José Bosingwa is due to miss out on the Arsenal match due to injury, but is expected to return to the first-team very soon. Two mild surprises adorn Chelsea's starting XI for today's match at the Emirates, with Paulo Ferreira starting at right back and Salomon Kalou in the wide right attacking position. Those inclusions mean José Bosingwa is not ready to go (though he sits on the bench) while Nicolas Anelka's knee will have him miss an engagement with his former club.

The rest of Carlo Ancelotti's team is as expected. Petr Cech is in goal, behind the center defense duo of Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, Ashley Cole starting on the left. Frank Lampard makes his first start since the season's sunrise, with Michael Essien and Mikel John Obi completing the midfield. Didier Drogba, he of the eight goals in his last six against Arsenal, starts up top, with Florent Malouda to his left.

Bosingwa may have some new team-mates soon, with both Yaya Toure and Cesc Fabregas linked to join the club in the January transfer window.