Chelsea vs Arsenal: 3 key battles which could sway the London derby

These three key matchups could determine the result of Chelsea vs Arsenal…

For both Chelsea and Arsenal, it’s derby day. And it’s not just any old derby, it’s the London derby. It’s the return of Frank Lampard vs Mikel Arteta, with the former currently being 1-0 up. When the two sides met at the Emirates Stadium in December, Chelsea came back to score two late goals and claim all three points.

As we look ahead to tonight’s instalment of the historic fixture, here are three key battles which could sway the match either way…

Emerson Palmieri vs Nicolas Pepe

Nicolas Pepe will likely start out on the right for Arsenal tonight, with Emerson potentially filling the void left by Reece James (who picked up a slight knock against Newcastle at the weekend).

Pepe was a controversial player earlier in the season as he never really lived up to the hype of being Arsenal’s most expensive player of all time. However, there’s no denying there has been progress under Mikel Arteta.

Pepe is a speedy, skilful player that loves to drag his opponent out wide. Since Emerson is known to be weak from a defensive standpoint, he could very well be vulnerable to this trickery. Pepe will aim to get in as many one-on-one situations as possible, where he is able to beat his opponent and cut inside.

If Chelsea are to maintain the relentless Arsenal attacks, Emerson will be key to preventing Pepe from the time and space.