One of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the Premier League calendar, the London Derby between Chelsea and Arsenal, kicks off Sunday, promising high drama at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea come into the clash riding high after a stunning 8-0 demolition of Noah in the Europa Conference League, while Arsenal arrive nursing wounds from a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, buoyed by his team’s recent performances, is confident in their ability to compete with any side as they prepare for Sunday’s showdown.
“In this moment, the feeling from us is that we can compete and win against any team,” Maresca said. He also emphasized the importance of taking every game seriously, as complacency could easily lead to unexpected losses.
Although Chelsea’s recent record against Arsenal has been unfavourable, they currently sit above the Gunners in the Premier League standings on goal difference. Maresca expects a tough test against Mikel Arteta’s team, acknowledging their quality and current status as one of the league’s top contenders alongside Manchester City.
“For me, they are the closest with [Manchester] City,” said Maresca. “I consider them better than the rest.” Sunday’s game will mark the first clash between Maresca and Arteta as adversaries, with both managers having honed their coaching skills as assistants to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. “We both have to be thankful because we worked beside the one I consider the best manager in the world,” Maresca added. “We’ve both been quite lucky to work with Pep.”
The Blues, currently fourth in the table, face some lineup concerns with Cole Palmer doubtful after sustaining a knock. Meanwhile, Arsenal are expected to welcome back captain Martin Odegaard, who is set to make his first start in two months.
Arsenal’s recent form has been patchy, with two losses in their last three Premier League matches, including recent defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle. This run has left them seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, and a defeat to Chelsea could widen that gap to ten points, increasing the pressure on Arteta as his side pursues its long-awaited Premier League title.
The Gunners have held the upper hand in recent encounters, claiming six wins and two draws in their last ten league matches against Chelsea. Last season, Arsenal staged an impressive comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture, underscoring their resilience in high-stakes derbies. However, a loss on Sunday would mark their third consecutive away defeat in the league, a slide they haven’t endured since December 2021.
Head-to-Head
Arsenal had struggled against Chelsea in the Premier League, but the tide has turned in fixtures between the teams of late.
The Gunners have won on three of their last four Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge.
Overall, Chelsea have won just one of their last nine Premier League games against Arsenal (D2 L6), a 2-0 away success in August 2021.
Their last meeting was a 5-0 rout in Arsenal’s favour at the Emirates Stadium in April, their biggest-ever margin of victory against Chelsea in all competitions.
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