Chelsea make the short trip across London on Tuesday night to face Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Blues travel to the Emirates Stadium this evening as huge underdogs, with the London rivals going through very different seasons so far.
For Chelsea, they sit 12th in the league table and have lost five straight games across all competitions since Frank Lampard was appointed interim manager until the end of the season.
Despite Arsenal’s recent blip, they’ve played some eye-catching football this campaign and are battling Manchester City for the league title. In fact, Mikel Arteta’s side will return to the top of the table with a win tonight.
The Chelsea Chronicle has predicted the starting XI which Lampard may field against Arsenal. It includes three changes from the side that lost 2-0 against Brentford last week.
GK and defence
It looks like Lampard is sticking with Kepa Arrizabalaga as the number one goalkeeper from now until the end of the season.
We’ve predicted a back three to try keep a potent Arsenal attack quiet.
Wesley Fofana and Thiago Silva, who are two of the rare positives in Chelsea’s season, could start in defence.
They may be joined by £35million (BBC) centre-back Benoit Badiashile, who replaces Trevoh Chalobah in one of three changes.
Lampard has started Badiashile in just one of his opening five games in charge, but surely he’ll soon cave into the popular demand from supporters for the impressive defender to play.
Midfield
We’re predicting the same wing-back pairing of Cesar Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell. Of course, the absence of injured star Reece James could be massive against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic drops out of the side to make room for a midfield pivot of Enzo Fernandez and N’Golo Kante.
We’ve seen Kante playing as an advanced midfielder in the past couple of games, but Chelsea are going to need his defensive excellence to cope with tonight’s opponents.
Attack
Joao Felix could be promoted from the bench to the starting line-up this evening. We’ve got him operating as an inverted winger alongside Raheem Sterling.
That would mean Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher both dropping out for a change in personnel.
Finally, Kai Havertz could return to lead the line.
The German attacker was absent recently due to injury so we’re not 100 per cent sure he’s ready to start, but Lampard did give a hint about his return yesterday. Lampard claimed Havertz was “in contention” to face Arsenal.
Predicted Chelsea line-up
Kepa
Fofana Silva Badiashile
Azpilicueta Kante Fernandez Chilwell
Felix Havertz Sterling
IN: Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, Kai Havertz
OUT: Trevoh Chalobah, Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher