5 reasons why Chelsea will destroy Arsenal tonight

The festive football season is getting better and better as Arsenal host Chelsea in a blockbuster London derby at the Emirates. Chelsea are enjoying a fine run of form, coming into this fixture on the back of their 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City at home. A win will take Antonio Conte's men to second in the league table.

On the other hand, the Gunners are sitting sixth in the league table, just 4 points above Premier League surprise package, Burnley. Arsenal trail fourth-placed Liverpool by 6 points and this is an important game for them in the context of a top 4 finish. Though the reverse fixture ended in a 0-0 at the Stamford Bridge, we can expect goals this time around.

On that note, let's take a look at the reasons why Chelsea will destroy Arsenal at the Emirates tonight.

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#5 Unstoppable duo of Morata - Azpilicueta will expose Arsenal’s weakness against crosses

Alvaro Morata will fancy himself to add a goal or two at the Emirates

The duo of Alvaro Morata and Cesar Azpilicueta are on-track to set a Premier League record this season. The Spanish defender has assisted 6 of Morata’s 10 goals in 2017/18. The two Spaniards have worked wonders so far and have proved to be better than any partnerships in Europe's top leagues this campaign.

Against a team which struggles to keep out crosses, the duo is in for a hunt tonight. Arsenal conceded twice from crosses against Crystal Palace on December 28th. James Tomkins scored with his head from a Townsend corner and Townsend himself grabbed one from a Wilfried Zaha cross.

Previously, against Liverpool on December 22, Arsenal conceded a goal from a set-piece. Philippe Coutinho scored Liverpool’s first goal from a header in their 3-3 draw at the Anfield. Arsenal’s weakness from crosses is clearly evident and there is no better player in Premier League than Alvaro Morata to punish them. Header no.7 is on the cards.

#4 Wenger is without many first-choice players

Sead Kolasinac will miss the Wednesday game at the Emirates

The hectic winter schedule did not spare Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is without many of his first-choice players for the derby on Wednesday. Mesut Ozil missed the West Brom game on Sunday with a knee injury and did not train until Tuesday. He is a major doubt for the Chelsea fixture.

Laurent Koscielny only has an outside chance of returning from injury while Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, and Nacho Monreal are still sidelined. Sead Kolasinac has also been ruled out of tonight's clash with a knee injury. All in all, the Gunners will be missing seven of their first team stars for the London derby.

On the other hand, Chelsea has a contrasting fortune on the injury front and all of Antonio Conte's men are fit and ready for the Emirates clash. Lack of options will definitely hurt Arsenal.

#3 The Blues are having a great festive season so far

The Blues are in stunning form

Chelsea's evolution from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 is getting great results for the Italian. The Blues now look threatening going forward, and, at the same time, stable at the back.

It is the view of many experts that winter fixtures are crucial to a team's success in the Premier League campaign. Games come quick and fast as teams play as many as 15 games during the month of November and December combined.

On that note, Chelsea is enjoying the winter schedule. Out of 7 games in the Premier League, Chelsea have won 5 and lost just a solitary game. They beat Brighton 2-0 on Boxing Day and thrashed Stoke City 5-0 at the Bridge last week. They are looking ominous and will prove too hot to handle for the struggling Gunners.

#2 Arsenal dressing room lacks harmony at the moment

Sanchez needs to go

Wenger's problem at Arsenal is not just on the field. There are a lot of off the field issues going on at the Emirates. First and foremost on the list is the Alexis Sanchez situation. His contract is expiring this summer and he is yet to sign an extension. He clearly expressed his intentions to leave Arsenal last summer and was left frustrated, as his Manchester City move failed on the deadline day.

Throughout the season, his performances were below-par, considering the standards he has set before. According to various reports, the Chilean was involved in a couple of dressing room bust-ups last month and his relationship with some of his team-mates reached a new low. Some sections of Arsenal players want the club to sell him as soon as possible.

The divide in the dressing room was clearly evident during the match against Crystal Palace. Sanchez scored Arsenal's second goal but was only joined by four of his team-mates as others simply turned their backs and walked back up the pitch. This is the biggest problem for Arsene Wenger at the moment and the poor results back up the story.

#1 Chelsea defence too good for the misfiring Arsenal attack

Christensen has been in fine form

Chelsea have conceded only 2 goals in their last 6 Premier League games and none in their last 4. David Luiz proved that he is not one of the most dependable defenders in Europe once again and has fallen out with Conte.

Conte brought in Andreas Christensen to replace the Brazilian and the Danish defender showed that his manager was right, with some solid defensive displays at the back. Playing at the centre of a 3 men defence, Christensen showed what Chelsea missed at the beginning of the campaign. Azpilicueta is at his usual best and Gary Cahill is beginning to replicate his last season's form.

Also, N’Golo Kante is back to his best and Drinkwater showed last week why Chelsea paid €35 million for him. Combined with the poor form of Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Iwobi and the possible absence of Ozil, Arsenal will find it hard to break open Chelsea’s defence. The West Brom game is a testament to their inconsistent attacking display.