Chelsea will be looking to make it a perfect 10 wins in succession in the Premier League on Wednesday, as they face bottom club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Its one of a number of fascinating games in the midweek schedule, as the festive stint of the season really kicks into gear. The Blues approach it in wonderful form, having beaten West Bromwich Albion 1-0 on Sunday to preserve a three-point lead to second-place Arsenal.The Gunners can move top of the table temporarily should they beat a struggling Everton team on Tuesday, while therell also be big pressure on Manchester City to bounce back after their 4-2 loss to Leicester City on Saturday; Pep Guardiolas side host Watford.Here is a look at the Week 16 fixtures in full, how things are shaping up in the Premier League and a more detailed examination of two of the key games in midweek.Everton vs. ArsenalWith November safely negotiated, Arsenal remain in the race for Premier League glory, and theres a burgeoning sense that this current squad has a better chance than any Gunners team in recent seasons.Arsene Wengers side battled back from behind to beat Stoke City 3-1 on Saturday, as Arsenal continue to show the kind of resolve needed to go all the way in a title charge. While the Gunners do have a flyaway reputation, its a durability thats been building for a long time, especially away from home, per the UEFA Champions League Twitter feed:Its difficult to see that impressive sequence coming to and end at the hands of an Everton team that have looked rudderless as of late.After a strong start to the season, the Toffees have regressed terribly in recent weeks, turning in a poor display against Watford in a 3-2 loss on Saturday. That defeat means its just one win in 11 games in all competitions for the Toffees and for new manager Ronald Koeman;the honeymoon period has ground to an abrupt halt.Football journalist Chris Smith believes the players, not the manager, need to take most of the blame for Evertons recent rut, though:The Merseysiders have yet to lose on home soil in the league this season, although theyve yet to face a team with as much talent as Arsenal. Wengers men are in a tremendous groove at the moment; theyll have too much energy, intelligence and incision for the hosts to cope with.Prediction: Everton 0-2 ArsenalSunderland vs. ChelseaSunderland will have to turn the table in dramatic fashion if theyre to pick up a win on Wednesday, as they welcome the Chelsea juggernaut to the Stadium of Light.After a mini revival in recent matches, David Moyes watched his side revert to some of their bad habits in the 3-0 defeat to Swansea City, which saw them drop back to the bottom of the table. This statistic from the Match of the Day Twitter feed shows where their main issue lies:While Sunderland are still trying to find their feet, Chelsea continue to blaze a blistering trail at the top of the table.The win over West Brom wasnt the most scintillating of their exceptional recent sequence, but manager Antonio Conte will be delighted with the patience and determination his players showcased to get the three points. Theyre traits epitomised by Diego Costa, who continues to lead the line with an aggressive distinction for the Blues.His willingness to make something out of nothing and net the only goal against the Baggies was so important. Bleacher Report UK outlined just how important the striker is to the Chelsea cause:If Sunderland revert to the form they showcased in wins over Hull City and Leicester City they have the potential to cause some problems for Chelsea, and certainly frustrate the visitors. However, in recent weeks the Blues have had the solutions for many different tactical conundrums and their class will eventually shine through in this one too.Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
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