Casting neutrality to one side for a moment I speak for all BBC Sport online staff when I say I hope Arsenal do not part company with their manager this evening.

I'm not working until 2pm tomorrow if you need a window.

Ash Williams: Not starting Aubameyang and playing a youngster against this Chelsea team. This could be a hammering and the end of Arteta.

Arsenal have a chance inside 30 seconds! Hector Bellerin's cross is a good one, for once Thiago Silva gets his angles wrong and miscues a header and Gabriel Martinelli shins a volley wide.

That was a great opportunity!

Here we go then! The FA Cup final was a good watch between these two, what are we saying on Boxing Day?

They have had three lads phone in sick on Boxing Day to be fair. We've all been there.

Stuart Eccles: Chelsea front 6 looks like a solid cohesive attacking unit, Arsenal's on the other hand is akin to a Boxing Day sandwich, scraps cobbled together.

Here come the sides into the vast empty darkness.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang trots to his seat up in the stands carrying his boots like he's late for a Sunday League match. Will we see him later?

Arsenal have won 10 of their 11 Boxing Day top flight home London derbies (W10-D0-L1). The only exception was a 2-1 defeat versus Chelsea at Highbury in 1974.

To try and put a positive spin on things, a win for the Arsenal would take them to within a point of Crystal Palace.

Does that help?

Chelsea can go second with all three points.

Jon Evans: Dean Smith has done such a good job at Villa and seems to have gone completely under the radar (which I do quite like). Took over the club when we were struggling in the Championship and the only way has been up since.

Kevin Hayes: Credit to Dean Smith and the fantastic job he's done at Villa, Shrewd summer signings having spent similar money to Arsenal, they sit where the latter could only dream of. Top 6 with a game in hand that could bring them up to 2nd.

Chelsea

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard on Sky Sports: "It's good news because they (the full-backs) have been in great form this season. Reece (James) has a bit of a knee injury we are managing and (Ben Chilwell) Chilly is playing with a bit of pain, but haven't we all.

"You can't come to Arsenal and get ahead of yourselves. They know where they are, everyone is having their moments in the Premier League this season - we don't want to let them off the moment."

I'm not so sure Frank Lampard is enjoying working over Christmas. He looked cheesed off all night in midweek and he looks far from happy now as he carries out a Boycott-style pitch inspection in his trainers. Getting some grief from home?

We hear you.

Predictions then?

I mean, Xhaka is obviously going to get sent-off. No brainer.

And here you can watch the interview with Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers as he praises his side's "mentality" as they come from behind twice in their 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises Marcus Rashford after the forward scored his 50th Premier League goal in a 2-2 draw at Leicester City

Aston Villa

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins speaking to BBC Sport: "A massive win, it's always hard going a man down.You have to press at the right times and be structured as a team and I feel like we did that.

"First of all we reacted well – Tyrone Mings was unlucky. I don't know what happened for the first yellow but these things happen and we coped with it well and we didn’t look back. We didn’t sit deep we kept going forward.

"It wasn't my day in front of goal but I’m trying to do everything right I’m getting in the positions and hitting the bar and the post but at least I’m getting the chances so I think one of them will fall for me eventually."

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Arsenal aren't winning games but I would not point the finger at their manager, Mikel Arteta, I think their issues run far deeper that.

Having said all of that, I have a feeling the Gunners will get something here. They are on a poor run, but they still have some quality players in their side, and they are going to show it at some point soon.

I am not totally convinced by Chelsea either. They were on a really good run until the start of December but I don't think they are consistent enough to challenge Liverpool for the title. The top four is a realistic target for Frank Lampard's side though.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1