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Lukaku opens the scoring for Chelsea  - GETTY IMAGES

Lukaku opens the scoring for Chelsea – GETTY IMAGES

04:49 PM

60 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Saka makes way for Aubameyang who is still recovering from his bout of Covid. They clearly think/hope he has 30 minutes left in him.

04:47 PM

58 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

An Arsenal corner is a chance to break this second half out of it’s current limbo phase – Holding nearly does just that as he gets in a header from Mari’s (headed) pass. He was unmarked and should have got that on target.

04:45 PM

54 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea passing the ball around with ease and looking like they’re in second gear. They don’t have to push up, they’re sitting back and playing keep ball when they get the chance. It’s all rather simple for them. Arsenal are barely managing a huff and a puff at the moment, let alone putting the Chelsea defence under any meaningful pressure.

04:40 PM

51 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

BREAKING NEWS: Mendy makes a save.

Saka has a shot from the edge of the box that takes a slight deflection and the Chelsea keeper has to get a hand to it.

04:38 PM

49 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

As if to illustrate where this Arsenal side are the loudest cheer of the day occurs when Tierney chases down the ball and Mendy in the Chelsea goal. To be fair they haven’t had much else to cheer…

04:37 PM

48 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea knocking on the door as Havertz has a shot blocked inside the area.

04:36 PM

46 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea with more of the possession, Lukaku is again making a nuisance of himself but Leno in the Arsenal goal isn’t required to make a save.

It’s pouring down at the moment and having found defending the Chelsea waves in the first half hard the Arsenal backline will find it tougher in these conditions.

04:32 PM

45 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Cliche alert – but this is a big 45 minutes for Arsenal and Arteta. They’ve got Man City next match and there has to be a response this half.

They’re under way again at the Emirates.

04:25 PM

James has had the freedom of the Arsenal left side

04:20 PM

Niche stat

04:19 PM

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

It’s been difficult for a depleted Arsenal but the scoreline is a fair reflection on whats taken place at the Emirates over the past 45 or so minutes. Chelsea have been able to turn it on in the final third when needed and are toying with their hosts.

As it stands it’s hard to see the ‘crisis’ in north London ending anytime soon, and definitely not in the next hour.

04:17 PM

43 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

An Arsenal corner sees a half chance (at best) for Holding who then puts in what looks like a nasty (off the ground) challenge on Alonso. He sees yellow for his trouble.

04:14 PM

Chelsea toying with Arsenal

04:13 PM

41 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

From that incident Arsenal have a corner and, as with so much this half, Chelsea deal with it admirably.

04:12 PM

40 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

James and Saka come together in the Chelsea box, the Arsenal man goes down under the challenge and the referee waves play on. Var has a look and backs up the man in the middle.

04:11 PM

39 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Mount dinks a ball to the back post that glaces the head of Havertz and goes over the head of Lukaku. You feel they could score every time they get into the final third.

04:09 PM

36 mins: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

As much as Arsenal look slightly lost and at sea when Chelsea attack the visitors have played well. And the thing is you think they’re barely out of second gear.

04:05 PM

GOOOAAAALLLL!! Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Reece James created the first goal and scores the second.

Arsenal are scared witless every time the ball is played to the feet of Lukaku. It happens again as the hosts are sucked in and Havertz has the space to pick out the (again) unmarked and free as a bird James on the right of the area. The wing back picks his spot and scores a fine goal. BUT it was too easy for the visitors.

04:04 PM

33 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Better from the hosts. First Smith-Rowe had a chance to cut back to Lokonga then they manage to keep the ball in the final third – it doesn’t result in a chance but it’s all they can cheer about at the moment such is where they’re at.

04:01 PM

31 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

James is always free down the Chelsea right and again has a chance to play in Lukaku – the pass, however, is behind the debut man and Arsenal can breathe a sigh of relief.

03:59 PM

29 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Sambi Lokonga gives the home fans something to cheer about – he shoots from the edge of the box, but it goes wide.

03:58 PM

Here’s the opener

Arsenal fans look away now.

03:57 PM

26 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Lukaku (yep, him again…) turns Mari on the edge of the box and gets in a shot that is well blocked. He, if you hadn’t worked it out yet, looks good and hungry today.

03:56 PM

Romelu Lukaku, Lukaku, Lukaku

Doesn’t quite work, does it?

03:55 PM

23 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Chelsea had the chance to score exactly the same goal as the opener BUT for some reason James this time cuts inside and Arsenal can defend the threat. Lukaku utters words that I imagine aren’t along the lines of: “no worries, good idea, Reece.”

03:52 PM

18 mins: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

The crowd were buoyant before the goal, but since have become quiet and, I suggest, quite anxious such is the modern lot of being an Arsenal fan.

Chelsea passing the ball around well and seeing more possession, this could be a crucial next 20 mins or so until the break for the bosts.

03:48 PM

He’s back

Worth the wait…

03:45 PM

GOOOOOAAAAALL!! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Guess who….Yep, it’s Lukaku.

The Belgian dropped deep to lay the ball off and turned into to the box – meanwhile the ball was played wide to James who passed across the six-yard box and Lukaku had the easiest of tap ins. Simple and so effective.

03:44 PM

13 mins: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

As so often with these matches it’s been a cagey affair so far with little for the keepers to do. No stats so far but reckon Chelsea has seen the lion’s share of the ball and territory…but I could be wrong…

03:43 PM

Xhaka scores a try for Arsenal

XhakaXhaka

Xhaka

03:40 PM

9 mins: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

Tierney, another fine Arsenal player (see, Gooners, there are reasons to be positive…) gets in a good cross that results in a corner. Chelsea defend the set piece and it’s as you were.

