Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Sunday 30th November in a Premier League contest layered thick with subplots and intrigue.
Leaders Arsenal are threatening to accelerate over the horizon in this season’s title race, and a victory at second-placed Chelsea on Sunday would open a gap of nine points between the London rivals.
Arsenal performed like potential champions in last weekend’s thumping triumph over neighbours Tottenham on derby day, and a follow-up win across the capital at Chelsea would confirm their status as favourites in Premier League outright markets.
Chelsea team preview
Chelsea got back to business after the international break with a routine 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor last time out. The Blues took some time to hit top gear in Lancashire, but were never truly threatened by a Clarets side that manufactured just 0.40 expected goals (xG).
A first-half opportunist finish from Pedro Neto gave Chelsea an advantage on 37 minutes and moved the Portuguese winger up alongside Enzo Fernández and João Pedro as the club’s joint-top scorers in the league (four goals each).
Enzo Maresca’s outfit has now pocketed 15 points from the last 18 on offer and kept four clean sheets in their last five league assignments, though their improving confidence will be given a thorough test on Sunday.
Chelsea controlled 55% possession against Burnley – indeed, they have been routinely setting the tempo this term, and only Liverpool (61.6%) have been averaging more possession per game so far than the Blues (58.9%).
No team has been averaging more shots on target per 90 minutes than Chelsea (5.42), meanwhile, while Maresca’s side are also listed as the division’s third-most-prolific outfit (23 goals).
Chance creation doesn’t seem to be an issue for this Chelsea side, despite Maresca’s team selection tinkering. The 45-year-old coach likes to rotate players in his forward line, though Liam Delap, João Pedro and Pedro Neto all started the Blues’ last two league fixtures against Wolves and Burnley.
Young wingers Estêvão and Alejandro Garnacho were kept on the bench on Saturday, and both are likely to be kept in reserve again against Arsenal. Cole Palmer could return to full training this week following a lengthy absence, though the creative midfielder is unlikely to be thrown straight back into the mix from the start.
Chelsea will also need to find a way to make better use of home advantage. They have statistically been the Premier League’s best away team this term, though they have already dropped points in 50% of their six fixtures at Stamford Bridge, with two of their last four matches at that venue ending in defeat.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez, James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernández, Caicedo, Neto, Pedro, Gittens, Delap
Arsenal team preview
Arsenal maintained their superb early-season surge with a convincing 4-1 win over Tottenham in the North London derby on Sunday, and the only surprise on the day was that Spurs managed to net a consolation goal.
The game was a watershed moment for summer signing Eberechi Eze, who scored a sensational hat-trick to earn instant cult hero status at the Emirates Stadium.
At the opposite end of the pitch, the Gunners were predictably secure, and even with key defender Gabriel Magalhães absent, Arsenal restricted Tottenham to just three attempts and a total xG of only 0.10.
Arsenal have been criticised in some quarters for their reliance on set-piece goals this season, though they tore Tottenham apart in open play in the derby, which felt like a significant departure from their normal style, proving that they can hurt opponents in numerous ways.
Mikel Arteta introduced former Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, Ethan Nwaneri, Christhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly as second-half substitutes against Spurs in a real show of strength and a nod to the Gunners’ impressive squad depth.
Arsenal have now collected 25 points from a possible 29 since suffering their first and only defeat of the campaign so far at Liverpool (1-0) on 31st August. They are playing with the swagger of prime Premier League title contenders and should be difficult to stop again on Sunday.
The Gunners have conceded just 23 shots on target in total in the league since the summer, while their opponents have touched the ball in the Arsenal box a league-low 13.60 times per 90 minutes. It will be fascinating to see if Chelsea can find a way to prise open their visitors’ robust backline.
In terms of team news, Arteta will hope to have captain Martin Ødegaard and first-choice centre forward Viktor Gyökeres back in contention ahead of this weekend’s trip to Stamford Bridge, with the latter, if fit, likely to replace stand-in Mikel Merino up top.
