Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

There's something about Jose Mourinho that means he relishes things most when his back is pushed firmly to the wall.

And that's what has happened this past week or so as Chelsea's dreadful start to their Premier League title defence continued with a 3-1 loss to Everton.

Chelsea came out fighting when they thrashed Macabbi Tel-Aviv 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, but now back on domestic duties, they need to ensure that form continues.

Manchester City are already looking out of sight in the title race, sitting 11 points clear of Chelsea, so Mourinho knows his team need to start winning games to start the process of reining them in.

Victory against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday would be the perfect riposte.

Given their close proximity—just 10 miles separate Stamford Bridge and the Emirates Stadium—this is a fixture that always comes with tension.

Throw in the ongoing feud between Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, and it's all the more tense.

Mourinho says otherwise, but Saturday's matchup is about much more than just three points. Yes, there's an opportunity to get back to winning ways in the league, but Mourinho will also want to set the record straight with Wenger after Chelsea's Community Shield loss to Arsenal.

"I want to isolate the match from every context," Mourinho told the press on Friday in an attempt to play things down.

"Our fantastic record against Arsenal doesn't matter. It doesn't matter they haven’t beaten Chelsea for seven matches in the Premier League. It doesn't matter they beat us in the Community Shield.

"It’s just Chelsea against Arsenal. It’s a match we want to win. If it’s a pre-season friendly match, it’s the same, I want to win.

"If we are looking at the table at the moment and we see where we are, and we know the distance we are from the top of the league, I don’t think that helps us.

"[...] The match is Arsenal. One match. Now it's Arsenal. Just that, nothing more."

That fighting spirit Mourinho is famed for will be needed in big measure come kick-off. Chelsea can't afford to drop more points, especially to a rival.

Victory will turn Chelsea's season around, and after what we've seen from them down the years, you wouldn't bet against it.

Match details

Date: Saturday, September 19

Time: 12.45 p.m. BST/7.45 a.m. ET

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

TV Info: BT Sport (UK only)/NBC Sports (U.S. only)

Live Stream: BT Sport app or online (UK only)/NBCSN (U.S. Only)

Last 5 games

Despite some of the doom and gloom surrounding Arsenal, their start to the Premier League campaign hasn't been a total disaster.

The Gunners currently sit fourth in the table heading into this clash at Stamford Bridge, having won three of their opening five matches. They did lose in midweek to Dinamo Zagreb, however.

As for Chelsea, their three Premier League defeats—already their same tally as last season—leave them lingering in am unfamiliar position just above the relegation zone.

Predicted lineups

Despite fielding a much-changed team in the Champions League this week, we can expect Jose Mourinho to go for his tried-and-tested formula against Arsenal on Saturday. That will mean Nemanja Matic and John Terry being drafted back in, while Kurt Zouma is expected to remain in defence.

The big question is regarding Branislav Ivanovic on the right. Does the manager keep faith in his off-form star? Or does he trust Baba Rahman to play at left-back after impressing on his debut? That would mean Cesar Azplicueta keeping hold of his natural position on the right should Rahman get the nod.

In terms of injuries, Chelsea are missing Thibaut Courtois, Willian and Pedro.

As for Arsenal, Per Mertersacker could miss out through illness, while Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky remain long-term absentees.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Costa

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez; Walcott

Players to watch

Cesc Fabregas

The Spaniard had his best performance of the season against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in midweek, but facing Arsenal will be an altogether different challenge.

Chelsea need Fabregas to be at his best in midfield as, without him, they can struggle to break teams down.

Facing his former employers, he will want to put on a show, too.

Fabregas is so vital to everything Chelsea do. So if he is on song, the Blues will be favourites to take all three points.

Alexis Sanchez

As much as Fabregas is the man who gets Chelsea moving, Sanchez is equally vital to Arsenal.

He's unique in that his commitment to the cause and high work rate have made the Gunners a different proposition defensively, but it's in attack where he is most lethal.

Sanchez asks questions of defenders, and should it be Ivanovic he is facing on the right on Saturday, the Serbian is going to be in for his biggest test of the season.

That side of the pitch has been a major weakness for Chelsea, and Arsenal have a player who is capable of punishing them all the more.

Prediction

Chelsea 3-0 Arsenal

Odds

Home win: -118

Away win: +304

Draw: +254

First goalscorer: Cesc Fabregas (14/1)

*Home/Away win and draw odds via Odds Shark, goalscoring odds via OddsChecker.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes