PREVIEW: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Arsenal will face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for their matchday 34 fixture. The Gunners have just lost their Premier League lead and will fight to reclaim the top spot. Elsewhere, the Blues will be looking for a reaction after a run of poor results in all competitions.
The Gunners' title chase is getting tougher for them. Mikel Arteta's side faced their biggest rivals this season and lost 1-4 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Their aim for Tuesday's game is to get back to the top and forget their last game.
"It took us a while to get over what happened at the Etihad. We're at home, a London derby, put things right. It was a good reality check as well, in the way they raised the level and we could not step to that level. We still have the nicest part of the season to play with five games to go," Arteta said.
Moreover, the Premier League trophy is Arsenal's last hope as they were knocked out of the Europa League in March and cannot challenge for another title despite their superb season.
Arsenal are in second place on 75 points just one point behind Guardiola's side while Chelsea are in a languishing 12th place on 39 points. The Blues want to prove that their financial efforts have not been in vain and that they really deserve to keep climbing the table.
Chelsea are on a very poor run of results despite the recent changes made by the board. They have lost their last five games in all competitions. This will be the sixth match in charge of Frank Lampard, who was appointed as caretaker manager in April.
He's still not been able to turn things around at Chelsea and will be looking for a reaction against a team the coach personally admires.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard gave a press conference and praised the Gunners: "They're still very much in the hunt to win the Premier League, they're a fantastic team who have had a great season," he told reporters on Monday.
Furthermore, the 44-year-old compared the two teams ahead of Tuesday's clash: "I think it's interesting to compare the Arsenal story with ours. I remember playing Mikel's early teams and sometimes it was a five [at the back], sometimes a four. Now you see they have a very clear identity in the way they play and a strong vision in terms of recruitment and the profile of player," he added.
There is some good news for Chelsea. Kai Havertz could return to action in Tuesday's clash. The German suffered a knee injury in the first leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid but Lampard provided an update at a press conference. "Havertz is in contention for the game, he's trained this week. We'll see who starts," he said.
Moreover, the coach gave some details about the possible starting eleven: "Possibly Auba's past with Arsenal might come into my thinking, because we all think a player going back to their old club gives a certain motivation."
Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Jorginho could face their former clubs in this match. The Italian left Stamford Bridge and joined the Gunners in January due to a lack of playing time.
"I like Jorgi, he's a very good player and was part of the team that went on to win the Champions League, a central figure in it I think. He’s a good personality in the dressing room to drive the team, a good player and if he plays he's just another good player in that squad," Lampard said when asked about the Arsenal midfielder.
Meanwhile, Arteta's men are keen to prove that they are unstoppable this season and that they are capable of lifting the Premier League trophy. The Spaniard warned his players that the match against the Blues will not be easy and that they will have to show their best performances to win the three points.
"They are going to try to come to the Emirates to beat us. They have a great manager and exceptional players, so it's very difficult to predict what they will do because they can play in various ways with different players and different qualities as well.
"It's going to be a very different game. It's a London derby and they have something to prove, and we have something to prove," Arteta concluded.
Chelsea will be without Reece James, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, Mason Mount and Armando Broja. On the other hand, Arsenal cannot count on Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny, both with knee injuries.
The last match between the two teams was played on 6th November 2022 at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal won 1-0. Gabriel Magalhaes scored the winner in the 63rd minute to give his team all three points.
Chelsea have lost their last five games in all competitions - against Wolves, Real Madrid (two matches in Champions League), Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have won just one of their last five matches - against Leeds United, have drawn three - against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, and have lost their last Premier League match against Manchester City.
The Gunners have won three of the last five games they have played against the Blues and Lampard's side have won the remaining two. There have been no draws.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR: Andre Marriner
Game: Arsenal vs Chelsea
Location: Emirates Stadium
Time: 2nd May 2023, 21.00 CEST