Arsenal predicted XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Hincapié, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyökeres
H2H record
Arsenal extracted four points from their two Premier League meetings with Chelsea last season, though the margins were tight in both encounters.
A solitary goal from auxiliary forward Mikel Merino earned the Gunners three points when they hosted the Blues at the Emirates Stadium in March, though the teams drew 1-1 when they last crossed swords at Stamford Bridge around this time last year.
Chelsea outperformed their visitors for shots on that occasion (17-13), with Pedro Neto cancelling out Gabriel Martinelli’s 60th-minute opener in a pulsating second half.
Arsenal are unbeaten in seven previous tussles with Chelsea overall (5W, 2D), with the Blues’ last win in this fixture coming in August 2021 (2-0 at the Emirates Stadium).
Chelsea famously dismantled Arsenal 4-1 in the 2018/19 Europa League final, though their last win at Stamford Bridge over the Gunners was also secured in the same season.
Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea emerged on the right side of a five-goal thriller (3-2) in that contest, aided by a late winner from Marcos Alonso.
Players to watch
Pedro Neto (Chelsea) – Portuguese winger Neto has become an increasingly influential player for Chelsea. The 25-year-old has lodged four goal contributions in his last five Premier League appearances, and his pace could be troublesome for Arsenal left back Riccardo Calafiori. Neto scored in last season’s corresponding fixture and had six shots combined in two appearances against Arsenal last term.
Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) – Tigerish midfielder Caicedo is a relentless worker for Chelsea and has been averaging 3.10 tackles and 2.40 interceptions per Premier League game this season. Caicedo’s passing range is often underrated, and the 24-year-old will be eager to have an impact on all phases of play against Arsenal. His head-to-head with Declan Rice should make for a fascinating watch.
Reece James (Chelsea) – A calming influence, steady defender and accomplished passer, James is Chelsea’s captain and a complete footballer. Still only 25, the versatile operator has a wealth of big-game experience and he will be tasked with shackling Leandro Trossard down Arsenal’s left flank on Sunday. James has been on the winning side only once in seven Premier League appearances against the Gunners.
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) – Eze had been blowing hot and cold for Arsenal since his summer switch from Crystal Palace. However, last weekend’s hat-trick in the North London derby feels like a major turning point. There is no doubting the 27-year-old’s quality, though finding consistency to match has always been the target. A confident Eze looks like a possible match winner for Arsenal on Sunday.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) – Often an unsung hero, Belgian international Trossard is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves. A provider of big moments at crucial junctures, the 30-year-old has been averaging a goal contribution every 120.6 minutes of Premier League football this season. Look out for his expertly timed line-breaking runs at Stamford Bridge.
Declan Rice (Arsenal) – Marauding midfielder Rice was never far from the action against Tottenham on Sunday and finished the game with a booking and an assist. The 26-year-old mans the Gunners’ engine room with authority, though he will need to be at his best to combat Caicedo and Fernández’s double act for Chelsea. Rice arguably wields the best delivery from deal balls in the entire division at the moment.
Our expert predictions
Arsenal’s triumph over Tottenham was achieved in emphatic style, and while the sailing won’t be quite as smooth against Chelsea, the Gunners look well-equipped to win another London derby on Sunday
The Blues seem more comfortable playing away from Stamford Bridge, and have been averaging 2.16 points on the road compared to only 1.66 on home soil.
Chelsea have lost two of their last four league assignments at home and they needed a 95th-minute winner to oust Liverpool in West London during the same period.
There is a fragility there that visiting Arsenal can prey on this weekend. The Gunners haven’t lost at the Bridge since 2018, and with Tonybet’s markets for Chelsea vs Arsenal priced favourably, Arteta’s side are fancied to deliver at 2.18.
Elsewhere, the card markets could be worth exploring. Last season, the two skirmishes between Chelsea and Arsenal both featured six cards, and Sunday’s renewal could be just as heated.
Stick with Tonybet for the sharpest Premier League odds, player specials and coverage for this weekend’s fixtures, including Chelsea’s encounter with Arsenal.
