Hipster Gooner: Preview: Arsenal v. CSKA London

This fixture ruined my birthday last year. Pic via Daily Mail.

Emirates Stadium, London

Monday, December 27

8:00 p.m. GMT, 3:00 p.m. EST

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Fabianski

Sagna - Koscielny - Squillaci - Clichy

Song - Wilshere

Nasri - Fabregas - van Persie

Chamakh

Subs from: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Diaby, Denilson, Arshavin, Walcott, Rosicky, Bendtner, Vela

Out: Gibbs (ankle), Almunia (ankle), Vermaelen (Achilles)

Arsenal News and Notes

Lukasz Fabianski (hip) and Abou Diaby (ankle) return to the side after their respective injuries. Both would have been available last Saturday against Stoke had the match been played. Diaby has not played since early October at Stamford Bridge.
Johan Djourou (thigh) appears to be available as well. I wish he'd start for once.
Both Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie should be fit to start.
Kieran Gibbs remains out with an ankle injury until the beginning of January. It might be mid- to late-January for Thomas Vermaelen, however.
Any bets on if we'll ever see Manuel Almunia (ankle injury) in an Arsenal kit again?
It sounds like a broken record by now, but in the league, Arsenal have yet to win at home comfortably without their opposition having a man sent off (Blackpool and Bolton.) They've either lost (West Brom, Newcastle, Spurs) or won maddeningly tight affairs (Birmingham, West Ham, Fulham.)
Arsenal have only lost two consecutive league matches once this season, but the second match that time was against Chelsea.
Arsenal have won 10 league matches this year, more than any other side.

Chelsea News and Notes

Arsenal continues to have bad luck with facing teams just as they're getting healthy again. Chelsea have been recently boosted by the return of Didier Drogba, and possibly more importantly, Frank Lampard in midfield.
Yuri Zhirkov remains a doubt with a calf injury. Jose Bosingwa (hamstring) could return to the side, but it's doubtful.
Long term injuries include Alex (knee) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles.)
The last time Chelsea went five league matches without a win was the end of the 2006/07 season, when they drew their final five matches and lost the league title to Manchester United by six points.
The last time Chelsea had picked up as few three points in five straight league fixtures was at the beginning of the 2000/01 season, a stretch that included losses to Bradford City and Leicester, and draws with Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United. That stretch continued to four points in six with a draw with Manchester United. Chelsea finished sixth that year.

Match Facts

Chelsea won the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge 2-0 in October, with goals from Didier Drogba and Alex.
Arsenal has lost their last two home fixtures to Chelsea, both by astonishing three goal margins.
Last year, Chelsea won this fixture 3-0 through a Didier Drogba brace and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal. The year before that, Chelsea won 4-1 through Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Flourent Malouda, and a Kolo Toure own goal. Nicklas Bendtner had Arsenal's consolation goal in that one.
In their last five competitive meetings, all Chelsea wins, the Blues have outscored Arsenal 13-2.
Didier Drogba has scored 13 goals in this last 11 competitive matches against Arsenal. He had four goals last year in two matches and scored at Stamford Bridge earlier this year.

The Referee

The refreee is Tyne & Wear-based Mark Clattenburg.
Arsenal have outscored their opponents 7-2 in the two matches Clattenburg has taken charge of this season: their 3-0 win at Manchester City and 4-2 win at Aston Villa.
Then again, Chelsea have outscored their opponents 10-0 in their two matches worked by Clattenburg: their 6-0 win over West Bromwich Albion and 4-0 win over Blackpool, both at Stamford Bridge.
In 19 games this season, Clattenburg has shown 59 yellow cards and 3 red cards. One of the reds was to Dedryck Boyata of Manchester City five minutes into their match with Arsenal.

Around the League
All other fixtures this week are played on Sunday.

Hipster Gooner