Chelsea and Arsenal meet for the fourth time this season, with the Blues nonetheless in search of our first win over the Premier League leaders. The truth is, we’re nonetheless in search of our first win in opposition to the Gunners within the final almost 5 years: ten video games in all competitions, seven defeats, zero wins since Romelu Lukaku (!) scored initially of the 2021-22 season.
Ending that horrendous run now could be most amusingly timed. We could also be properly out of the title race, however we may actually nonetheless play an enormous half in it. To not point out, our personal top-five end is way from assured — or not assured in any respect, one may say, given the energy of our upcoming schedule and our incapability to beat even relegation-threatened opposition lately.
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That stated, the strain is on Arsenal to maintain all three factors on the Emirates and keep their five-point lead (with an additional recreation performed) on the high of the desk.
Date / Time: Sunday, March 1, 2026, 16.30 GMT; 11:30am EDT; 9pm ISTVenue: Emirates Stadium, N7Referee: Darren England (on pitch); John Brooks (VAR)Forecast: Wet, breezy
On TV: Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion (UK); Telemundo (USA); none (India); SuperSport Premier League (NGA); elsewhereStreaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Arsenal staff information: Arsenal need to win their first Premier League title since 2004, however they proceed to play into the narrative that they’re their very own worst enemies. They need to be properly out of sight by now, particularly because it appears like 80 factors may be sufficient to win all of it, however Metropolis are again respiration down their necks and there are nonetheless ten video games to go. They might have misplaced only one recreation since December, and simply three video games in all competitions all season, however current attracts in opposition to the likes of Wolves and Nottingham Forest have stored issues fascinating. Any factors dropped in opposition to Chelsea would make issues much more nervy. And probably fairly hilarious.
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All that could be wishful pondering after all. Arsenal’s energy in depth is probably bar none they usually constructed their marketing campaign on the again of a robust protection slightly than a extra fickle reliance on attacking soccer. Mikel Arteta might have been Pep Guardiola’s assistant, however his soccer has extra in widespread with José Mourinho than the person who unleashed the scourge of tiki-taka on us. Then once more, would slightly have that type of boredom again than this present reliance on crowding the goalkeeper, setting screens, and all the hardly authorized grappling within the penalty space that Arteta has championed, and is quick turning into the usual throughout the league. Soccer was the attractive recreation; now it’s only a recreation of set items.
Add to all that, the Gunners are pretty match and wholesome, with solely Mikel Merino confirmed out. Kai Havertz, our former frail favourite, is uncertain as common, whereas Bukayo Saka is questionable after selecting up a potential knock in final weekend’s North London Derby.
View from the enemy:
Chelsea staff information: It’s principally excellent news for Chelsea as properly concerning accidents — or a minimum of not unhealthy information — as each Cole Palmer and Reece James have been declared match. Sadly, Estêvão and Marc Cucurella stay out, and that’s not precisely supreme; neither is the suspension of Wesley Fofana after final weekend’s purple card. Lengthy-term absentees Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, Dário Essugo are out as properly, although the latter may be very near returning now (like his fellow midfielder Roméo Lavia).
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The Blues proceed to thrill and frustrate in equal measure, developing with new and revolutionary methods (or, slightly, outdated and acquainted methods) to drop factors. We lead the league in xG however not targets, are among the many worst groups when it comes to self-discipline, in addition to factors dropped from successful positions. We’re near being an excellent staff, but additionally appear to be unable to recover from that proverbial hump of consistency and execution in evolving from promise to actuality.
Beforehand: Liam Rosenior irritated a number of by organising Chelsea in a really defensive manner after we went to the Emirates within the second leg of the League Cup semifinal, however that plan virtually paid off, so I’d count on one thing related (particularly as we aren’t approaching with a one-goal deficit this time round).