Chelsea v Arsenal: Premier League – live | Premier League

Does this mark a return to the days of Sky Sports’ ‘GRAND SLAM SUNDAY’ branding? Let’s hope so.

Barring a 3-0 win at Preston in the Carabao Cup, it’s been a lean old run for Arsenal since the previous international break – especially away from home. The Gunners have blanked at Bournemouth, Inter and Newcastle, a streak of defeats that has prompted questions over Mikel Arteta’s tactics and the team’s general fluency.

Will the return of Ødegaard prove panacea for all those problems? Barney Ronay doubts it.

We’re into the final 30 minutes of the earlier kick-offs:

So everyone starts, injury doubt or not! Palmer is probably not a huge surprise. Maresca has played his cards fairly close to his chest in recent press conferences when asked about the playmaker’s fitness and was helped by the fact Palmer isn’t in Chelsea’s Conference League squad. He should be fit and firing to take centre-stage today. Reece James drops to the Blues’ bench with Cucurella preferred and Gusto going to right-back.

The bigger worry is over Arsenal’s injured contingent, with Declan Rice apparently playing despite a broken toe and Ødegaard only just back from a long-standing ankle issue.

The positive upshot for both sides – and the neutrals – is two benches packed with potential game-changers: Félix, Nkunku, Trossard, Jesus … oooft.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, James, Tosin, Veiga, Fernandez, Mudryk, J. Felix, Nkunku.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Partey, Ødegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.

With official team news due at 3.15pm, we await news on several key midfielders. Arsenal fans will be desperate to see Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard. Word is both players have arrived at Stamford Bridge, along with Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino who both picked up knocks in Milan in midweek.

Chelsea’s concerns centre around Cole Palmer, who was on the end of a bash from Lisandro Martinez at Manchester United last weekend, but the general consensus seems to be that Palmer will be fine. He’d arguably be the biggest miss of the lot.

Here’s some pre-match reading for you.

It’s the headline game of the weekend without doubt, and a rarity in being a clash between two elite teams that is so difficult to predict. There are cases to be made for both sides. Chelsea, one of the Premier League’s in-form sides, are fresh off an 8-0 victory and have built renewed hope under Enzo Maresca of late; although Arsenal, albeit they have been disjointed and tetchy of late, have the pedigree of having pushed for the title in the past two seasons – during which time Chelsea finished down in mid-table.

There are some mouthwatering individual contests to observe that will decide the contest. Will Nicolas Jackson win the battle against William Saliba? Can Declan Rice shackle Cole Palmer (if the latter is fit)? And could Chelsea’s new-look, all-action midfield rule the roost or will Martin Ødegaard (if fit) provide the Gunners a timely boost in that area?

Official team news is coming up soon, kick-off is at 4.30pm GMT (UK time). Should be a good’un.