Open Extended Reactions
Arsenal is set to face Chelsea in another thrilling London derby this Sunday, following their impressive victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.
Mikel Arteta’s squad rebounded from discussions surrounding a potential title ‘wobble’ with a commanding 4-1 win against Spurs, marking Igor Tudor’s debut in charge. 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, Chelsea’s manager, expressed frustration after his team squandered leads against Leeds and Burnley, effectively ‘setting fire to four points.’ 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 spot in the UEFA Champions League.
The last encounter between these two teams took place 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 will also be available on ESPN.
Key Details:
- Kick-off time: Sunday, March 1 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?
Following their 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal has increased their lead over Manchester City to five points. The performance itself alleviated concerns about Arteta’s team potentially faltering in the title race.
Unlike the anxious squad that previously surrendered a two-goal lead against Wolves, Arsenal displayed a relentless pursuit of goals after taking the lead, contrasting sharply with their more defensive tactics in prior matches.
Despite recent defensive lapses, a rare week of rest may have allowed the team to recover from the 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.
However, the knowledge that they can adapt their style to play more fluidly should ease some concerns as they approach the final stretch of the season. City remains a formidable opponent, and 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 closeness of the matches, as the atmosphere at the Emirates was tense for much of the second leg. Rosenior aimed to capitalize on this psychological edge, but Chelsea’s strengths lie in their attacking play, suggesting a need for a more balanced approach.
With Wesley Fofana suspended and Reece James and Estêvão uncertain, Rosenior’s tactical 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, indicating 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 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, as he effectively exploited Spurs’ defensive weaknesses.
However, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo present a tougher challenge than Spurs’ defense, making it likely that Gyökeres will face a more formidable test. Kai Havertz may return to fitness, and given his record against Chelsea (three goals in just 191 minutes), Arteta might consider opting for a striker with superior playmaking skills and hold-up play.
Nonetheless, Gyökeres is currently in exceptional form (10 goal contributions in 2026, averaging one every 85.8 minutes), so Arteta may choose to continue relying on his Swedish striker.
Chelsea’s discipline and composure in the spotlight ahead of tough fixtures
This season, Chelsea has dropped 19 points from winning positions in the Premier League, second only to West Ham (20). The squad’s youth is a contributing factor, but discipline has also been an issue, with Chelsea receiving eight red cards this season, the highest in the league.
Compounding this, Chelsea has a history of receiving red cards against Arsenal, with seven instances, only trailing their record against Liverpool (eight). Rosenior must instill composure in his players, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
Following the Arsenal match, Chelsea will face Aston Villa, Wrexham, and a series of fixtures against PSG/Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City, and Manchester United leading into mid-April. This stretch could be pivotal for Chelsea, and a loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a victory might signal the start of a crucial turnaround.
Arsenal holds the upper hand in recent history
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has lost only two of their last sixteen encounters (10-4-2 W-D-L) against Chelsea, while Liam Rosenior has suffered his only two defeats in twelve matches (8-2-2 W-D-L) against the Premier League leaders.
Although Arsenal drew 1-1 with ten-man Chelsea in their earlier meeting this season, they have won their last three home games against Chelsea. Furthermore, Arsenal remains unbeaten in their last eight matches against Chelsea, marking their 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 demonstrated he can compete with Arteta. However, Chelsea must elevate their performance to secure their first victory over Arsenal in nine attempts.
