Preview: Arsenal vs. Chelsea – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

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The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six Premier League encounters against Chelsea.
Image credit: Arsenal

From potential title challengers to top-four hopefuls, Arsenal and Chelsea meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a high-stakes London derby.

While Liverpool have all but secured the Premier League crown, the battle for Champions League qualification is intensifying, with both sides desperate to strengthen their positions.

A Chelsea victory would close the gap between the Blues and Arsenal to just three points, but neither team has been firing on all cylinders in attack lately.

Match Preview

Arsenal’s recent form has left fans frustrated. Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to break down Manchester United last weekend, requiring a stunning long-range strike from Declan Rice to salvage a point.

That goal ended a two-game Premier League drought for the Gunners, but a return to winning ways remains elusive.

A disappointing run of just two victories in their last seven matches across all competitions has seen Arsenal slip into an unpredictable patch of form.

Though they comfortably advanced past PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, a crucial quarter-final clash with Real Madrid looms next month.

Domestically, Arteta will be eager to avoid an unwanted record.

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, Arsenal have never lost consecutive home London derbies in the Premier League.

However, after a recent defeat to West Ham, the Gunners find themselves in danger of seeing that streak broken.

Chelsea’s Up-and-Down Season

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have faced similar struggles in front of goal.

While recent wins over Leicester City and Copenhagen extended their winning streak to four matches in all competitions, none of those victories have been particularly dominant—aside from a 4-0 rout of struggling Southampton.

More worryingly, Chelsea’s away form in the Premier League has been poor.

The Blues have now gone six consecutive league matches without an away win, with their last triumph on the road coming in December against Tottenham in a chaotic seven-goal thriller.

Their struggles extend to meetings with Arsenal, too.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six Premier League encounters against Chelsea, including a hard-fought draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

Team News

Arsenal

The Gunners are still dealing with key injuries. Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (hamstring), and Gabriel Jesus (ACL) remain unavailable, while Raheem Sterling is ineligible.

On a positive note, Gabriel Martinelli is now fit to start and could be deployed as a central striker, alternating with Leandro Trossard throughout the game.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri could make history by becoming the youngest player to score in a London derby.

Possible Arsenal lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard

Chelsea

Chelsea are dealing with their own injury woes, with Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Noni Madueke, and Omari Kellyman all sidelined. Mykhaylo Mudryk is suspended, adding to Maresca’s selection headache.

Malo Gusto remains a doubt, but if he is unavailable, either Wesley Fofana or Reece James—who has recently been called up to the England squad—could step in at right-back.

Maresca has hinted at using James in a midfield role as well.

Possible Chelsea lineup:
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto

Prediction

With both teams struggling for attacking fluidity, this could be a tight and cagey affair.

Arsenal have the slight advantage of extra rest and the boost of Martinelli’s return, which may give them the edge.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

This London derby is unlikely to produce fireworks, but the Gunners’ superior defensive structure might be enough to grind out a narrow victory as they look to solidify their place in the top four.

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