**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](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/09/04/arsenal/1270136-arteta-understands-concerns-about-arsenal-s-squad.html)?
Is Chelsea's attack finally lethal?
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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?
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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?
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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](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/09/04/arsenal/1270163-arteta-analyses-midfield-options-from-squad-victory-against-villa.html) to start on the get-go alongside **Declan Rice** for Arsenal in the derby.
The last time they played
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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.
A spectacle surely awaits the fans at the Emirates on Sunday.