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Football London
Football London
Sport
Amie Wilson

The surprise name Arsenal supporters want Mikel Arteta to leave out against Chelsea

Arsenal go in search of a first home Premier League victory since early October when they entertain Chelsea this afternoon.

In what is also Mikel Arteta's debut home game as head coach, the Gunners face a Blues side at the Emirates Stadium who are looking to solidify a place in the Premier League top four.

Both teams were in action on Boxing Day, while Arsenal picked up a point from their trip to Bournemouth, Chelsea fell to a 2-0 home defeat to relegation threatened Southampton.

Art de Roche's first week in charge and Granit Xhaka

A win for Arteta's men could put them back in the mix for a top four finish, with the point deficit reducing to five with just under half of the season still to play.

The new boss could be without up to seven players due to knocks and more long term injuries, meaning that he will have to make some difficult decisions on his starting lineup.

Arsenal fans have been having their say on who they would like to see start the game.

Callum Chambers returns after serving a one match suspension vs Bournemouth, and fans would like to see the defender come straight back into the side in place of Sokratis, who won't feature because of an head injury sustained vs the Cherries.

Hector Bellerin is back in training after injury, and fans have opted for the full-back over Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Supporters have stuck with the same midfield three that started at the Vitality Stadium, with Lucas Toreira, Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka all starting.

Perhaps, most surprisingly, is that fans have opted to not start top goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Instead they have gone for an attacking trio of Nicolas Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal fans' starting XI: Leno; Bellerin, Chambers, Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Ozil, Xhaka; Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette

For match action from the Emirates Stadium, follow football.london's live blog right here.

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