“He is a way better forward than his rival counterpart. He is going to perform really well in the match” – John Obi Mikel has weighed in on the choice between Nicolas Jackson and Kai Havertz for a combined lineup of Chelsea and Arsenal players. The former Chelsea midfielder shared his thoughts on which forward he would prefer in a joint starting XI featuring talent from both clubs.

Ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal, John Obi Mikel selected his combined XI from the two clubs, with a notable choice between Nicolas Jackson and Kai Havertz for the striker role.

Chelsea, hosting Arsenal on Sunday, will see both center-forwards aiming to make their mark. Nicolas Jackson, 23, has been impressive for Chelsea, with club legend Gianfranco Zola noting his significant improvement this season. On the other hand, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, 25, famously scored the Champions League-winning goal for Chelsea but is now fully committed to the Gunners.

Mikel, discussing his combined lineup on his YouTube channel, picked Jackson over Havertz, saying, “On current form, if you’re playing Cole Palmer, the partnership that Nicolas Jackson has with Cole Palmer. I think Nicolas Jackson gets my vote.”

**John Obi Mikel’s Combined XI for Chelsea-Arsenal**

– Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal)
– Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
– Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
– Forwards: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Kalidou Koulibaly has also praised Jackson, suggesting he could one day compete for the Ballon d’Or. Jackson, at 23, has room to grow and shine in high-stakes matches like the one against Arsenal.

Comparing Jackson and Havertz this season, Jackson leads in goals, assists, and shots on target, showcasing a more efficient start. However, former player Troy Deeney thinks Jackson still has areas to improve, suggesting his development will be intriguing to watch.