Chelsea will be without two key men against Arsenal

Chelsea will be without two key players when they face Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.

The Blues are fully aware of the importance of this fixture. Victory is essential for their ambitions, while Arsenal equally cannot afford defeat, heightening the tension surrounding a contest between two direct rivals with significant objectives. Both sides have had a full week to prepare, leaving little room for fatigue to be cited as an excuse.

In the reverse fixture, Chelsea may feel they could have secured a positive result had they not been reduced to ten men. However, they have since had two further opportunities to overcome Arsenal this season and were unsuccessful on both occasions. That record will add further motivation as they seek to alter the narrative in this latest encounter.

Rosenior targeting response

Liam Rosenior continues to familiarise himself with his squad and refine his approach. Having already been beaten twice by Arsenal, he will be determined to demonstrate progress and resilience in this fixture. The manager has been backed to guide Chelsea into the top four, and securing a result in such a high-profile match could prove pivotal in keeping them in contention for that objective.