Just one Arsenal player makes our combined XI with Chelsea

 

On a seven-game winless streak in the Premier League and only three places and four points above the bottom three, things are very bleak for Arsenal supporters this Christmas. The pressure is rising on Mikel Arteta, even more so after his side collapsed to a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

 

Ten places and nine points separate the two teams, so it's not a surprise to learn Chelsea dominate the XI but the fact Arsenal have just one player illustrates how far they have fallen in a short space of time.

 

Looking at Arsenal's squad there are only really a few candidates that would even be worth discussing versus Chelsea's squad. Gabriel has impressed since his summer move and is Arsenal's joint-highest WhoScored rated player (6.81) in the Premier League this season but still falls short up against Chelsea's Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma, who have formed a solid partnership together.

 

Just one Arsenal player makes our combined XI with Chelsea

 

With only three goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is a major doubt, does not come close (6.62 rating) to challenging the likes of Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham. On paper, Chelsea supporters would consider Thomas Partey but he has endured a nightmare with injuries since joining Arsenal and made only four league starts for the Gunners.

 

Dani Ceballos is Arsenal's lone representative in the XI, completing the midfield three alongside N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount. Big money arrival Kai Havertz is yet to get going for Chelsea, with a WhoScored rating of just 6.56. While substitute appearances for both Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic impact their individual ratings.

 

Ceballos is level with Gabriel as Arsenal's joint-highest rated player in the league this season and if it hadn't been for four substitute appearances he would be outright on his own (7.07).

 

Mount was unfairly criticised by England supporters at the start of the season, mainly because he is not Jack Grealish, but he has enjoyed an excellent campaign and is the highest WhoScored rated player across the two squads. While Mount has flourished, big money arrival Kai Havertz has really struggled for Chelsea and misses out. 

Just one Arsenal player makes our combined XI with Chelsea