03:38 PM

7 mins: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

James crosses in low but it’s behind Lukaku and Arsenal can clear.

The visitors seeing a bit more of the ball now, passing it around well.

03:36 PM

5 mins: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

Bright start from Smith-Rowe, he looks such a live wire, always alert, great feet. He earns a free kick after drawing a foul from Alonso.

03:34 PM

2 mins: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

Xhaka is down after getting his head in the way of a Reece James shot. He’s seen to by the medical team and after a minute is up. The hosts need a good game from him today.

03:32 PM

1 min: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

We’re under way in north London. Both sides in their traditional kits (a rarity these days…).

Arsenal start the marginally brighter of the two – direct and purposeful. Smith Rowe gets the first shot in and it’s a good one forcing Mendy into a decent save from distance.

03:27 PM

The teams are out on the pitch

And it’s as raucous as I’ve heard the Emirates in a long time (possibly ever?). The hosts might possibly need the crowd today.

03:26 PM

If Chelsea are to win the title…

…then “they need to beat Arsenal.”

It won[t shock you to learn those words came from the lips of Roy Keane who is Keaning on Sky Sports.

03:25 PM

Good omen for Arsenal

03:24 PM

Arsenal fans forgive me…

I know you don’t want reminding but the next game for Mikel Arteta’s men is against Manchester City…you think they will want/need at least a point today…

03:21 PM

Thomas Tuchel speaks…

On deciding to start Lukaku…

“Yes, we signed him to play not to come off the bench.”

On what he wants and expect from his new striker…

“I am curious, I am coaching him for the first time, I told him to be himself to play his game and we can adapt around him and from there we go…maybe he has some solutions we don’t know about.”

Romelu Lukaku is set to make his second debut for Chelsea 10 years after the first - SHUTTERSTOCK Romelu Lukaku is set to make his second debut for Chelsea 10 years after the first - SHUTTERSTOCK 

Romelu Lukaku is set to make his second debut for Chelsea 10 years after the first – SHUTTERSTOCK

03:18 PM

Mikel Arteta speaks….

On playing in front of a full house at the Emirates…

“It’s been a long time so I cannot wait to pay in front of them.”

On losing Ben White to Covid…

“It will happen – we have a few injuries, that’s life.”

On what he wants from his side…

“I want more energy, more motivation more passion. They know what we’re trying to build.We are not going to get any help so we have to do it ourselves.”

03:13 PM

Those teams in black and white

ARSENAL XI TO FACE CHELSEA: Leno, Cedric Soares, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Pepe

Subs: Aubameyang, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Chambers, Nelson, Elneny, Balogun, Kolasinac, Ramsdale

CHELSEA XI TO FACE ARSENAL: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Lukaku

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva, Kante, Werner, Chalobah, Zouma, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Ziyech

So Chelsea give a (second) debut to Lukaku as Arsenal’s new £50 million defender is ruled out due to, reportedly, Covid. Arsenal could have done without that. Aubameyang starts on the bench as does new signing, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

While there’s already a lot of doom and gloom with Arsenal, it’s the opposite with Chelsea. The European champions bring in Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Reece James for Timo Werner, Trevoh Chalobah and Christian Pulisic, who has Covid. N’Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech are on the bench after picking up injuries in the Uefa Super Cup.

02:51 PM

The return of the full house

02:43 PM

Here be Arsenal

Huge cheers when Saka’s name was announced.

02:35 PM

Chelsea team news in…AND…

…Lukaku starts.

02:21 PM

Always good to know the hosts have turned up

01:47 PM

Some early team news

More problems for Arteta with summer signing Ben White ruled out of the game due to feeling ‘unwell’, but I think we can join the dots there. It means Arsenal with be missing Gabriel, White, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, and possibly one or more of their senior strikers.

09:31 AM

Have Chelsea ever been as strong favourites for this fixture?

Curiously, Chelsea have won just three of their last 14 matches against Arsenal in all competitions but there can be no doubt that the balance of power lies in their favour going into this afternoon’s game.

The Champions League winners are expected to give a second Chelsea debut to record £97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku, who will surely fancy his chances of unsettling an Arsenal defence who were ruffled by Brentford in their opening night defeat. Chelsea started with a comfortable home win over Crystal Palace, and will believe this is the kind of fixture they need to win if they are to overhaul Man City and win the league title.

If there is hope for Arsenal, it lies in the fact Mikel Arteta has guided them to three straight wins over Chelsea, including the 2020 FA Cup Final and a league double over their London rivals last season. Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge was doughty rather than sparkling, but the clean sheet they kept by matching up Chelsea’s 3-4-3 formation perhaps gives us a clue as to how Arteta will line up today. Arsenal could have Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in the starting line-up, but are without defender Gabriel, midfielder Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette. New signing Martin Odegaard is unavailable due to a visa issue but Aaron Ramsdale could be in the squad.

Chelsea are an even stronger proposition than those recent meetings, though. Trevoh Chalobah has settled in well in their back three, and as a unit they give precious little away to the opposition. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho protect their defence and they suffocate teams with aggressive, front-foot defending. At the top end of the pitch they have a luxurious collection of attacking talents, spearheaded now by Lukaku, but could be without Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic for this one. The American tested positive for Covid this week.

Full team news on the way shortly.

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