Chelsea predicted line-up vs Arsenal: mass changes made from last match as £100m man axed

Chelsea will host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, and as the football gods will have it, this is the final game before the last international break of the year. Chelsea have closed the gap and go into the game as slight favourites, sitting just above Arsenal in the league table.

Not many would have predicted this when the Blues decided to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino and hire Enzo Maresca, but it’s testament to how good he is that Chelsea are competing for European football right from the first weeks of the league season.

What the former Leicester City boss has been successful at is generating competition within a squad of young players and improving those who showed promise last season. However, there has been one criticism of Maresca: his inability to secure wins against the top sides. This game against Arsenal, who have suffered consecutive defeats, will tell us how far this Chelsea team can really go. With that in mind, here is the starting eleven we anticipate the Chelsea boss will name.

Goalkeeper and Defenders

Robert Sánchez has come under pressure in the last few games, but he retains the backing of the technical team and his manager. The defence, which has seen the return of Reece James, is looking solid, so the Chelsea captain will likely keep his place, playing as a left-back. Malo Gusto, with a more complicated role, will come in at right-back, and the two central defenders will be Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana.

Midfielders

The midfield will feature Moisés Caicedo, who is proving to be a massive asset to the team, justifying the investment Chelsea made in him. However, this is where it gets tricky: Romeo Lavia, despite a poor performance against Manchester United, is likely to keep his spot. This means that £100 million signing Enzo Fernández will likely remain on the bench, despite registering three assists in the first half against Noah in the Conference League. The final midfield slot will be taken by Cole Palmer, who is expected to play in the No. 10 role. Chelsea have a galaxy of stars in midfield, meaning even João Félix may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Forwards

The forward line will feature Noni Madueke, who has become a favourite at the club due to his excellent performances both offensively and defensively, alongside Pedro Neto, who has edged out Jadon Sancho before his recent illness and injury. The central striker role will be taken by Nicolás Jackson, who is undoubtedly the club's lead striker this season.

Predicted lineup

Sánchez, Gusto, James, Colwill, Fofana, Caicedo, Lavia, Palmer, Madueke, Neto, Jackson.