Fire up the London derby klaxon, it's time for live coverage of Arsenal versus Chelsea from the Emirates Stadium. We’ll have a full house of 60,000 today for one of the most fascinating games of the 2021-22 season so far. Arsenal are still trudging through the post-Wenger years, scratching around for a new identity, while Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel are establishing one at a rate of knots. The European champions arrive at the Emirates today looking for a muscle flex that will establish their credentials as serious title challengers. Can Arsenal throw a spanner in the works here, and kick start their own season after a horror show under the Friday night lights at Brentford? Teams incoming shortly.
Premier League / Matchday 2
Emirates Stadium / 22.08.2021
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Live
Live Updates
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Updated 22/08/2021 at 17:22 GMT
16:00
It’s a happier ship at Chelsea. Of course it is; they’re European champions and have since scooped up the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast. Lukaku is also back at the club, and with 113 Premier League goals already to his name in his career so far looks a safe bet to make his £97.5 million price tag quickly seem irrelevant. Chelsea haven’t had a proper yahoo at the title since they last won it in 2016-17 but look certain to be contenders this season.
15:55
There’s a lot o’ work for Mikel Arteta to do at Arsenal. After winning the FA Cup in 2020 the Gunners haven’t kicked on, and after an eighth placed finish last season have no European football to contest for the first time since 1995-96. They ended 2020-21 strongly and reinforcements have arrived in the shape of Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ben White and in recent days Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale, but it’s been a worrying start; against Brentford in the Premier League opener a week last Friday, a lot of familiar Arsenal failings were on show as they folded to a 2-0 defeat.
15:49
He’s back; Romelu Lukaku, the £97.5 million pound man, starts his second spell at Chelsea today. Christian Pulisic misses out due to a positive Covid test – be well, Christian – and is replaced by Kai Havertz. Reece James returns to the back three.
15:45
Arsenal are depleted by positive Coronavirus tests today with Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Ben White all missing out. We wish a speedy recovery to all. New signing Martin Odegaard’s registration hasn’t cleared in time and he misses out too, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back and on the bench.
15:40
Through the sun and rain (or as it's also known, British Summer Time), here's Chelsea:
15:35
Good old Arsenal: