Arsenal v Chelsea: Back heavy card count at 9/2 | OneFootball

Listen to Football...Only Bettor Arsenal v Chelsea preview

Gunners gathering for big finish

A week is a long time in football.

Just when it seemed that Arsenal could have a wobble in them after losing a 2-0 lead against Wolves and being pegged back to 1-1 by Spurs, they raced away to win the North London derby 4-1 and move five clear points clear at the top of the Premier League again.

And to further fuel the idea that everything is still on track and falling into place, Mikel Arteta's men were handed a very favourable Champions League draw. Beat Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 and they'll meet the winner of Bodø/Glimt v Sporting Lisbon in the last eight. As a result they're now clear 3.65 favourites to life the trophy.

With a Carabao Cup final coming up against main title rivals Manchester City, Arsenal are about to enter the key phase of what could be an incredible season.

Chelsea hit the road

Chelsea's players, staff and fans are about to embark on a four-match road trip.

They start with this London derby, then travel to third-placed Aston Villa, head to Wales to play Wrexham in the FA Cup and then pitch up in Paris to play holders PSG in the Champions League.

There are lots of potential outcomes and those who saw them held 1-1 by Burnley last weekend may be predicting the worst.

And yet Chelsea have the raw talent to make any or all of these away days ones to remember.

Gunners can prove they're London's top dogs

League position and home advantage combine to make Arsenal clear favourites at 6/10. The Draw is 13/5 while Chelsea are out at 9/2.

Head-to-heads are clearly in favour of the Gunners too. They've won five and drawn three of the last eight Premier League meetings and have taken victory in each of the last three at the Emirates.

Arsenal also won home and away in their recent two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

English Premier League: Arsenal v Chelsea (Match Odds)

Sunday 1 March, 4.30pm

Arsenal

Back 1.63

Lay 1.64

Chelsea

Back 6.2

Lay 6.4

The Draw

Back 4.4

Lay 4.5

Chelsea have a puncher's chance given the players they have but this looks like a game when Arteta will outcoach his Chelsea counterpart Liam Rosenoir.

The new Blues boss had a decent start but Chelsea's last five games show two wins, two draws and a defeat (to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup). The wins were over rock-bottom Wolves and Championship side Hull. The draws were at home to Leeds and Burnley.

Arsenal have a brilliant record in Premier League London derbies - won 18 and lost just one of the last 25 - and can add to that on Sunday.

Gyokeres can strike again

Viktor Gyokeres has taken a while to show he can be a regular goalscorer in this Arsenal team but the latest evidence suggests the striker is now up to speed.

The Swede has netted eight times in his last 12 games, that run sparked by a goal against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup first leg.

His teammates are now playing to his strengths more and the double against Spurs showed that Gyokeres' confidence is flowing.

So, as a straightforward Bet Builder, take Gyokeres to score in an Arsenal win at 8/5.

Count on cards

This has the potential to be a blood and thunder London derby and referee Darren England could have his hands full.

In the first meeting top-flight meeting between the pair this season there were seven yellows and a red (Anthony Taylor) while the first leg of the Carabao Cup saw eight players booked (Simon Hooper).

There were just three yellows (Peter Bankes) in the second leg but that could be a red herring given that it was a cat-and-mouse affair with Chelsea trying to stay in the game before attempting to nick a winner and Arsenal content to hold onto their lead from the first tie.

England averages just over four cards per game but, given the recent history, there's scope to go for it and back Over 6.5 cards at 9/2. Once the temperature rises in this match-up, the yellows continue to flow.

Chelsea's last two Premier League games have seen eight cards (Robert Jones) in the 2-2 against Leeds and four yellows and a red (Lewis Smith) v Burnley. They remain bottom of the Fair Play table.