Arsenal fans have bitter memories of their 2-0 loss to Chelsea earlier in the year when Diego Costa borderline-brutalized several of their players and hardly received a single card from the referees. Now that the match is at Emirates Stadium this weekend, the Gunners are seeking revenge.
Payback for the Gunners shouldn’t be hard to come by now that star striker Alexis Sanchez is fully recovered from his injury, as is Mesut Ozil.
With Leicester City currently in sole possession of first place with 47 points and Man City now ahead of them with 44 points but a +22 GD, Arsenal need a win to reclaim the top spot. A loss would leave them out of the top two for the first time since November while a draw would be good enough to claim second-place.
Here is the Arsenal predicted XI vs Chelsea:
GK Petr Cech
Perhaps the second time will be the charm for Cech against his former team.
DF Nacho
Nacho has played every match in the Premier League this year.
DF Laurent Koscielny
Koscielny has been waiting for a chance to get back at Diego Costa for months – now he gets his chance.
DF Per Mertesacker
Mertesacker has not been subbed out once this season.
DF Hector Bellerin
Bellerin is still going strong, not going anywhere.
MF Aaron Ramsey
Would Arsenal have a commanding lead in the Premier League if Ramsey hadn’t missed that stretch of games in November?
MF Flamini
Flamini has missed nearly half the season but someone has to play defensive midfield.
MF Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez has a reputation for making a big impact every time he returns from an injury. Arsenal could certainly use one of those this weekend.
MF Mesut Ozil
Ozil should be healthy too, and ready to continue his race to the Premier League Player of the Season award.
MF Joel Campbell
Though his lack of consistency remains an issue, Campbell is slowly but surely earning a permanent spot on the Arsenal first team.
FW Olivier Giroud
Mesut Ozil may get the praise, but Giroud does a pretty good job of getting the goals.
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