1. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
2. Declan Rice now bobbles one wide from 25 yards. Arsenal cranking up the pressure.
5. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
6. Can’t understand why Ange has fielded a weak team with the international break coming up?
8. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
9. Chaos! How have Arsenal not took the lead there!? Let’s sort this out.
10. Jurrien Timber cut the ball back, Wesley Fofana cleared off the lnie, a deflection off a defender is swatted out by Robert Sanchez and Declan Rice then blams the ball over the bar.
11. There was also half a handball shout in there as well!
13. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
14. These two clubs aren’t short of positional issues are they?
16. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
17. Alex Howell
18. BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium
19. The Arsenal fans already jeering Chelsea goalkeeper Sanchez when he has the ball at his feet. His latest kick from open play goes out for a throw in.
20. The Blues goalkeeper position has been an issue all season and Sanchez has just regained his spot as first choice for the Premier League.
22. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
23. Ben Mee
24. Brentford defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
25. Ben Davies is a top-class professional for Tottenham. He will play centre-half, full-back or wing-back. He’s a steady head in that backline when he’s called upon.
27. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
28. Nizaar Kinsella
29. BBC Sport football news reporter
30. Mathys Tel has struggled since joining Spurs from Bayern Munich on deadline day and could do with a good performance today ahead of the international break.
31. Competition is becoming fierce in North London now the majority of those players who were injured across the winter period returned.
32. Similarly, Brennan Johnson could do with a performance as both players were left on the bench for the hugely pressured win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League in midweek.
33. Image source, Getty Images
35. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
36. Oh dear Robert Sanchez…
37. The recalled Chelsea keeper passes the ball straight to Gabriel Martinelli, who cuts in from the left and curls in a shot straight at him which he doesn’t gather cleanly at the first attempt.
38. It’s another problem position for Chelsea despite their #numbers.
40. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
41. Andy Reid
42. Ex-Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
43. Chelsea haven’t been able to get any foothold in this game in terms of possession.
44. They need to be better on the ball.
46. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
47. Willian, another of our ‘played for a lot of London clubs’ club, links up well with Antonee Robinson on the Fulham left but nothing comes of it. The hosts are pressing Spurs really well and really high.
49. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
50. Ben Mee
51. Brentford defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
52. Djed Spence came into the Spurs side off the back of injuries and he has benefited from that. He has come into his own in this Premier League side.
53. It is a disappointing season for Spurs, but these young players getting a run in this side will do them a world of good.
55. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
56. Gerat break from Fulham down the right after Spurs turn the ball over, Andreas Pereira is played in on the overlap, he has support in the middle but drives in a shot instead that flies well wide of the far corner.
58. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
59. It is Wesley Fofana playing on the right of the Chelsea defence, by the way.
62. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
63. Image source, Getty Images
64. Steve: Given that Palmer is out and that Chelsea are already missing loads of key players there must be an argument to rest the first team, put out the reserves and take the loss which is going to happen anywhere given how poor Chelsea are currently
65. Anon: Completely bonkers that Chelsea have spent billions on players but can’t field a striker and are playing a right-back in midfield. What is the point of their recruitment other than to buy players just so other clubs can’t!
67. Tottenham 0-0 Fulham
68. Nizaar Kinsella
69. BBC Sport football news reporter
70. Today is a rare chance for to see Archie Gray in his favoured central midfield role.
71. Manager Ange Postecoglou now has enough defenders available that he isn’t asking the 19-year-old to be a makeshift centre-back or full-back.
72. The £40m signing from Leeds is now playing a holding midfield role with Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma pushing into attack.
74. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
75. Declan Rice skims in a corner to the near post and Jurrien Timber heads wide, before Leandro Trossard slices a shot wide from about 12 yards. Arsenal well on top early on.
77. Fulham 0-0 Tottenham
78. Under way at the Cottage too where Spurs have started with plenty of the ball in a sort of camo kit. Despite the sun it must be chilly as the Tottenham bench are all in full winter gear.
80. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
81. Alex Howell
82. BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium
83. There was a big cheer from the crowd after the announcer references Myles Lewis-Skelly’s call up to the senior England squad.
85. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
86. Andy Reid
87. Ex-Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
88. It’s a big game, a great game between two really big clubs.
89. It’s going to be an interesting game and I’m interested to see how it pans out in the opening stages, who grabs hold of it.
91. Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
92. Amongst plenty of negativity around Chelsea I should point out that if they win they will only be three points behind the Gunners.
93. We are under way!

