Arsenal vs Chelsea, Premier League 2018-19: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?
What is it?
It's a Premier League match in the 23rd round of this season's fixtures between fifth-placed Arsenal and Chelsea who are in fourth.
When is it?
Saturday, January 19 at The Emirates.
What time is kick-off?
It's the Saturday 'teatime special', beginning at 5.30pm.
What TV channel is it on?
You can watch this one on BT Sport 1 or BT Sport 4K UHD for the fancy dans. We will also have minute-by-minute coverage, right here on this very page on the Telegraph Sport website with JJ Bull's live blog.
What is the team news?
Arsenal have two long-term casualties, Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding, both of whom will not play again this season. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who broke a metatarsal on Dec 22, should be back in a fortnight. Everyone else is fit, including Mesut Özil, who is hopeful of a recall after missing out since Boxing Day with injury and Unai Emery's lack of faith in him.
Provisional squad Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Bellerin, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Özil, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.
Chelsea may do away with the false No9 they have used in recent weeks and play a genuine centre-forward, either Olivier Giroud against his old club or Alvaro Morata despite his negotiations over a transfer to Atlético Madrid. But Maurizio Sarri may very well persevere with Eden Hazard through the middle.
Chelsea's only long-term injury absentee is Marco van Ginkel who ruptured his cruciate ligament last summer. Ruben Loftus-Cheek will miss the match with a back problem.
Provisional squad Kepa, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Hazard, Pedro, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Morata, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi.
What are the current standings?
What are they saying?
Unai Emerywas questioned about whether he was planning to recall Mesut Özil who was fit for last week's defeat at West Ham United but was left out of the matchday squad.
"I've spoken to him because I want consistency," he said.
He's had some injuries and these injuries mean that sometimes he is okay and sometimes he isn't okay. I want every player to give the same work everyday to be OK for every match. With Mesut it's the same.
"He didn't play the last matches but to me he's just like any other player. This Saturday he can be with us if he's OK. Now? He's training consistently with his work over the past two weeks and I think he can be.
Maurizio Sarri spent his Friday press conference largely being asked about transfers:
"I am not frustrated at the moment," he said about the lack of recruits and said, when asked to clarify how close he was to a deal with Gonzalo Higuaín: "I don't know. I want to be clear, because I cannot help you."
The head coach confirmed that Alvaro Morata is available to face Arsenal and that the rumours are part of the transfer window.
"For him I think it's a very difficult moment, but it's normal for a player in January to be in the market," Sarri said.
"And so I think he's available [to play]. And then like in the last match I can choose something different."
What are the best odds?
Arsenal 21-10
Chelsea 16-11
Draw 13-5
What's our prediction?
Arsenal have earned only one point from their past four away games but their home form continues to be solid at the Emirates where they are unbeaten in 10 since the opening day defeat by Manchester City. Chelsea have won their last three away games and have lost only once in the league at the Emirates since 2010. Promises to be a tight match but we hazard our shirts on Chelsea exploiting Arsenal's defensive problems to edge it. Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea.
