Arsenal will be without midfielder Jack Wilshere, who starts a two-match suspension, for Monday night's Premier League clash against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Centre-half Laurent Koscielny is a major doubt after suffering a gash to his knee in the 6-3 defeat at Manchester City, but German forward Lukas Podolski is available again after three months out with a hamstring injury. Forward Yaya Sanogo (back), midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee) are all still sidelined.

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is to return to the substitutes' bench at best for Monday's crunch clash against his former club.

With Branislav Ivanovic available after serving a one-match ban, the Serbia defender will return at right-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta reverting to left-back and Cole dropping out of the side. Captain John Terry will also return, but Michael Essien is banned after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season at Sunderland and his fellow midfielder Marco van Ginkel (knee) is a long-term absentee.MANAGER QUOTESArsene Wenger: "They (recent results) have been disappointing for us," Wenger said on the club website. "But I don't think they have affected the morale. We have made good results until now because we have a good solidarity level and a good togetherness in the squad, and I don't see any sign of that dropping. I think even more that the players are focused to respond on Monday night. It can happen in a season when sometimes you have a bit of a weaker period. How you respond to this kind of problem is what matters."Jose Mourinho on Ashley Cole’s decision to go to the Arsenal Christmas party: "I have my opinion, but I keep (it to) myself. It was a free day for them, so I'm not a father, I'm a manager, and I can't control what they do when they are not with me. From the beginning Ashley's not playing, (but) today is Friday, the game is Monday. Something can happen in between. I play Ivanovic right-back, I play Azpilicueta left-back. I play John Terry and I have to choose between (Gary) Cahill and David Luiz."MATCH FACTSArsenal won nine and lost none of their first 13 Premier League home games against Chelsea but have won just two and lost four of the last eight.Chelsea have won eight and lost just two of the last 11 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions.Jose Mourinho has never lost against Arsene Wenger as an opposition manager (W5 D4 L0).Juan Mata has scored in each of his four starts against Arsenal in all competitions for Chelsea.Chelsea have taken 11 points away from the Emirates Stadium, the joint-best haul of any team in the Premier League since the Gunners moved from Highbury (along with Aston Villa).Theo Walcott scored his first ever Arsenal goal against Chelsea in the 2007 Carling Cup final and has since netted in three Premier League games against the Blues.Chelsea have had 11 different managers since Arsene Wenger was appointed and 12 in total with Mourinho’s second spell. Jose Mourinho will be the fifth different manager Arsene Wenger has faced in the last six Chelsea v Arsenal fixtures.Arsenal have not gone three Premier League fixtures without a win since January 2013; the third of those games was against Chelsea.The Gunners have conceded as many goals in their last two Premier League games (7) as they had in the previous 13.Chelsea have scored at least twice in each of their last six Premier League games (16 goals in total).(uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)ANN.Az