Page 2

2. Alex Howell
3. BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium
4. Bulayo Saka and Kai Havertz are pitchside at the Emirates. Both are still injured, and Havertz is out for the season, but Saka is getting closer to a return.
5. Saka is going to start team training soon and it will be interesting to see how far away he is from a return after the international break.
8. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
9. Lamin: If Chelsea finish outside the top four, it wouldn’t be only Maresca’s fault but the club hierarchy’s because they are responsible for player purchases.
10. Liam: If ever a team was set up to fail it’s that Chelsea selection today. What on earth has Sanchez done to earn redemption and Neto up front just isn’t working! I fear a hammering.
11. James: Cole Palmer not playing isn’t even the worse news in this Chelsea team today. What is Maresca thinking picking Badiashile ahead of Chalobah, Tosin, Gusto or Acheampong?
13. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
14. Nizaar Kinsella
15. BBC Sport football news reporter
16. Image source, Getty Images
17. It is a cold but sunny day on the River Thames at Craven Cottage for Fulham versus Tottenham.
18. It doesn’t exactly feel like the game of the day as Spurs fight to improve their league position with little prospect of Europe.
19. Fulham are genuine contenders to qualify for Europe but will also be looking at their FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace after the international break.
20. I am currently typing this without power in the press box hoping that my half-charged laptop can survive the 90 minutes.
21. Hopefully the Fulham technician will come to the rescue.
24. Here come the sides across London!
27. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
28. Reece James will pick up an injury within 20 minutes and Romeo Lavia will come on. Midfield sorted!
30. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
31. Julien Laurens
32. European football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live
33. I feel sometimes for Enzo Maresca because of what he has been given at this club with all the expectations and the ambitions.
35. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
36. Chelsea
37. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to Sky Sports about Cole Palmer’s injury: “After the international break we think he can be back with us. He had an injury yesterday during the session.”
38. On the game: “It’s a big opportunity, we can go three points clear [from Man City in fifth]. It’s where this club should be [in the Champions League].”
41. It could be a back three of course. We shall find out soon enough.
43. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
44. No Cole Palmer, Reece James in midfield, no striker. There’s a lot of chat in the text inbox about this Chelsea line-up…
45. Image source, BBC Sport
48. We build them up and…
49. Cole Palmer hasn’t scored since 14 January to be fair – a barren run of 10 matches.
52. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
53. Jeester01: What’s going on with Cole Palmer then? Feel like if he was a Manchester United player (or named Marcus Rashford, for example) loads more would be being made of his slump.
55. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
56. Arsenal
57. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s a massive one and we know after we have an international break – we know how important it is to win the game.
58. “We believe we have the players to win the game. We know the strength of Chelsea and we have the best players to start the match.”
61. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
62. Something makes me think this Palmer ‘injury’ is quite handy timing. Tuchel should start his time as England manager insisting that even slightly ‘injured’ players turn up to England duty to be assessed by them (and be sent back if indeed they are actually injured). A perfect time to send a message to clubs about trying to get their players out of international duty.
65. BBC Sounds
66. On the go this afternoon? Remember you can take today’s 5 Live commentaries with you on the BBC Sounds app.
67. Or if you’d like to listen at home via smart speaker, just say “Play 5 Live” or“Play 5 Live Extra”.
69. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
70. Gary Cahill
71. Former Chelsea defender on Sky Sports
72. It’s vitally important that Chelsea finish in the Champions League positions. I feel the league is finished and done.
75. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
76. I don’t think Maresca knows what’s he’s doing. Reece James is not a midfielder!
79. get involved#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)
80. What a player.
81. Stuck around for so long I even saw him score for Colchester in my early reporting days…
82. Image source, Getty Images
83. Oh Teddy Teddy. Teddy Teddy Teddy Teddy Sheringham. Somehow got legendary status at Millwall, Spurs and West Ham which takes some doing given those rivalries!
85. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
86. It looks like Chelsea captain Reece James is going to start in the middle of midfield today by the way, they don’t have a[nother] right-back so either Wesley Fofana or Benoit Badiashile will start on that side. We think.
87. They also don’t have a striker so Pedro Neto will play through the middle as he did in midweek.
89. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
90. Nizaar Kinsella
91. BBC Sport football news reporter
92. Enzo Maresca has spoken ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Arsenal to explain Cole Palmer’s absence.
93. He said when asked why Palmer hasn’t made the squad: “[It is an] injury, he hopes to be back after international break.”
94. This makes the forward a doubt for England’s two fixtures over the upcoming international break.
96. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
97. Image source, PA Media
98. Fulham go into this game six points behind Manchester City in fifth – and fifth place looks very much like bringing Champions League football for next year.

