Date: Sunday 16th March 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick-off: 13:30 GMT
After yet another struggle to watch against Copenhagen on Thursday night, today’s early game sees us make the short trip to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.
Arsenal come into today’s game off the back of a draw against Manchester United last time out in the Premier League. They followed that up with a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven midweek to go through to the quarterfinals after thumping them in the first leg.
Chelsea meanwhile, narrowly beat a poor Leicester City side in the league last weekend and laboured to a marginal win against Copenhagen on Thursday night whilst we continue to play some of the ugliest football known to man.
Chelsea are on a three-game losing run away from home, whilst Arsenal are without a win in three games in the Premier League. And I don’t want to hear how we’ve won our last four games in all competitions given 2 of them were against the bottom 2 sides in the Premier League and the other 2 against Copenhagen. The fact is, we are without a win in six games against today’s opponents and I don’t see any way that changes today.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, says “I think it’s going to be a very different game. I think the way they develop as a team as well is very impressive, what they’ve done on the coaching staff, the amount of talent that they have in the squad. So yes, a really tough match, but a big chance for us to win the game.
I think we’re two teams that want to be very dominant in the way of playing, are very aggressive on the high press and the way we have to have the ball. There’s a lot of individual quality on that pitch so it’s about imposing what you want and the direction that you want to take the game and keep them very far from their strengths. I think that’s going to be a key thing as well.”
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, says “In this moment we have two targets: finish top four or five for the Champions League and the other is [winning] the Conference League. This club is used to playing in finals and fighting for titles, so if we can give the fans and club this chance again then I think it’s important for us.
Our target, our duty, is to close that gap between us and [Arsenal]. The table says the difference is six points, so we are quite close, but we still have 10 games to go. Second? It could be a target, for sure. It’s our duty to do our best, but the target for us is Sunday’s game. And then game after game to see how we can go close.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz (both hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (ACL) are all injured, whilst Raheem Sterling is ineligible to play. Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring) is available.
For Chelsea, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke (hamstring), are all injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) also remains out. Malo Gusto is expected to be fit again. The raffle-winner scored Thursday, so he’s guaranteed to start today and the Keystone Kop retains his place somewhere around the goal area.
TEAMS
ARSENAL (Possible line-up): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto
LAST SEASON
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea (23 April 2024)
CURRENT FORM (ALL)
Arsenal: WWWLDD
Chelsea: LWLLWW
OTHER STUFF
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games versus Chelsea.
Chelsea are in danger of losing three consecutive top-flight fixtures at the Emirates for the first time.
Arsenal have won one of their last five games in all competitions, drawing three of those games.
Arsenal lost their last London derby at the Emirates but have never lost back-to-back London derbies at the Emirates in the Premier League.
Arsenal have conceded fewer goals than any other side this season (24).
Chelsea have won three of their previous 19 away league games against sides starting the day above them in the table.
Chelsea are without a win in their last six league away games, losing each of the last three.
Chelsea have won their previous four fixtures in all competitions.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea