Arsenal vs Chelsea

Emirates Stadium forms the backdrop for a blockbuster all-London Premier League match-up between title-bidding Arsenal and downtrodden Chelsea.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a first Premier League title in almost two decades suffered a knockout blow last week as Manchester City dismantled Mikel Arteta’s side 4-1 in a ‘top-table six-pointer,’ condemning them to a gut-wrenching four-match winless league run (D3, L1). Growing defensive issues have rendered Arsenal’s title hopes far-fetched, with the ‘Gunners’ now conceding 2+ goals in four consecutive Premier League outings for the first time this season. Speaking of the hosts’ vulnerability at the back, only basement boys Southampton have registered fewer home clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Arsenal (3). But they’ve fared well against Chelsea in recent match-ups, winning twice in a row to open up an avenue to three straight H2H wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

In the meantime, interim boss Frank Lampard cannot catch a break, with his out-of-sorts Chelsea side coming into proceedings off the back of five competitive losses via an aggregate score of 9-1. Winless in their last six Premier League contests (D2, L4), the ‘Pensioners’ may have to reconcile with a first bottom-half finish since 1995/96 unless they can turn the corner down the final stretch. But considering they’ll take the field amid the club’s worst losing streak since 1993, even a point at the Emirates, where they won this corresponding fixture in 2021/22, could be a resounding success. Ominously, though, Chelsea’s abysmal run of form of nine losses from their last 13 travels (W1, D3) sees them stare down the barrel of 20 competitive defeats in a single season for the first time since 1987/88.