Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen is back at the heart of defence and will partner last weekend’s goal-scoring hero Laurent Koscielny, with Per Mertesacker dropping to the bench. Olivier Giroud is also amongst the substitutes, despite scoring his first Gunners’ goal against Coventry on Wednesday night. There are also starts for Mannone in goal, Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey, while Arsene Wenger has a strong looking bench which includes contract-rebel Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Frank Lampard is surprise inclusion on the bench for Chelsea, while Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata all start. Captain John Terry’s FA ban is yet to start and he plays.
LINE-UPS
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla, Ramsey, Gervinho, Podolski.
Subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Djourou, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Subs: Romeu, Lampard, Moses, Turnbull, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.