Arsenal and Chelsea meet at the Emirates on Sunday in a mouth-watering London derby, with both sides boasting perfect starts and Chelsea desperate to end their long wait for a win over the Gunners.
Match Preview
The Premier League’s first major London derby of the season arrives with plenty at stake as Arsenal welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams have won their opening two league matches, making this an early test of their title credentials and a chance for one side to gain an important psychological advantage.
Arsenal have looked particularly impressive defensively, beating Coventry City and Aston Villa without conceding a goal. Their latest victory came at Villa Park, where Bukayo Saka’s goal secured a 1-0 win.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have taken a more entertaining route to six points. Xabi Alonso’s side defeated Fulham before edging Brighton 4-3, highlighting both the attacking potential and defensive vulnerabilities that have characterised their early-season performances.
Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers have formed an exciting attacking combination, but Chelsea have conceded six goals across their opening two league games.
That could be particularly dangerous against an Arsenal side that has become increasingly comfortable in these fixtures. Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal in the Premier League since May 2021, when they won 2-1 at the Emirates.
Since then, Arsenal have enjoyed a remarkable run in the fixture, including victories in each of their last three home league meetings. Arsenal have also won the most recent competitive meetings between the sides, including a 2-1 league victory earlier in 2026.
London derby. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/vACIbbYcbt
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 3, 2026
Team News
Arsenal have a few concerns heading into the derby. William Saliba remains out, while Jurrien Timber is unlikely to feature despite returning to training.
Cristhian Mosquera is a doubt after suffering a muscular problem against Aston Villa, while Bruno Guimarães is also a fitness concern after picking up a knock. Declan Rice has also been listed as a doubt with a knock.
Chelsea could welcome back Moisés Caicedo, although the midfielder remains a doubt. Jordan Henderson is still sidelined with a wrist injury, while Marco Palestra is also unavailable. Reece James could again operate in midfield as Alonso continues to experiment with his squad following Enzo Fernández’s departure.
Arsenal vs Chelsea Predicted Lineups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Gabriel, Konsa, Calafiori; Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Eze, Tzolis; Havertz.
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Martínez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Lavia, James, Hato; Rogers, Palmer; João Pedro.
Prediction
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea.
