AFCON 2025
It’s the business end of the season and title favourites Arsenal face off against Chelsea in a crunch London Derby tie at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
The derby is spiced up with Manchester City’s victory over Leeds United on Saturday as the Gunners now have a two-point lead at the top of the table.
Also, Liam Rosenoir’s Chelsea are desperate for Champions League football next season, as they currently sit in fifth place, three points behind Manchester United.
Both London clubs have had a topsy-turvy form in the league in 2026 but the Gunners slightly edge it with 16 points from nine matches while Chelsea have 15 from eight.
Ahead of the heavyweight tie, Arsenal are the favourites on paper but Chelsea are on a mission to end their winless streak against the Gunners over four years and close the gap on Manchester United.
3 reasons why Chelsea will beat Arsenal
- Chelsea’s superior recent form
Chelsea enters the match on a six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League with four wins and two drawn matches.
However, Arsenal have struggled in 2026, dropping 11 points across seven league matches with just three wins, three draws, and one loss, placing them fifth in the calendar-year form table.
Chelsea can take advantage of Mikel Arteta’s inconsistency in the league to further throw the title race open while closing-in on the top four spot on the other hand.
- Arsenal’s defensive frailties
The Gunners have struggled defensively this calendar year. Arsenal players have committed four errors leading to goals in the Premier League this year, the second-most behind Tottenham, highlighting lapses under pressure as seen in games against Manchester United, Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers among others.
Chelsea’s structured pressing and eagerness to attack with numbers with forwards Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and João Pedro, William Saliba and Gabriel Malgahaes Will have a torrid time coping with these players centrally and aerially including in second-ball recoveries where Arsenal have faltered.
Chelsea will look to capitalise on these weaknesses and punish Arsenal as they look to end their eight-game winless streak in the Premier League against their bitter rivals.
- Tactical edge and transitions
Chelsea’s fullbacks, Reece James and Malo Gusto, offer threats going forward, but Arsenal’s plan to exploit their poor defensive positioning (among the league’s worst) might backfire if Chelsea break quickly.
Chelsea’s midfield duo of Andrey Santos and Caicedo matches up well against Arsenal’s central unit, allowing wingers like Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to capitalise on counters.
In this high-stakes derby, Chelsea’s transitional plays can disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm, especially as the Gunners push for a win to maintain their title lead over Manchester City.
