Arsenal looks to maintain their title challenge against Chelsea, who are desperate for points to secure a Champions League spot. With both teams facing injury concerns, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter at the Emirates.
Open Extended Reactions
Arsenal is set to continue their momentum from a recent North London derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur as they prepare to host Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s squad rebounded impressively from discussions surrounding a potential title ‘wobble’, securing a commanding 4-1 win against Spurs in Igor Tudor’s inaugural match. By the time Arsenal steps onto the pitch, they could see their lead over Manchester City shrink to just two points, making a favorable outcome against Chelsea even more critical.
Liam Rosenior expressed frustration after his team ‘set fire to four points’ by relinquishing leads against Leeds and Burnley in their latest fixtures. Chelsea has now dropped to fifth place, trailing Manchester United, and they not only aim to disrupt Arsenal’s title aspirations but also need the points to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.
The last encounter between these two teams occurred during the Carabao Cup semifinal, where Arsenal triumphed with a 4-2 aggregate score across two tightly contested matches.
How to watch:
The match will be broadcast on Sunday via 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 will also be available through ESPN.
Key Details:
- Kick-off time: Sunday, March 01 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. ET; 10 p.m. IST; 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?
A resounding 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur has bolstered Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City to five points, alleviating concerns about Arteta’s team potentially faltering in the title race. Unlike the anxious squad that previously squandered a two-goal lead against Wolves, Arsenal displayed a relentless pursuit of goals, contrasting sharply with their more defensive tactics in earlier matches.
Despite recent struggles in defense, a rare week of rest may have allowed the team to recover from the fatigue of a demanding schedule. Arsenal’s title challenge has relied on a solid defense and effective set-pieces, both of which have seen a decline recently. The ability to play attacking football when needed should provide some reassurance as they approach the final stretch of the season. However, with Manchester City in formidable form, Arsenal understands that they can afford no 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, where he opted for a defensive setup despite needing a goal to level the tie. This allowed Arsenal to exploit the situation late in the game.
The 4-2 aggregate scoreline did not fully reflect the competitiveness of the tie, as the atmosphere at the Emirates was tense for much of the match. Chelsea tends to perform best when they adopt an attacking mindset, so Rosenior may need to find a balance in his strategy.
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, and Rosenior will be hoping for a turnaround at the Emirates.
Arsenal has conceded 44% of their goals this season due to individual errors, second only to Spurs, suggesting that a more aggressive approach from Chelsea could yield results.
Viktor Gyökeres faces a test of his momentum
With 15 goals across all competitions this season, Viktor Gyökeres has outshone 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, taking advantage of Spurs’ defensive weaknesses.
However, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo present a tougher challenge than Spurs’ defenders, and Gyökeres may find it more difficult to assert 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 more playmaking skills than Gyökeres.
Nevertheless, Gyökeres is in exceptional form this season (10 goal contributions in 2026, averaging a contribution every 85.8 minutes), making a strong case for his continued selection.
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 performing worse. The youth of the squad contributes to this issue, but discipline is also a concern, as Chelsea has received eight red cards this season, the highest in the league.
Facing Arsenal, a team they have often struggled against (seven red cards in encounters), Rosenior must ensure his players maintain composure, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
Following the Arsenal match, Chelsea will face Aston Villa, Wrexham, PSG/Newcastle, and Manchester United, among others. A loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a win could spark a crucial turnaround in their season.
Arsenal hold the upper hand in recent history
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has lost only two of their last sixteen matches (10 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses) against Chelsea. Conversely, Liam Rosenior has suffered his only two defeats in 12 matches (8 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses) against the Premier League leaders.
Although Arsenal drew 1-1 with ten-man Chelsea in their previous meeting this season, they have won their last three home games against Chelsea and remain unbeaten in their last eight encounters. This marks Arsenal’s best streak against their London rivals since a 19-match unbeaten run from 1995 to 2005.
While the odds may suggest a positive outcome for Chelsea, Rosenior has proven he can compete with Arteta. However, Chelsea must elevate their performance to secure their first victory over Arsenal in nine attempts.
