Arsenal vs chelsea: A Crucial Clash at the Emirates Stadium
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Arsenal is set to continue their momentum following a triumphant North London derby against Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as they prepare to face Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s squad rebounded impressively from concerns regarding a potential title ‘wobble,’ securing a commanding 4-1 victory away at Spurs during Igor Tudor’s inaugural match. By the time Arsenal steps onto the pitch, they could find themselves just two points behind Manchester City, making a favorable outcome against Chelsea even more crucial.
Liam Rosenior expressed frustration after his team ‘set fire to four points’ by squandering leads against Leeds and Burnley in their latest outings. Chelsea has now fallen behind Manchester United into fifth place, and aside from the desire to disrupt Arsenal’s title ambitions, they are in dire need of points to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.
The last encounter between these two teams occurred in the Carabao Cup semifinal, where Arsenal triumphed 4-2 on aggregate after two tightly contested matches.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s game.
How to watch:
- The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League in the UK, NBC/Peacock in the U.S., JioHotstar in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. Live updates can also be followed on ESPN.
Key Details:
- Kick-off time: Sunday, March 01 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. ET; 10 p.m. IST and 2:30 a.m. AEST, Monday).
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
- Referee: Darren England
- VAR: John Brooks
Injury and Team News:
Arsenal:
- Max Dowman, M: OUT, ankle, estimated return early March
- Mikel Merino, M: OUT, foot, estimated return late May
- Ben White, D: DOUBT, knock
- Kai Havertz, F: DOUBT, muscle
Chelsea:
- Reece James, D: knock, DOUBT
- Jamie Gittens, F: muscle, OUT, estimated return late March
- Romeo Lavia, M: thigh, DOUBT, back in training
- Dário Essugo, M: muscle, DOUBT, back in training
- Marc Cucurella, D: hamstring, OUT, estimated return mid March
- Levi Colwill, D: ACL, OUT, estimated return late April
- Mykhailo Mudryk, F: suspended, OUT
- Wesley Fofana, D: suspended, OUT
- Filip Jørgensen, GK: knock, DOUBT
- Estêvão, F: knock, DOUBT
Talking Points:
Are Arsenal back on track in the title race?
The 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur has extended Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City to five points, and the performance itself has alleviated concerns about Arteta’s team potentially faltering in their title pursuit.
Arsenal displayed a stark contrast to the anxious side that previously surrendered a two-goal lead against Wolves. Instead of sitting back after taking the lead, they continued to press for more goals, showcasing a more aggressive approach than their typical defense-first strategy.
Despite recent defensive lapses, a rare week of rest may have allowed the team to recover from the mental and physical fatigue of a packed schedule. Arsenal’s title challenge has relied on a solid defense and set-piece effectiveness, both of which have seen a decline recently.
Knowing they can adopt a more fluid style of play when their usual tactics falter should ease some concerns as they head into the final stretch of the season. However, with Manchester City in excellent form, Arsenal understands that they cannot afford any slip-ups.
How will Liam Rosenior set up tactically?
Liam Rosenior faced criticism for his tactics during the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Arsenal. Despite needing a goal to level the tie, he opted for a defensive setup, allowing Arsenal to exploit the situation late in the match.
The 4-2 aggregate scoreline did not fully reflect the closeness of the tie, as the atmosphere at the Emirates was tense for much of the second leg—something Rosenior aimed to leverage psychologically. However, Chelsea performs best when they attack, so a more balanced approach may be necessary.
With Wesley Fofana suspended and Reece James and Estêvão both uncertain, Rosenior’s tactical decisions may be influenced. Chelsea has recorded the highest expected goals (xG) in the league (52.3) but has significantly underperformed, leaving Rosenior hoping for a turnaround at the Emirates.
Arsenal has conceded 44% of their goals in 2026 due to individual errors (only Spurs have a worse record), suggesting that a more aggressive strategy from Chelsea could yield results.
Viktor Gyökeres faces a test of his momentum
With 15 goals across all competitions this season, Viktor Gyökeres has outshined fellow summer signings like Hugo Ekitike (14, Liverpool) and João Pedro (14, Chelsea). His performance against Tottenham was his best yet in an Arsenal jersey, capitalizing on Spurs’ defensive weaknesses.
Gyökeres was able to physically dominate Radu Dragusin, and with quick passes from Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber, he thrived. However, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo present a tougher challenge, and Gyökeres may not find it as easy to impose himself.
Kai Havertz could potentially return to the starting lineup, and given his history against Chelsea (three goals in 191 minutes), Arteta might consider a striker with superior playmaking skills and hold-up play over Gyökeres.
Nonetheless, Gyökeres is in exceptional form this year (10 goal contributions in 2026, averaging one every 85.8 minutes, with four goals in his last five games, averaging one every 80 minutes), so Arteta should likely continue to trust his Swedish striker.
Chelsea’s discipline and composure in spotlight ahead of tough run of fixtures
Chelsea has dropped 19 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, with only West Ham (20) faring worse. The squad’s youth is a contributing factor, but so is their discipline, as they have received eight red cards this season—the highest in the league.
Compounding the issue is Chelsea’s tendency to go down to ten men against Arsenal, having received seven red cards in their history against them, second only to Liverpool with eight. Rosenior must instill composure in his players, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
Following the Arsenal match, Chelsea faces Aston Villa, Wrexham, PSG/Newcastle, Newcastle, PSG/Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City, and Manchester United leading into mid-April. This period is critical for Chelsea, and a loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a victory could spark a season-defining turnaround.
Arsenal hold the upper hand in recent history
Mikel Arteta has only lost two of his sixteen matches (10-4-2 W-D-L) against Chelsea as Arsenal’s manager, while Liam Rosenior has suffered his only two defeats in 12 games (8-2-2 W-D-L) against the league leaders.
Earlier this season, Arsenal drew 1-1 against a ten-man Chelsea, but they have won their last three home matches against Chelsea. Arteta’s team is also unbeaten in their last eight encounters with Chelsea, marking their best run against their London rivals since a stretch of 19 games without defeat between 1995 and 2005.
While the odds may suggest a positive outcome for Chelsea, Rosenior has demonstrated he can compete with Arteta. However, Chelsea must elevate their performance to secure their first victory over Arsenal in nine attempts.
