London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal lock horns at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in one of the standout fixtures of the Premier League season.
The Gunners arrive as league leaders and can open up a nine-point gap over their hosts with a victory, moving them another step closer to a first English top-flight title since the Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
Recent Form
Chelsea head into the weekend buoyed by a commanding 3-0 midweek Champions League victory over Barcelona, a result that extended their strong run to five wins from their last six matches across all competitions (one draw).
Enzo Maresca’s side have built their recent success on rock-solid defending, recording three consecutive clean sheets.
However, Stamford Bridge has not been the fortress many expected this season: only 10 of Chelsea’s 23 league points have come on home turf, giving them one of the lowest home points percentages in the division.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are riding the crest of a wave. A thumping 4-1 North London derby win over Tottenham was followed days later by an impressive triumph against Bayern Munich in Europe.
Mikel Arteta’s team have lost just three of their last 40 Premier League London derbies (28 wins, 9 draws) and arrive with an attack in red-hot form, having scored at least twice in each of their last six competitive fixtures.
Their away record is equally intimidating: six wins from their previous seven league games on the road.
Head-to-Head
The recent history heavily favours the visitors. Chelsea have beaten Arsenal only once in their last 11 Premier League meetings – a run stretching back to December 2019 – suffering seven defeats and drawing three in that period.
Key Statistics
– Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in their last 13 home league matches.
– The Blues have scored the opening goal in each of their last seven Premier League games.
– Arsenal have conceded more than one goal in just one of their last 14 league outings.
– The Gunners’ last six away London derbies in the Premier League have produced an average of 3.7 goals per game.
Players to Watch
Chelsea will look to Pedro Neto to continue his excellent recent form; the Portuguese winger has contributed three goals and two assists in his last five league appearances and scored in this fixture last season.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been a thorn in Chelsea’s side throughout his career, racking up seven direct goal contributions against the Blues – more than against any other opponent – while remaining unbeaten against them (six wins, two draws).
Team news sees Chelsea still without the influential Cole Palmer, while Arsenal could welcome back striker Viktor Gyökeres, though centre-back Gabriel remains sidelined.
Betting Angle
London derbies are notoriously tight and unpredictable, and with both sides coming off energy-sapping European victories in midweek, the draw looks an appealing option at the prices.
Fatigue could play a part, and history suggests goals are rarely in short supply when these two meet in SW6.
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is Sunday afternoon – a fixture that could have major implications at both ends of the Premier League table.