Page 3

1. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
2. Tottenham Hotspur
3. Image source, PA Media
4. Premier League matches involving Tottenham have produced the most goals this season, averaging 3.4 goals per game.
5. Don’t let us down today lads.
8. Image source, PA Media
9. Speaking of teams in blue heading across the city to face their rivals, Rangers are 1-0 up at Celtic Park and all over the champions.
10. Follow that one here.
13. get involved#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)
14. Matthew Wade: Paul Konchesky did Charlton, Fulham, West Ham and had loans at QPR & Spurs (memorable that one…). Bobby Zamora did Spurs, WHU, Fulham and QPR. I think Neil Sullivan briefly played for Palace & Chelsea as well as Wimbledon and Spurs…
16. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
17. Image source, Reuters
18. This is the first time Chelsea will start a Premier League match without Cole Palmer since April 2024, when they lost 5-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates.
20. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
21. Arsenal
22. Image source, PA Media
23. Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their last six Premier League games versus Chelsea (W4, D2), their longest run without a league defeat against them since a run of 19 matches between 1995 and 2005.
26. Image source, Getty Images
27. We have had some wonderful shots coming in this morning.
28. We are this close to it still being sunny for an evening kick-off. This close. Just believe.
31. Image source, Getty Images
32. That Clive Allen to Arsenal was a very strange one. He moved from QPR for £1.25m which was a lot of money in 1980 but didn’t play a game before heading off Crystal Palace.
33. Arsenal swapped him for left-back Kenny Sansom who admittedly went on to play over 300 league games for the Gunners.
36. get involved#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)
37. Jimmy Greaves played for four London clubs: Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and Barnet
38. Clive Allen played for 6 London clubs – QPR (twice) Spurs, West Ham, Palace, Chelsea, Millwall … and was on Arsenal’s books too but did not play a first team game
41. Image source, Getty Images
42. Premier League moves I don’t remember one tiny bit #723 – Yossi Benayoun at QPR.
43. Proof.
45. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
46. Fulham
47. Image source, Getty Images
48. Marco Silva will take charge of his 200th Premier League match today, becoming the second Portuguese coach to reach this milestone after Jose Mourinho.
49. Silva’s Premier League win ratio of 37.5% is the highest of any Fulham boss (W39, D24, L41).
52. get involved#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)
53. Scott Parker. He played for five!
54. That is some going from the now Burnley boss!
55. Charlton, Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenha, Fulham.
56. Yossi Benayoun not only played for Arsenal and Chelsea, he played for West Ham (twice) and QPR
58. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
59. Chelsea
60. Image source, Getty Images
61. Believe it or not, Chelsea have won just three of their previous 19 away league matches against sides starting the day above them in the table (D3, L13), most recently beating Bournemouth 1-0 on 14 September.
62. The Blues are winless in their last six league matches on the road (D2, L4), losing each of the past three.
63. What’s going on there?
66. get involved#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)
67. Image source, PA Media
68. Raheem Sterling will not be involved today as he is on loan at Arsenal from Chelsea.
69. Ashley Cole famously did the same journey, Kai Havertz the inverse, while Sol Campbell infamously went from Spurs to the Arsenal and William Gallas did all three!
70. Has any player played for four or more London clubs though? Get your thinking caps on and give us a shout…
73. Cole Palmer is in the England squad as it stands as well, of course.
75. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
76. Marco Silva makes one change to the Fulham side that lost 2-1 at Brighton last weekend.
77. Willian makes his first start since returning to the club in February with Issa Diop dropping out.
78. Fulham XI: Bernd Leno, Calvin Bassey, Joachim Andersen, Timothy Castagne, Antonee Robinson, Andreas Pereira, Sander Berge, Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, Willian, Raul Jimenez.
79. Subs: Steven Benda, Harrison Reed, Rodrigo Muniz, Tom Cairney, Adama Traore, Jorge Cuenca, Josh King, Ryan Sessegnon, Martial Godo.
80. Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel is one of four changes for Tottenham following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last Sunday.
81. Ben Davies, Archie Gray and Destiny Udogie also come in.
82. Tottenham XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Archie Gray, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentacur, Yves Bissouma, Brannan Johnson, Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke.
83. Subs: Antonín Kinsky, Son Heung-Min, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr, Micky van de Ven, Dane Scarlett.
86. Image source, PA Media
87. If all this London talk wasn’t enough for you there’s early kick-offs in the Old Firm and the Sheffield derbies today as well.
88. You can follow both of those pages now as they near kick-off.
89. What a day.
92. Interesting – Palmer has been struggling with illness but came on for the second half of their Conference League game on Thursday night…
94. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
95. Alex Howell
96. BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium
97. Arsenal continue with Mikel Merino as striker and Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli return to the Premier League starting line up.
98. Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Martinelli, Merino
99. Subs: Neto, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Nwaneri
100. The big news is that there is no Cole Palmer for Chelsea.
101. Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Nkunku, Sancho, Neto
102. Subs: Jorgensen, Bettinelli, Adarabioyo, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, Gusto, George, Acheampong, Lavia
105. Image source, Reuters
106. Yes, there is a big game at Wembley for us all to watch but you’ll see a nice big gap in the schedule for that…
107. Arsenal v Chelsea (13:30 GMT)
108. Fulham v Tottenham (13:30 GMT)
109. Leicester v Man Utd (19:00 GMT)
112. Image source, BBC Sport
113. Here’s how the top of the table looks after yesterday’s fun and games.
114. Spurs can play in Europe next season but they’ll probably have to win the Europa League to do so.

Page 4

Do we have a belting day of football on the cards or what?

A cup final at Wembley and not one, not two but three Premier League games to get stuck into.

Image source, Getty Images

Our first four teams in action are all London sides so that’s where our focus will be. The chase/race for European football is on the agenda.

Plus Spurs are playing.

Let’s do this!