. They also have a Conference League match Thursday night, but that doesn’t figure to impact their squad for Sunday. Enzo Maresca will view this game as a chance to solidify his team’s hold on the top four and would like nothing more than to get all three points.

Do Arsenal have the resiliency to get back to winning ways despite a disappointing league campaign? Or will Chelsea’s individual quality win out and add more stress to the Gunners? Join us Sunday morning for breakfast and beers, and remind all involved that London was, is, and always will be...Red.

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