The dilemma of choosing between Eze and Odegaard is a dilemma of which strategy to follow against Chelsea

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

It is another London derby day, with the capital's heavyweights Arsenal and Chelsea renewing their rivalry at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea are fighting for a top-five slot, embroiled in a tough battle with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United. Arsenal, meanwhile, are desperate not to drop any more points at the summit, with Manchester City breathing down their neck.

That said, the Gunners remain unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions in this fixture and Chelsea have not beaten us since August 2021. 

Since taking over not so long ago, Rosenior has given this Chelsea side a genuine new lease of life. They look rejuvenated and have gone unbeaten in their last six league outings. 

Even so, for all their recent resilience in the league, they have already fallen to Arsenal twice this calendar year, the Gunners knocking them out of the Carabao Cup semi-finals after beating them home and away.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping to make it three from three against Rosenior, though to do so, the Spanish tactician must manage without some key personnel.

Injured Mikel Merino is of course out of this one whilst Kai Havertz and Max Dowman, who are back from injury, could yet feature, but neither is likely to be risked.

Even so, Arteta can still assemble a formidable line-up, and could well field this team:

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

The inclusion of Eze will point towards a more aggressive and full of tempo start for Arsenal in the game as it transpired at Tottenham last time out.

Odegaard will likely come on later in the game to instil more control.

Chelsea, for their part, go to north London without several key figures of their own; Wesley Fofana, Estevao and Marc Cucurella are all absent, and will certainly need a strong performance and a measure of fortune to contain this Arsenal side.

All that said, Viktor Gyokeres is undoubtedly the player to watch. In the kind of form he is currently in (a brace against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend) taking him to five goals since the end of January, Chelsea's defenders face a stern examination at the Emirates.