After a thrilling two-week hiatus, Mikel Arteta’s show-stopping Arsenal are set to ignite the pitch on Saturday evening as they embark on a journey to Stamford Bridge for an electrifying London derby. The Gunners, riding high on the wave of their recent 1-0 victory over Manchester City, look poised to make a comeback to London Colney unscathed. In the aftermath of their momentous win before the break, Arsenal aims to continue their stellar start to the season. Arsenal have recently dominated their head-to-head clashes with Chelsea, making this face-off one of the most anticipated of the 2022–23 season. However, Chelsea enters this Saturday’s clash with three consecutive wins under their belt, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this high-stakes encounter.
Match Preview Highlights:
Kick-off: Saturday, 21 October
Kick-off Time: 17:30 (BST)
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Team News
Chelsea Team News: The international break seems to have worsened Chelsea’s injury crisis. Benoit Badiashile is inching closer to a return, but setbacks in recoveries have hit Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka. Doubts linger over captain Reece James, who suffered an injury in training. Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi are unavailable, while Cole Palmer should be available for substitute minutes.
Arsenal Team News: Arsenal, on the other hand, has a more positive outlook. There are concerns about Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard, although Saka and Thomas Partey are expected to start. Jurrien Timber remains a long-term absentee, but there are no fresh injury concerns for the Gunners. Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey are both contenders for starting positions.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling; Enzo; Mudryk; Jackson.
Arsenal: Raya; White; Saliba; Gabriel; Zinchenko; Partey; Rice; Odegaard; Saka; Jesus; Martinelli.
Recent Form
Chelsea’s Recent Form:
- Chelsea 1-4 Burnley (07/10)—Premier League
- Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (02/10)—Premier League
- Chelsea 1-0 Brighton (27/09) – Carabao Cup
- Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa (24/09) – Premier League
- Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea (17/09) – Premier League
Arsenal’s Recent Form:
- Arsenal 1-0 Man City (08/10) – Premier League
- Lens 2-1 Arsenal (03/10) – Champions League
- Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal (30/09) – Premier League
- Brentford 0-1 Arsenal (27/09) – Carabao Cup
- Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham (24/09) – Premier League
Match Prediction
Chelsea’s recent upturn in form and newfound confidence have set the stage for a thrilling clash against Arsenal. While the Gunners have been productive despite not hitting their peak, the battle is far from simple. Arteta might unleash his strongest XI, capitalizing on Arsenal’s remarkable away form, which suggests they can take on a more expressive Stamford Bridge. Expect fireworks as these two London rivals collide.
Head-to-Head
- Arsenal has won six of their last seven matches against Chelsea, a stark contrast to their previous 25 meetings.
- The Gunners are aiming to win four consecutive league games against Chelsea for the first time in their history, marking the 173rd league encounter between the sides.
- Chelsea has the potential to lose three successive Premier League home games for only the second time, with the last defeat being a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in 1993.
Chelsea
- Chelsea aspires to claim three consecutive league victories for the first time since September to October last year.
- Scoring six goals in their last two top-flight games, Chelsea appears reinvigorated.
- However, the Blues face the risk of losing three consecutive Premier League home fixtures for the second time in history.
Arsenal
- Arsenal’s impressive record of six wins and two draws after eight games mirrors the legendary “Invincibles” of 2003-04.
- The Gunners could make history by winning their first four away games in a top-flight season without conceding a goal.
- Arsenal is one of two unbeaten teams in this season’s Premier League, with a shared low of six goals conceded alongside Manchester City.
Final Thoughts
The Premier League table could witness a shift this weekend as Arsenal takes on Chelsea in an epic London derby. Mikel Arteta’s side is in hot pursuit of top spot and faces a revived Chelsea under the management of Mauricio Pochettino. It promises to be an electrifying clash, and fans from both sides eagerly await the outcome.