Three key Chelsea vs Arsenal player battles that could decide outcome of Premier League clash

Chelsea face Arsenal tonight (Wednesday) in a key battle for the top four in the Premier League. The Blues currently sit third in the table, clear of the chasing pack, while the Gunners are in fifth and chasing down north London rivals Tottenham, who are three points ahead of them.

The match could have huge ramifications for the outcome of the final Champions League places by the end of the season, with Thomas Tuchel keen to emphasise that they are not guaranteed a spot just yet. Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “It seems like things are pretty safe, but they can turn so, so quickly with the schedule.

“We want to play a physical game again, want to demand again from the team. I accept it is very demanding and challenging for everybody but at the same time it’s what you sign up for when you sign up for Chelsea.”

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea tactics questioned ahead of huge Reece James decision for Arsenal clash

As for Mikel Arteta, he is looking for his side to bounce back from three straight defeats since their return from the international break. In his pre-match press conference he said: “Very difficult, because at this club it’s only about winning, and they were three different games, but with the same outcome. We are extremely unsatisfied with that, we know that, we’re hurting, but at the same time we know how we lost and what we merited from those games are not reflected in the amount of points that we taken.”

With all of that said and a big match on the horizon, takes a look at some of the key clashes heading into the game.

Chelsea defender Reece James is only recently back from a long injury that saw him sidelined for a while. On his return, Tuchel has opted to use him as a right centre-back in a three,