Event of the Day: Arsenal versus Chelsea

Our event of the day is the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London. Arsenal are sixth in the league with 38 points from 21 games, while Chelsea sit in third place with 45 points, two less than Manchester United in second, but with a game in hand. The Gunners are unbeaten in the last eight games in all competitions, but have won only two of their league fixtures and drew four, including the 1-1 share of spoils away to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The Blues haven’t lost any of their six previous games in all competitions – five wins and one draw – and finished the year off with a 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City at home. With Manchester City far ahead in the league table, this is a duel of great importance in the fight for the Champions League spots. The first meeting of the London rivals in September ended in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, but Arsenal and Chelsea will face each other at least two more times this season, also in January, as they are paired in the EFL Cup two-leg semi-final. Injuries are piling up for the Gunners as they are without Santiago Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolašinac, with Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny doubtful for the London derby.

However, striker Alexis Sanchez is in excellent form with three goals scored in the last three games. In the Blues’ squad, the only unavailable player is defender David Luiz, but the visitors are quite stable in that department, having conceded only 14 times in 21 matches. Arsenal are very solid at home with eight wins from 10 games, while Chelsea have a strong away record with six triumphs from 10 of their outings. It promises to be a thrilling duel at the Emirates. 

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA clash of the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are top of the Eastern Conference with a 30-10 record and on a three-games winning run, while the Cavaliers are two places behind them in the table. In further NBA action, there is the duel of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee; as well as the meeting between the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. In the Big Bash League, the Melbourne Renegades host the Sydney Sixers at the GMHBA in Geelong. New Zealand and the West Indies play their 3rd T20 at the Bay Oval in Tauranga. In Primeira, there’s a Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. It’s Day 4 at the Brisbane International ATP and WTA tournament at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson; and Day 5 at the Hopman Cup at the Perth Arena in Perth. In the NHL, the New York Rangers welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to Madison Square Garden in New York.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Premier League