We preview Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium with our Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction. Will the Gunners return to winning form before the international break?
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Arsenal vs Chelsea: Preview
Arsenal’s title hopes appear to be all but over, but with Premier League leaders Liverpool not in action this weekend, the Gunners have a chance to reduce the gap at the top to 12 points with a win over Chelsea.
Their chances of lifting the trophy now stand at just 0.6% after going three league games without a victory, allowing the chasing pack to close in.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side received a boost in midweek, comfortably securing a Champions League quarter-final spot with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win over PSV. Their emphatic 7-1 triumph in the first leg set the stage, while a rotated squad twice surrendered the lead in a 2-2 home draw in Wednesday’s second leg. Arsenal will now face defending champions Real Madrid in the next round.
Arteta will now be focused on restoring Arsenal’s league form at the Emirates. Their surprising 1-0 loss to West Ham in their last home league match was their first defeat at home this season. The Gunners haven’t suffered consecutive Premier League home losses since April 2022.
In fact, the Gunners have never lost back-to-back London derby matches at the Emirates in Premier League history. The last time they suffered consecutive home defeats in such fixtures was during the 2005-06 season at Highbury, falling to Chelsea and West Ham.
On Sunday, they will face a Chelsea side that appears to be regaining momentum after securing consecutive league victories at home—thrashing Southampton 4-0 and edging past Leicester City 1-0.
These two wins match Chelsea’s total from their previous 10 games (D3 L5), but they haven’t managed three consecutive league wins without conceding since March 2022.
However, Chelsea’s last four wins have all come at home, with their last away victory dating back to their 4-3 triumph over Tottenham in early December. They have since suffered three consecutive away defeats—matching their total from the previous 19 away games combined.
While the Blues are back to winning ways, one lingering issue is Cole Palmer’s goal drought. After missing his first Premier League penalty against Leicester last weekend, his goalless run in the league has now stretched to seven matches (683 minutes), despite taking 29 shots since last scoring against Bournemouth in January.
Across all competitions, Palmer has gone 10 games without a goal, a streak that continued even after playing 45 minutes in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Copenhagen in the Conference League on Thursday, which secured their place in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal vs Chelsea: Head-to-Head
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Premier League meetings with Chelsea (W4 D2), their longest undefeated streak against the Blues in the league since a 19-match run between 1995 and 2005.
The Gunners have also won six of their last nine league encounters with Chelsea (D2 L1), a stark contrast to their previous six victories, which were spread over a 32-game period from 2004 to 2020 (D10 L16).
Chelsea have suffered defeats in their last two Premier League visits to the Emirates, including a heavy 5-0 loss in this fixture last season. The last time they lost three consecutive away league games to Arsenal was between 2001 and 2003.
When these sides met in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in November, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Pedro Neto leveling after Gabriel Martinelli had given Arsenal the lead.
Arsenal vs Chelsea: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Arsenal – Team News
Bukayo Saka is “getting closer” to returning but will not be fit in time for Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday.
The winger, who suffered a hamstring tear in December and underwent surgery, has been sidelined since late last year. However, his recovery is progressing well, and he could make his comeback next month when Arsenal host Fulham after the international break.
“He’s getting closer, stepping up, and making very good progress,” said Mikel Arteta. “We’ll see how he reacts when he starts training with the team and how quickly he regains full fitness.”
Arteta rotated his squad for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Raheem Sterling, one of those given a rare start, will be unavailable on Sunday as he is on loan from Chelsea.
Gabriel Martinelli, now recovered from a hamstring injury, could make his first start since last month after coming off the bench in Arsenal’s last two matches. Ethan Nwaneri, rested in midweek, is expected to start on the right, while Leandro Trossard may lead the attack in place of Mikel Merino.
Ben White, who featured against PSV, is still regaining match fitness following knee surgery in November and may be replaced by Jurrien Timber. Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly, recently called up by England for the first time, is competing with Riccardo Calafiori for the left-back spot.
Arsenal – Predicted XI (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Raya
- Defenders: Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
- Midfielders: Odegaard, Partey, Rice
- Forwards: Nwaneri, Trossard, Merino
Chelsea – Team News
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Robert Sanchez will start in goal for Chelsea’s clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
Sanchez began the season as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League but lost his spot to Filip Jorgensen last month. However, after reclaiming his place and starting in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Leicester, he will once again get the nod at the Emirates.
“It will be Robert playing against Arsenal,” Maresca stated. “Our initial plan wasn’t to rotate goalkeepers, but sometimes you need to adapt and be flexible.”
Maresca made six changes for Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, securing a quarter-final spot. A reshuffled defense is expected against Arsenal, with Marc Cucurella, Reece James, and Wesley Fofana likely to return.
Cole Palmer, who started on the bench in midweek, came on in the second half. The attacking midfielder is now on a 10-game goal drought and will be eager to end his dry spell.
Up front, Pedro Neto could once again be deployed as a No. 9, with Nicolas Jackson still sidelined until after the international break.
“We are looking for solutions,” Maresca said. “Pedro has done very well in that role since we started. We’ll decide on Sunday whether to stick with him or make a change. Every club faces injuries during the season, and we need to adapt and find the right solutions.”
Chelsea – Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Sanchez
- Defenders: Fofana, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella
- Midfielders: Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer
- Forwards: Sancho, Nkunku, Neto
Arsenal vs Chelsea: Prediction
Arsenal struggled to impress in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United last weekend, bringing them back down to reality in the Premier League after their European triumph.
However, Chelsea are unlikely to sit as deep as United did, which could work in Arteta’s favor. The Blues remain difficult to assess given the level of their recent opponents, but facing Arsenal presents a far tougher challenge.
Sunday’s London derby may not be the most electrifying affair, with both teams favoring possession-based play but often lacking a clinical edge in the final third.
Still, with additional recovery time and the key return of Martinelli, Arsenal should have the edge. Expect them to find a way past Chelsea’s defense while relying on their solidity at the back to head into the international break with a morale-boosting win.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
When and Where to Watch the Arsenal vs Chelsea? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea is set for Sunday, March 16, at the Emirates Stadium, kicking off at 7 pm. (IST). The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network for TV viewers, while online streaming will be available on JioHotstar, allowing fans to follow the high-stakes game on their preferred device. With a thrilling encounter anticipated at the Emirates stadium, supporters won’t want to miss a moment of this showdown.
Read More: Chelsea Stun Manchester United to Secure Geovany Quenda for £40m
FAQs
What is Arsenal’s recent record against Chelsea in the Premier League?
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with Chelsea (W4 D2), their best run since 1995-2005.
Is Bukayo Saka available for Arsenal vs Chelsea?
No, Saka is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to return after the international break.
Who will start as Chelsea’s goalkeeper against Arsenal?
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Robert Sanchez will start in goal for Chelsea at the Emirates.
What is Chelsea’s recent away form in the Premier League?
Chelsea have lost their last three away games and haven’t won on the road since December’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham.
What is the predicted score for Arsenal vs Chelsea?
Arsenal are expected to edge out Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
