From one biggest game of the season to another biggest game of the season, it’s Arsenal next for Chelsea, with the Blues looking to beat the Gunners for the first time in eight tries — and looking for our first win against them at the Bridge since 2018.
It’s not going to be easy.
The league-leaders come in with the best record in the division (two wins more than any other team), the most goals scored (averaging two per game), the fewest goals conceded (averaging one every two games), and having not tasted defeat in any competition since the end of August. They are unbeaten in sixteen straight, including their own very impressive win in Europe midweek, beating Bayern Munich, 3-1.
After many years of claiming to be, this year’s Arsenal might in fact be the real deal. And they are threatening to run away with the title. Then again, should we pull off a win, we’d be just three points behind, with a long way yet to go in the race.
Are we the real deal?
Date / Time: Sunday, November 30, 2025, 16.30 GMT; 11:30am EST; 10pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Anthony Taylor (on pitch); John Brooks (VAR)
Forecast: Cold and clear
On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); USA, Telemundo (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Disney+ Hotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian and Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on November 28, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
COBHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian and Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on November 28, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea team news: The big news is that Cole Palmer has been declared fit and perhaps even fit enough to start, though that’s surely not going to happen after such a lengthy layoff. Palmer hasn’t played in over two months, since our frustrating defeat at Manchester United, and has been restricted to just four appearances all season thanks to a nagging groin issue (and that’s before he stubbed his toe at home).
In Palmer’s absence, others have stepped up to make an impact, with the likes of Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, and even young Estevao contributing with game-winning performances. “Chelsea do not know where their next goal will come from; that’s good and bad,” was the headline in The Athletic the other day — as nice as it’s been to (be able to) spread the wealth around and present multiple threats to opposing teams, we are surely at our best when Palmer’s fully fit and firing at his best.
Enzo Maresca played down the significance of Tuesday’s win and the importance of tomorrow’s game, in his usual style. But Tuesday was a statement. And Sunday we have a chance to make an even bigger one.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Noni Madueke (centre) celebrates scoring Arsenal’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munchen at Arsenal Stadium on November 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images).
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Noni Madueke (centre) celebrates scoring Arsenal’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Munchen at Arsenal Stadium on November 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images).
Visionhaus/Getty Images
Arsenal team news: It’s a similar situation for the Gunners, who top both the Champions League table and the Premier League table, but questions remain about their title credentials — not necessarily because of their performances this season, but because of their habits of the past few years. They’ve been here before, only to stumble and fade away. Will this be their year?
On Wednesday, they delivered a statement similar to ours, beating Bayern quite handily. And if they win at the Bridge, they will be seven points ahead of their closest challenger (Manchester City). League titles are won with consistent excellence, but they are also won with key wins at key inflection points. This is one of those points, for both teams.
Like Chelsea, Arsenal have spread the scoring around, though not necessarily by choice having had to deal with multiple injuries at the striker position, including to big summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, former Chelsea hero Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, who’s been out since last December with an ACL tear. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard picked up a knock midweek and is questionable, which could yet give a certain Noni Madueke the chance to start against his former team. Noni celebrated his return from a knee injury with a goal against Bayern, his first for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s calling card is a Mourinho-esque 4-3-3 and defense however, and they will certainly present a big challenge even with Gabriel out. William Saliba, alongside either Piero Hincapie or Cristhian Mosquera, will be tough to break down, and the midfield trio of Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze will be a handful, to say the least.
View from the enemy: The Short Fuse
Previously: We’ve not had a good record against Arsenal for some time, which is fairly annoying. This fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw, Pedro Neto cancelling out Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in the second half.