Arsenal vs Chelsea team news: Per Mertesacker fit to start while Eden Hazard leads the line for the striker-less Chelsea

The match kicks off at 4pm

Per Mertesacker limped off against Reading - but will start against Chelsea today (GETTY IMAGES)

Per Mertesacker has won his race to be fit for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea today - he will come up against Eden Hazard, who starts in an advanced position for the Blues, who have no recognised strikers in their starting XI. Didier Drogba is on the bench.

Should Jose Mourinho's side win at the Emirates, then all they require is a win against Leicester on Wednesday and they will be crowned champions.

The German defender Mertesacker was rated at "50/50" to play after suffering an ankle injury last week in the FA Cup semi-final win against Reading at Wembley.

Writing in his programme notes, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “This afternoon’s match is a huge test for us, and one I believe we are ready for. We have three main targets. The first is to solidify our position in the league.

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“We are in second place at the moment [at time of writing] and we can make this position stronger. The second target is of course to keep our run going. We want to continue to win. The third is to get closer to Chelsea before the end of the season. When you have an opportunity like that, you want to take it.”

Arsenal: Chelsea: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

Subs: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Wilshere, Walcott, Flamini, Welbeck

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Hazard

Subs: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Drogba.