Arsenal v Chelsea live: Premier League team news and line-ups from London derby – UK Times

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has described defender Wesley Fofana as a “tough guy” who is “absolutely fine” after the player was subjected to racist abuse online following Saturday’s draw with Burnley.

Fofana shared the hateful messages he received in the hours after being shown a red card during the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

The UK Football Policing Unit has confirmed it is investigating the incident, alongside other reports of abuse over the past week.

Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed his best outing in an Arsenal shirt with a decisive brace in last weekend’s 4-1 win at Tottenham and Mikel Arteta believes the Gunners are now on their way to getting the best out of the striker after a slow start in England.

“I think one thing leads to another,” said Arteta. “When you score the first one or the performances are good, you have more time with your team-mates, you understand the games, the opponent, the league better. Everything helps.

“We know his qualities. He is undoubtedly an incredible striker. We need to feed to his quality, we need to understand him better, he needs to understand the team, the league better, I think we are in the right trajectory.”

With Erling Haaland absent, Rodri pulled the strings in a hard-fought win at Elland Road to put pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea’s 10 men were stunned by a Zian Flemming header in the third minute of added time as Burnley stole a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Joao Pedro’s goal in the fourth minute had looked like being the winner but the Blues wilted terribly after Wesley Fofana’s sending off for a second booking 20 minutes from the end, leaving the door ajar for Flemming to score from a James Ward-Prowse corner.

Arsenal’s performance was of such a nature that it was impossible not to start thinking that it was potentially as important for the relegation battle as it was for the title race.

That’s how bad Spurs got.

That made it an even better day for Arsenal. Almost everything went for them.

Arsenal badly needed a victory in what had by then been an emotionally intense derby. Gyokeres produced when needed. That is what he has been signed for.

If Gyokeres was the match-winner, though, Eberechi Eze was the player who ran it.

Marc Cucurella is not fit to face Arsenal and Wesley Fofana is suspended following his sending off against Burnley. Estevao Willian also remains out.

Possible Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Gusto; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto ; Pedro

Kai Havertz is expected to return to the Arsenal squad. It would not be a surprise for Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres to keep their places following sparkling displays in the 4-1 win at Tottenham.

Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Kick-off at the Emirates is 4:30pm on Sunday 1 March.

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, following the coverage of the earlier kick-offs.

Arsenal host rivals Chelsea as the Premier League leaders look to increase their advantage over Manchester City in the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s side enjoyed a thumping 4-1 win at north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last week and celebrated with a free midweek as the pressure of the title race intensifies.

Now, a second London derby in a row awaits as Liam Rosenior’s side return to the Emirates looking to offer more than they did in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final last month.

Chelsea held Arsenal to a battling 1-1 draw at home earlier this season and the Blues are in need of the points, too, as they compete with Liverpool and Manchester United in the top-five race.