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Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Preview, team news, prediction for Premier League match
The Premier League's final match of the weekend before the international break is a doozy as London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal will meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
These teams find themselves right next to each other in the standings after a good start to the season by Enzo Maresca's Blues. On the flipside, Mikel Arteta will be disappointed with the Gunners' fifth-place standing after 10 matches given how competitive they have been over the previous two seasons.
Regardless, three massive points are on offer in the game, which both teams will be hugely eager to claim.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head and recent statistics
- All-time meetings: 209
- Chelsea wins: 66
- Draws: 59
- Arsenal wins: 84
Arsenal have the overall advantage with 84 wins in the teams' 209 all-time matches.
It gets worse for Chelsea in recent years.
- Arsenal have won three of their last four league visits to Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea haven't defeated Arsenal in the Premier League in over three years, and only have one win in their last nine league meetings with the Gunners.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Team news
Chelsea
- Out: None
- Doubtful: Cole Palmer (knee), Jadon Sancho (knock)
- Suspended: None
Arsenal
- Out: Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee).
- Doubtful: Kai Havertz (head), Mikel Merino (head), Declan Rice (foot)
- Suspended: None
Chelsea vs. Arsenal: What the pundits are saying
Alan Shearer
"The game against Chelsea is a ‘must not get beat game’ for Arsenal. I don't care who you are, the potential of sitting 10 points behind Liverpool is a lot at this level, and they can't afford too many more defeats.
"There will be fireworks, and it wouldn't surprise me if we saw a red card or two, but I'll go for a draw on Sunday."
Nigel Winterburn
“Arsenal have had to mix things up with [Leandro] Trossard coming in as a ten. [Kai] Havertz has dropped back on occasions. They’ve missed [Martin] Odegaard’s ability and he’s captain of the team which tells you everything you need to know."
Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Prediction
Recent form leans in Chelsea's favour, but it's not like the Blues have been world beaters.
The teams' relative positions on the league table are more a reflection of Arsenal's decline than Chelsea's brilliance. That being said, Marseca has done extremely well to fashion a sense of purpose and identity from a Chelsea side sorely in need of one, and the results reflect that.
However, with Arsenal being given a reality check over their last two games, this one feels like the visitors will come out with a bit of desperation. A good result would do wonders for team morale over the international break, but form and injuries may be too much to overcome in terms of pulling out a victory at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, a 1-1 draw feels fair.
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