Opposition View: What Chelsea Can Expect From Arsenal In Premier League Clash | OneFootball

At least one of Chelsea and Arsenal will lose their 100 per cent start to the 2026/27 Premier League season when the two sides meet on Sunday afternoon.

A London derby awaits at the Emirates, with Chelsea hoping to end a run of four consecutive away league defeats to the Gunners, who are the current league champions.

Chelsea's toughest test under new manager Xabi Alonso awaits on Sunday. The Spaniard comes up against Mikel Arteta, a friend off the pitch, along with Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, who all played for Antiguoko in San Sebastian as youngsters growing up.

Arsenal have proven why they are champions. Although they have been far from their best, they are beginning to warm up, winning both of their league games while keeping clean sheets in both.

Opponents Chelsea come into it free-scoring, but also letting in goals like London buses. With seven goals scored and five conceded in two games, Alonso's side must reduce the chances they give away; otherwise, Arsenal will have a field day at the Emirates.

What to expect from Arsenal against Chelsea?

Absolute Chelsea spoke to ArsenalRoundtable to get the perspective from the Blues' opposition.

"Based on what we've seen in the opening fixtures, it feels like this is going to be unstoppable force meets immovable object when it comes to Chelsea's attack against Arsenal's defence. Chelsea have looked great going forward in their first two matches but are about to meet an Arsenal defence that hasn't conceded a goal and has conceded just one shot on target, taken with a pinch of salt given the Coventry game. However, the win at Villa Park was a genuine test.

"Arsenal arrive with two wins from two, four goals scored and two clean sheets, having already beaten Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. Nobody is calling it vintage, but the 1-0 at Villa Park was a controlled away performance rather than a comfortable one, and that matters more for Arsenal’s mentality than perhaps the scoreline suggests.

"For the most part, Arsenal's team picks itself, though the back line is the one area with genuine uncertainty. Saliba remains out with no firm timescale on his return, but Timber could return having stepped up his recovery, with a final decision after Saturday's training session. Mosquera's withdrawal at Villa Park was described as precautionary, and he will also be assessed, though he was absent from Thursday's open training. Ben White, Gabriel and Calafiori are pretty much nailed on, and Ezri Konsa is available if Arteta needs to make a change in central defence.

"That uncertainty is the interesting bit for Chelsea. Arsenal's first-choice centre-back is unavailable, and Gabriel could end up partnered with Ezri Konsa, whom he has played only minutes alongside, or with Mosquera, who will have just come through a fitness check. It could be an ideal opportunity for Chelsea to press them early and see just how strong their connection to one another's game really is.

"The other interesting opportunity for Chelsea could be around Calafiori. He has two goal involvements in two games and has been playing almost as an extra attacker, tucking in and getting into the box. That works when Arsenal are dominant, and it's not to say the space is left completely empty, with Declan Rice often providing cover whilst the Italian goes on an adventure. But if Chelsea are willing to give up possession and defend for spells, there is a route to hurt Arsenal on the counter down that side, and with Palmer, Neto and João Pedro they have the pace and the passers to do it, if they're willing to take the chance and throw numbers forward for a counter. Whether Alonso is willing to set up that way in his first big away game is a different question.

"On paper, Arsenal should control midfield, and that is less about Arsenal than it is about Chelsea.

"Caicedo is still a maybe for the Blues, with Alonso saying a final call comes after Saturday's session. If he can't start, it strips out the one player Alonso has who can screen a back three on his own and cover the ground between the lines, and with Enzo Fernández now at Manchester City there is no obvious like-for-like alternative. Without him, Arsenal have the talent and opportunity to attack the space in front of the centre-backs with Martin Ødegaard, also allowing Rice and Lewis-Skelly to venture forward rather than sit.

"The biggest question will be amongst Arsenal's attack. Despite two wins from two, they still haven't looked as decisive and clinical. Saka has been on form, whilst Christos Tzolis had his welcome to the Premier League moment against Villa, with Matty Cash locking him down into a half-time substitution. Eze replaced him and was Arsenal's liveliest attacker in the second half. Three at the back shouldn’t give the Chelsea back line as much freedom to man-mark the winger and lock him down in the same manner, suggesting Tzolis may not suffer the same fate at the Emirates.

"Havertz has been Arteta's go-to in the opening matches, but the two options up top offer Arsenal completely different games. Havertz drops off the front line and drags a centre-back with him, which creates the gaps for Saka and Ødegaard to run into. Against a back three that is comfortable defending deep, that can end up pulling Arsenal into passing the ball around the edge of the box without ever getting in behind. Gyökeres would ask a different question entirely: he occupies the centre-backs, wins the first ball and gives Arsenal somewhere direct to go. Brighton and Fulham both showed Chelsea's backline struggled against more direct moves, especially line-breaking passes, something the Gunners need to exploit if they are going to be more decisive than they have been so far."