Arsenal v Chelsea line-ups: Fabregas returns, youngster on bench, Giroud decision

AC Milan are among the clubs linked with Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas starts for the first time in the Premier League this season against his former club.

The Spain midfielder replaces Oscar, who drops to the bench.

Skipper John Terry had already been ruled out, so David Luiz is confirmed as Gary Cahill’s centre-back partner. Branislav Ivanovic takes the armband.

Among the Blues substitutes are Marcos Alonso and Nathaniel Chalobah.

Arsenal name the same side which won at Hull last weekend, with striker Olivier Giroud returning to the squad but only named on the bench.

Alexis Sanchez starts up front, while Petr Cech is in goal against his former club.

 

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez.
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Perez, Giroud.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kante; Willian, Matic, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Alonso, N. Chalobah, Oscar, Moses, Pedro, Batshuayi.