This penultimate London derby of 2020, most ancient in the top flight, and 202nd between the two teams, pits fifth-placed Chelsea against hosts Arsenal, currently 15th in the Premier League and without a win in 55 days. It is the Blues’ fourth appearance of the campaign in the Saturday 5.30pm time slot, which has proved a reasonably happy one, with no defeats so far.

The Christmas matches usually mark the halfway stage of the Premier League campaign, but not in this unprecedented campaign. With only 14 of the 38 fixtures accounted for, the midpoint has shifted to mid-January.

We can still take reasonable stock, though, and although Chelsea’s lengthy unbeaten run ground to halt with successive away defeats, a 3-0 victory last time out at home to West Ham was an exercise in efficient finishing, and that may be crucial against an Arsenal side with former Blue Willian in their ranks.The Gunners’ difficulties are well-documented. Points-wise this is their weakest start since 1974/75, and the current tally of 0.86 goals per game is their worst return for 108 years, when they suffered relegation.

Chelsea team news

Chelsea returned to winning ways against West Ham, who won both our previous encounters, meaning the west Londoners’ points tally is now up eight points compared to the corresponding fixtures last season.

Prior to kick-off the Hammers were the only Premier League team yet to concede from a set-play (Arsenal had conceded their first at Everton two days earlier). Thiago Silva’s bullet header from Mason Mount’s superb delivery soon ticked that box with the Blues’ eighth success from a corner in 14 games, and the third from the England midfielder. Over the whole of last season the tally for set-pieces was 11.

Chelsea are the second-highest goalscorers in the top flight with 29 and nine of those – a sizeable 31 per cent – have now been netted by defenders. The rearguard have also weighed in with six assists.

The match was also secured by a shrewd tactical switch by Frank Lampard. Jorginho, who performed a vital role occupying Ogbonna for the opening goal, was playing centrally so N’Golo Kante could handle the threat of full-back Aaron Cresswell. The introduction of Mateo Kovacic’s energy with 25 minutes to go allowed Kante to dominate from the centre, transforming the team.

Tammy Abraham’s shrewd one-touch finishes – two goals in 102 seconds – make him the Blues’ leading scorer this season and took him to 20 league goals from 49 league appearances. He is the first to reach that figure under Frank Lampard’s stewardship and, at 23 years and 80 days, the youngest Blue to do so since Eden Hazard in 2013. And who could forget his winner in this fixture last season?

The Timo-Tammy partnership continues to thrive. The pair have started eight games together, six of them victories, none defeats, involving a total of 21 goals. Although the German has been frustrated recently in front of goal, he has weighed in with three assists – two of them for the England centre-forward.

Unfortunately the Blues’ will be without some of the season’s top performers again on Boxing Day. Hakim Ziyech, the club’s most prolific chance-creator, has not featured since the 3-1 lashing of Leeds, while Reece James, who has delivered more crosses than any other league player (57) as well as winning an impressive 81 per cent of headers, is being nursed through a knee problem. Chief assister Ben Chilwell will also miss some of the Christmas/New Year programme.

Arsenal, whose guiding principle is playing out from the back, are susceptible against teams who press high. Scoring first could be crucial to the Blues’ success – the Gunners have lost 71 per cent of home matches where that has happened.

Gunners spiked

Mikel Arteta has used two different systems in the quest for a first league win since 1 November: a 4-2-3-1 that requires more defensive discipline from his full-backs, and the more likely 3-4-3 that earned that narrow success at Old Trafford.

A feature of the season has been the former midfielder moving away from Alexandre Lacazette leading the line. Instead Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has been brought in from wide or the centre-forward role has been handed to onetime Cobhamite Eddie Nketieh.

Despite the new formulas the Gunners’ powder has stayed damp, though Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli did his best to raise a spark, setting up Lacazette, before limping off in Tuesday’s heavy Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester City.

Over the past 10 league matches they have found the net four times but conceded 13. The difference between expected goals for and against the Gunners is 15th best in the top flight this season at -1.5 (Chelsea’s +10.5 is second behind Liverpool’s +10.6). Edouard Mendy will hope to become the fourth goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the Emirates this season, which would be his 11th in 17 matches. Ironically Emi Martinez, now at Aston Villa, is one of the current trio while his former team-mate, Bernd Leno, is not.

Arsenal have received seven red cards with Arteta at the helm. The next closest club, Brighton, have picked up three in this time frame. Tuesday’s quarter-final loss at least ate up one of Granit Xhaka’s match suspensions. As a result, the midfielder will be available to play against Chelsea.

One thing is for certain, Arsenal will focus themselves completely on this, London’s oldest top-flight fixture, and Chelsea must be ready.

How to watch Arsenal versus Chelsea

All Premier League matches in this round will be covered live in the UK by Sky Sports. To find the relevant broadcaster where you are elsewhere, see the Premier League’s broadcast schedule pages

For coverage with a distinctly Blue hue that begins 70 minutes before kick-off with assessment of the teamsheets and exclusive interviews visit the 5th Stand app, Facebook Live or and official YouTube channel.

Chasing down the Arsenal

Chelsea recently eased clear of local rivals Arsenal in all-time Premier League victories by 585 to 583, and will draw level on 2,025 points gained since the start of the 1992/93 season by beating them on Boxing Day. It has been a remarkable turnaround.

Exactly 20 years ago the same fixture was played on the same date. Although Frank Lampard opened the scoring for the visitors, Wenger’s men came back to win 2-1. They went on to win the league in May 2002 and finished as London’s leading club in nine of the first 11 Premier League seasons.

When Roman Abramovich arrived at the Bridge, the Gunners had accumulated over 100 points more than the Blues in the Premier League era. Since 2003/04, however, Chelsea have finished as London’s top dogs 13 times, and that lead could finally be wiped out on Sunday.

Oh west London…

Chelsea topped the London-only table last season and are leading the way against 2020/21. Arsenal’s have managed four league victories this season and half of them have come in derby matches.

The Blues’ away record

At Leicester this weekend Manchester United could win for the 11th time in succession away from home. You may not hear it mentioned very often, but the first club in English top-flight history to do so were Chelsea, between April and December 2008. Man United’s neighbours City matched our tally in 2017.

Premier League fixtures

SaturdayLeicester v Man Utd 12.30pm (BT Sport)Aston Villa v Crystal Palace 3pm (BBC)Fulham v Southampton 3pm (Sky Sports)Arsenal v Chelsea 5.30pm (Sky Sports)Man City v Newcastle 8pm (BT Sport)Sheffield Utd v Everton 8pm (BT Sport)

SundayLeeds v Burnley 12 noon (Sky Sports)West Ham v Brighton 2.15pm (Sky Sports)Liverpool v West Brom 4.30pm (Sky Sports)Wolves v Tottenham 7.15pm (Sky Sports)