Chelsea have confirmed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will start up front in Tuesday night’s trip to Arsenal.
The Gabon striker spent four years at the Gunners from 2018 to 2022, notably leading them to FA Cup glory at the expense of the Blues in 2020.
Aubameyang fell out with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the 2021/22 season and was stripped of the captaincy before joining Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the January transfer window. He signed for Chelsea only a few months later.
He will make his first return to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday after being named in the starting XI by Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard.
Aubameyang played 64 minutes of November’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal back in November under then-manager Graham Potter.
This will be Aubameyang’s first start for the west Londoners since the return fixture.
The 33-year-old has scored only three goals in 20 games for Chelsea since his summer move and was omitted from their Champions League squad for the knockout stages, despite a starring role in the groups.
Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has replaced Thomas Partey in the Arsenal starting lineup.
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic; Madueke, Aubameyang, Sterling
