Pre-Match Analysis: Chelsea Take on Arsenal at the Emirates
Joao Pedro, Pep Chavarria, Morgan Rogers, and Jorrel Hato pictured celebrating with Cole Palmer after his goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on August 29, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Chelsea will battle it out against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on September 6, as both teams will be looking to extend their current two-game winning runs in the Premier League.
The London derby has always been a fierce battle between the west and the north. Considering how well both clubs started the new season, we can expect yet another spectacle from the world champions, Chelsea, and English champions, Arsenal.
The Blues carried out some exciting business over the summer transfer window, starting with the appointment of new head coach, Xabi Alonso, followed by marquee signings, including Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Martinez. With that in mind, Chelsea fans expect a positive result come Sunday at the Emirates.
Chelsea's first two league games show a clear intent to score a lot of goals, with the attackers, Cole Palmer, João Pedro, and Rogers, contributing heavily in these games.
One question remains: is the Blues' attack strong enough to take on Arsenal's formidable defence?
Is Chelsea's attack finally lethal?
Chelsea may have finished 10th in the 2025/26 season, but some of the team's statistics stand in contrast to this season's.
The Blues created the fifth most chances and had the second highest xG of all the 25/26 Premier League teams. Chelsea scored 58 league goals, underperforming an xG of 66.5.
The world champions averaged a 57.7 per cent possession in the league last season.
In contrast, Chelsea have averaged the second lowest possession so far this season at 32 per cent. The Blues have also scored seven goals in two games, exceeding their 5.2 xG.
Notably, Alonso's men in attack are firing non-stop, with Pedro amassing two goals and two assists, Cole Palmer running riot with two goals and one assist, and Chelsea's most expensive purchase ever, Rogers, scoring one goal and assisting once.
The Gunners have kept clean sheets in their first two games, conceding the least xG, 0.5, of all the teams in the league so far.
The Blues finally have a good chance of securing a win, having failed to win any of the last 10 league matches against Arsenal.
Will Moises Caicedo be ready in time?
When many may have thought Chelsea was finally taking a leap forward, misfortune hit. Caicedo entered the game in the 68th minute against Brighton & Hove Albion, hoping to help his team see off the game.
Unfortunately, the midfield maestro suffered a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of the first two games, and was taken off just 14 minutes into his first appearance of the season.
Caicedo is unlikely to feature against the Gunners on Sunday.
Romeo Lavia and either Reece James or Malo Gusto look the likely pair to start in midfield for Chelsea at the Emirates.
How will Enzo Fernandez's exit affect the Chelsea midfield?
The Argentinian midfielder made a switch to Manchester City on deadline day for 145 million euros, leaving the Blues scrambling for a new midfield signing, and eventually failing to sign a replacement after the deal for the Senegal international, Lamine Camara, fell through at the last minute.
Chelsea must now be content with having bench options like Valentin Barco and the sensational 16-year-old academy player, Reggie Watson.
There could be a ray of hope on the horizon for Alonso, as Bruno Guimarães may not be fit enough to start on the get-go alongside Declan Rice for Arsenal in the derby.
The last time they played
Arsenal triumphed against Chelsea in their last derby by two goals to one. The Gunners' first goal was curated and delivered by the defensive duo, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
The Blues held 59 per cent of possession, but never really maintained enough momentum to secure a draw, let alone a win.
Darren England, the match official, would then send Pedro Neto off in the 70th minute, eliminating any chance Chelsea may have had at a comeback.
Chelsea's front three, Neto, Pedro, and Palmer, barely worried Arsenal's low block.
Alonso will be looking to break the Blues' winless streak against Arsenal. So far, Chelsea have been very dangerous in attack despite their limited passing and possession.
Oliver Glasner, Manager of Nottingham Forest (Photo by Ritchie Sumpter/Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner, Manager of Nottingham Forest (Photo by Ritchie Sumpter/Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images)
Igor Thiago celebrating after scoring against Sunderland at the Gtech in January (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Igor Thiago celebrating after scoring against Sunderland at the Gtech in January (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)