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Arsenal vs Chelsea: Match preview, lineup predictions, and importance of victory for title hopes.

Arsenal's great defense will have it all to do against an unpredictable Chelsea side on Tuesday when both sides meet at the Emirates. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Arsenal vs. Chelsea
Emirates Stadium
8:00pm

Arsenal will host Chelsea on Tuesday night, knowing that a win will take them four points clear of Manchester City, with the champions having two games in hand.

You don’t count points you haven’t won. Arsenal would be in the driving seat with four games to go if they managed to beat Chelsea, and, except Liverpool goes on the rampage, winning every game by wide margins, Arsenal would hold the advantage on goal difference.

Chelsea lost the FA Cup semi-final clash at Wembley against holders Manchester City, leaving them with absolutely nothing to fight for outside pride and a potential 7th-place finish, which, as things stand, could guarantee Conference League football.

Chelsea has a backlog of games to play, starting with this one at the Emirates, and if recent results against the top sides are anything to go by, the Blues could give Arsenal lots of problems as the Gunners try to steer clear of the Cityzens.

Chelsea could be without Cole Palmer, who couldn’t train due to illness; he will face a late fitness test to see if he can continue his great run this season. Noni Madueke has been the man showing up beside the indisposed Palmer; expect him to get the nod to start.

How will Arsenal line up? The Gunners will keep their shape in defense, with former Blues players Jorginho and Kai Havertz both taking up different roles in the starting eleven. The German playmaker will lead the line, with Gabriel Jesus set to start from the bench.

Bukayo Saka is begging for rest, but he can’t get any yet. Martin Odegaard scored on Saturday; he is the highest-chance creator in the Arsenal midfield, and he will be quite useful against Mauricio Pochettino’s men on Tuesday night.

Chelsea doesn’t have a lot to lose; Raheem Sterling could be restored to the starting line-up in place of Palmer. Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo will be immense in the middle of the park; they could have Thomas Partey and Declan Rice to deal with should Mikel Arteta choose to activate his big boys.

There are no two ways about it: Arsenal must beat Chelsea to keep title hopes alive, while the Blues must stop the rot against the Gunners; they have struggled against Arsenal in the last five fixtures involving the two. Chelsea will take a point like they did in the reverse fixture; a draw won’t be enough for Arsenal.