Premier League: Chelsea vs Arsenal live
Preview: Chelsea vs Arsenal
Chelsea will face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday at 4:30pm GMT, aiming for a strong win against their city rivals before the international break. Chelsea enter this match following a remarkable performance in the Conference League, where they triumphed over FC Noah with an 8-0 score, while Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Champions League earlier in the week.
It would have been hard to predict that Chelsea would be ahead of Arsenal at this point, but they currently lead on goal difference as manager Enzo Maresca enjoys a strong start. The Blues have only lost one of their last nine Premier League matches (5 wins, 3 draws), with that loss coming against the impressive Liverpool. Chelsea seems to be in a good position as they seek the win after a resounding 8-0 win in the Conference League against Noah.
Under Maresca, Chelsea has been more effective in front of goal compared to his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, averaging two goals per game in their last four home league matches (2 wins, 2 draws). However, their ability to keep scoring may hinge on how well their key player Cole Palmer recovers from the injury he sustained in last week’s match against Manchester United.
The return of Martin Ødegaard was likely the only bright spot for Arsenal on Wednesday night during their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter, although they might feel unlucky after creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities. This marked their second consecutive loss by the same score, following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League last Saturday, which left them outside the top four. The Gunners are currently experiencing a worrying stretch, having gone three league matches without a win for the first time this year (with one draw and two losses), and they haven’t won an away league match since mid-September (one draw and two losses).
Head-to-head
Arsenal has not lost in their last five league matches against Chelsea, securing four victories and one draw. Their latest meeting concluded with a 5-0 triumph for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last season.
Prediction
Arsenal’s recent attacking performance has not been the best, but Odegaard’s return is crucial, as Arteta’s team will finally have someone who can break through defenses again. Chelsea, who rarely manage to keep clean sheets at home, might have to accept a draw against their London rivals, particularly if Palmer isn’t at his best.
