Chelsea Put Their Unbeaten Run on the Line Against Arsenal
The champions have not lost a league game all season and sit top; Arsenal arrive 13th but with the chances to trouble them.
Thirteen. That is the number Chelsea carry into this derby: thirteen league games unbeaten, 37 points from 13, and a five-point cushion on what their chances alone deserved. Arsenal are 13th with 15 points from 12, yet third on expected points — 20.2 earned by the quality of their play against 15 banked. They are wasting chances, and a team that does that against Chelsea usually pays.
Chelsea are without Nacho Valera, Billy Laing and Jairzinho through injury, and several expected starters are tired. Arsenal miss Oded Ya'acov, Josh Stone and Niki Wolland. The last three meetings all went Chelsea's way, including 4-0 in February. Watch Roberto Baggio against Oluwaseun Duru: pace 17 against 12. Ibrahim Ramadan, once of Arsenal, faces Jack Bradford.