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Arsenal is set to continue their impressive run following a decisive victory in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, as they prepare to host Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s squad rebounded from concerns regarding a potential title ‘wobble’ with a commanding 4-1 win over Spurs in 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 disappointment after his team ‘set fire to four points’ by relinquishing leads against Leeds and Burnley in their last outings. Chelsea has now fallen behind Manchester United into fifth place, and with the added motivation of potentially derailing Arsenal’s title aspirations, they are in dire need of points to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.
The last encounter between these two teams took place in the Carabao Cup semifinal, where Arsenal triumphed with a 4-2 aggregate score across two tightly contested matches.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s game.
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. You can also keep up with live updates 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 quelled fears that Arteta’s team might falter in their title chase.
Unlike the anxious squad that previously squandered a two-goal lead against Wolves, Arsenal displayed an aggressive approach, relentlessly pursuing additional goals rather than settling for a narrow advantage. This marked a significant shift from their usual defensive strategy.
Despite recent defensive vulnerabilities, a rare week of rest may have allowed the team to recuperate from the mental and physical toll of frequent matches. Arsenal’s title challenge has been built on a solid defense and effective set-pieces, both of which have seen a decline recently.
Knowing they can adopt a more fluid style of play when necessary should ease some concerns as they approach the final stretch. However, with Manchester City in formidable form, Arsenal understands that they can afford no slip-ups.
How will Liam Rosenior set up tactically?
Criticism has been directed at Liam Rosenior 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 game.
The 4-2 aggregate scoreline did not fully capture the tension of the tie, as the Emirates atmosphere was charged for much of the second leg, which Rosenior aimed to exploit psychologically. However, Chelsea thrives when attacking, so a more balanced approach may be warranted.
With Wesley Fofana suspended and Reece James and Estêvão both uncertain, Rosenior’s choices may be limited. Chelsea has generated 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, with only Spurs performing worse, 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 outshone other summer signings, including Hugo Ekitike (14, Liverpool) and João Pedro (14, Chelsea).
His performance against Tottenham was his best yet in an Arsenal jersey, taking full advantage of Spurs’ defensive weaknesses. However, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo are expected to present a tougher challenge, making it less likely that Gyökeres can dominate as he did previously.
With Kai Havertz potentially returning to fitness, Arteta may consider a striker with superior playmaking skills and hold-up play. Nevertheless, Gyökeres is in exceptional form this year, contributing to a goal every 85.8 minutes, and Arteta should likely continue to rely on 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, second only to West Ham (20). The squad’s youth is a factor, but discipline has also been a concern, with Chelsea receiving eight red cards this season, the highest in the league.
Facing an opponent they often struggle against (seven red cards against Arsenal), maintaining composure will be essential for Rosenior’s squad, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
After facing Arsenal, Chelsea will take on Aston Villa, Wrexham, PSG/Newcastle, and others leading into mid-April. A loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a victory might signal the beginning of a pivotal stretch for the team.
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.
Although Arsenal drew 1-1 with ten-man Chelsea in their earlier meeting this season, they have won their last three home matches against Chelsea and remain unbeaten in their last eight encounters, marking their best run against their London rivals since a stretch of 19 matches without defeat between 1995 and 2005.
While the odds may suggest a favorable outcome for Chelsea, Rosenior has demonstrated his ability to compete with Arteta, but his team must elevate their performance to secure their first win over Arsenal in nine attempts.
