What you really want when you have been badly beaten by a newly promoted side, lost four players to Covid-19 and generally started the season already in crisis is a visit from the European champions and their shiny £97.5m striker. However, Arsenal fans looking for straws to clutch in the ill August wind will be aware Mikel Arteta’s side followed up their FA Cup final win over Chelsea 12 months ago by doing the double over their London rivals last season. Thomas Tuchel was only in charge for the last of those three defeats but will know that an Emirates Stadium full for a league game for the first time in 17 months and the hosts having Bukayo Saka and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang available again could present a genuine early test of Chelsea’s title credentials, against a Chelsea side without Christian Pulisic, who has tested positive. With Manchester City away next week, Arteta needs to get something on the board on Sunday or the first international break of the season might be a little uncomfortable. Paul Chronnell
Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue Emirates Stadium
Last season Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1
Referee Paul Tierney
This season G1 Y3 R0 3 cards/game
Odds H 4-1 A 4-5 D 3-1
ARSENAL
Subs from Rúnarsson, Okonkwo, Bellerín, Torreira, Willian, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Soares, Tavares, Nelson, Elneny, Balogun, Kolasinac, Aubameyang
Doubtful Aubameyang (Covid-19), Willian (Covid-19)
Injured Ødegaard (visa clearance, 28 Aug), Gabriel (knee, Sep), Partey (ankle, Sep), Nketiah (ankle, Sep), Lacazette (Covid-19, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y0 R0
Form L
Leading scorer n/a
CHELSEA
Subs from Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Zouma, James, Kanté, Hudson-Odoi, Loftus-Cheek, Havertz, Ziyech, Anjorin
Doubtful Kanté (ankle), Loftus-Cheek (Covid-19), Ziyech (shoulder)
Injured Pulisic (Covid-19, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y0 R0
Form W
Leading scorers Alonso, Chalobah, Pulisic 1
