Arsenal v CHELSEA: Preview

Date: Sunday 1st
March 2026

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Kick-off: 16:30 GMT

At present’s
late recreation sees us make the brief journey to the Emirates Stadium to face motion
man and his simulation troopers, aka Arsenal.

Manner
again in Arteta’s second match as Arsenal boss in December 2019, we truly
pulled off a win on the Emirates, leaving with a cheeky 2-1 victory. Ah, these
have been the times! Flash ahead and it looks like Arsenal now deal with us like their
favorite charity. We’ve managed one win in our final 15 makes an attempt in opposition to them,
which, should you ask me, is downright unsporting. And proper now, it’s not simply
Chelsea followers hoping for an Arsenal slip-up; all the Premier League is doing
a collective rain dance (I’d assume given the quantity we’ve had) within the hope the
unbearable, entitled, pearl-clutchers stumble. So, should you hear a groan
rippling via the nation this afternoon, it’s as a result of Chelsea followers aren’t
struggling alone.

Anybody anticipating Chelsea to tug off a win although? Give your head a wobble! Our latest outcomes in opposition to Arsenal look about as promising as final week’s leftovers, and even after Rosenior had on a regular basis on the planet to prep for Burnley – who’re clinging to the Premier League by their fingernails by the way in which – he gave the lads a vacation and forgot to inform them the vacation was over final weekend. We did nick the lead, solely to clutch onto it with as a lot grace as a Royal clinging to their title. That’s 19 treasured factors thrown away from profitable positions and at this fee, we’re giving freely factors sooner than a dodgy grocery store promotion!

As
for our self-discipline, Chelsea have bagged six Premier League crimson playing cards this
season – we’re high of the charts for self-destruction, smashing our personal membership
report! We’re no strangers to a spot of hassle at Arsenal both, having
obtained seven reds in opposition to them over time. So, should you fancy a recreation of
‘Guess the Subsequent Villain’, you’re in luck – there’s sure to be an early tub
for somebody immediately.

After Fofana’s crimson card
in opposition to Burnley, laughing boy may not be chuckling if he’s watching immediately.
Eze loves nothing greater than scoring in a London derby and, let’s be trustworthy, our
defence is about as dependable as a paper umbrella. With Tosin set to take over
Fofana’s clown sneakers, anticipate loads of leisure – simply perhaps not for us.

We’ve
already had three cracks at Arsenal this season and our report is as empty because the
Emirates European trophy cupboard.  It’s
not a report I anticipate us to alter immediately.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into
immediately’s recreation, Arsenal supervisor, Mikel Arteta, says “The preparation provides you
confidence and the correct emotional state to get to the sport with the assumption and
the conviction that you just’re going to win it, and after that, it’s important to earn
the correct to do it. [Chelsea] can change all through the sport. They’ve the
gamers they usually have a supervisor who could be very snug doing that – so we’re
ready, we’re going to be ready for the attainable eventualities that we will
face all through the sport and attempt to do higher than them.

We all know
the significance of the sport, and we all know the crew we’re going to have in entrance
of us. We simply have to organize in one of the simplest ways to have the correct to win it. As
I at all times say, there’s nothing else you are able to do. What we did two weeks or two
years in the past is irrelevant. Each recreation and context is completely different, as a result of the
gamers would possibly change, the temper of the groups might be in a special state, or
what’s at stake is completely different, and we’re ready.”

Liam
Rosenior, in the meantime, says “Arsenal are an excellent crew, and that’s the reason
they’re within the scenario they’re in in the mean time. They’re an extremely
well-coached crew in each facet of the sport. Whether or not they compress actually
excessive, they’ve compact form within the low blocks, they’re implausible
defensively, clearly set-plays, they’re well-coached they usually play excellent
soccer as nicely. They’re an excellent crew and that’s the reason they’re within the
scenario they’re in in the mean time. It’s my job and the gamers’ job to attempt
to search out that weak spot and attempt to take pleasure in what’s going to be a very, actually huge
recreation on Sunday.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Arsenal, Saka is predicted to be match
regardless of a scare in opposition to Sp*rs and Kai Havertz may return. Ben White (knock)
is a doubt, and Max Dowman isn’t anticipated to function.

For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Jamie Gittens (thigh), Romeo Lavia (thigh),
Dario Essugo (unspecified), Marc Cucurella (hamstring) and Filip Jorgensen all stay
out via damage. Estevao Willian (thigh) has additionally joined the damage checklist. Mykhaylo
Mudryk stays suspended and is joined by Fofana, who appeared extra amused than
the remainder of us after his sending off in opposition to Burnley.

TEAMS

ARSENAL (Attainable line-up): Raya; Timber, Lintasa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres

CHELSEA (Attainable line-up): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Gusto; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

LAST SEASON

Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (16
March 2025)

CURRENT FORM (PL)

ARSENAL: LWWDDW

CHELSEA: WWWWDD

OTHER STUFF

Arsenal
have gained their final three residence league video games in opposition to ChelseaChelsea are with no win of their final
eight Premier League video games in opposition to ArsenalArsenal have misplaced simply one in every of their final
25 Premier League London derbiesChelsea
have dropped an embarrassing 19 factors from profitable positions up to now this
seasonArsenal
have conceded 9 objectives this yr, 4 of those have come from defensive errors

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea