Key events
Pre-match reading
Here’s Jacob Steinberg on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Here’s Jonathan Wilson on Graham Potter.
And here’s John Brewin on Mikel Arteta.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Chelsea v Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. This has been, if not the biggest, then certainly the most important London derby of the 21st century. We’ve had a Champions League quarter-final, a Europa League final, three FA Cup finals, a League Cup final, umpteen important league matches and enough needle to prick a contrived metaphor.
The most memorable games tend to happen after Christmas, but today is still pretty darned important for both sides – especially Arsenal, who would love to make another statement of title-winning intent.
Away form is likely to determine whether they can maintain their unlikely title challenge. There have been one or two wobbles lately, and this is arguably their biggest test of the season so far. But Arsenal have won their last two games at Stamford Bridge, the first time that has happened since 1997, so they should travel with confidence – if also a bit of trepidation about what Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s scriptwriter has in mind.
Chelsea have started pretty well under Graham Potter, though they were thrillingly ambushed by Brighton last week and there is a growing feeling that maybe Potter has too many options for his own good. He has changed personnel and formation in almost every game since he first put on a black polo neck jumper.
Arsenal are the opposite, settled and happy in their Pepball formation. And if they win today, they’ll go back above Team Pep.
Kick off 12pm.