Arsenal and Chelsea combined XI speaks volumes as Alan Shearer points out Gunners' weakness

Mikel Arteta and Liam Rosenior are set to do battle at the Emirates Stadium this weekend and Alan Shearer has had his say on the game

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer believes Arsenal have an advantage from set-pieces ahead of this weekend's Premier League clash with Chelsea, but says the Blues are superior in midfield after picking his combined XI.

Unlike last weekend when he named all Arsenal players in a combined XI with Spurs, the Premier League's all-time leading goal scorer believes the game at the Emirates Stadium will be a more even affair and could be decided by a set-piece.

Nevertheless, Shearer believes Arsenal will still overpower Chelsea and admits he's not convinced by the Blues defensively, but has selected two Stamford Bridge stars ahead of the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard.

Speaking in an interview with Betfair, the Shearer said: "The belief and everything that goes with winning against Tottenham in the way they did, I think Arsenal are just going to do the same to Chelsea and overpower them.

"They'll have too much for them all over the pitch. I'm still really not convinced by Chelsea at the back. Defensively, Rosenior keeps picking different personnel and they haven't been great, which has to change if they're going to get into the top four."

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Shearer's starting XI consisted of (4-3-3): David Raya; Reece James, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer; Bukayo Saka, Pedro Neto, Viktor Gyokeres.

The former Magpies striker has also highlighted Chelsea's poor discipline as an area that Rosenior has to improve.

"Discipline is a huge problem at Chelsea," Shearer added. "Moises Caicedo has eight yellow cards in the league this season.

"Liam Rosenior has played different defensive personnel in every game he's been there, which is probably one of the reasons why they're so poor from set pieces. It's going to be an interesting month ahead.

"He was hired to get them into the top four or five. If they miss out, you can imagine the noise, because Chelsea don't mess around. I think Rosenior does have the respect of the players.

"Whether he, or they, prove to be good enough is a different matter. Ask me the question in a month's time if the players respect Liam Rosenior and I might give you a different answer."

Shearer has, however, been left impressed by Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres in recent weeks and said: "If Arsenal win the league, then it's money well spent on Viktor Gyokeres. He had a slow start, but what I like is his attitude. He doesn't shy away from anything and he never stops running.

"If he ever needed it, his two goals last week against their rivals Tottenham will do his belief the world of good. One, with it being against Tottenham and two, how important those goals might actually be.

"It was a game Arsenal had to win last weekend in the North London Derby. Because of the noise, chucking away the two-goal lead at Wolves, and the way City have been winning, there was massive pressure. It was the right response.

They go again at the weekend against Chelsea. It wouldn't surprise me if it was won by a corner, because Arsenal are brilliant at them and Chelsea are really poor."

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