CHELSEA vs ARSENAL MATCH PREVIEW – Premier League 2025/26 | OneFootball

Big night in west London: Maresca’s Blues fresh from Barcelona, Arteta’s Gunners carrying momentum from Bayern – a top-of-the-table test that could shape December.

Competition: Premier League 2025/26

Kick-off: Sunday, 16:30 GMT (4.30pm) – Stamford Bridge, London

Two of English football’s most electrifying, reforming projects collide in west London. Chelsea arrive on the back of a statement 3-0 demolition of Barcelona that has reignited belief in Enzo Maresca’s revolution; Arsenal, the league leaders, answered their own midweek Champions League exam with a deserved 3-1 win over Bayern Munich. With the title race already beginning to take clearer shape, this is not just local pride – it is a potentially decisive chapter in a campaign that could tilt one way or the other before December.

Arsenal have one of the league’s best defensive records but are coping without Gabriel. Chelsea have re-established a high-octane press and look unpredictable with Palmer back in contention.

This is a fixture that promises theatre: Stamford Bridge’s noise, two managers with divergent but ambitious blueprints, and a week ahead that could define each club’s month. Tactical discipline and one moment of class and managerial nerve will decide who leaves London with the bragging rights – and a meaningful statement of intent.

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Current Form

Chelsea (W-W-W-D-W):

3-0 Barcelona (UCL) – statement win

2-0 Burnley (PL) – clean sheet away win

3-0 Wolves (PL) – clean sheet home win

2-2 Qarabag (UCL) – rotated side, still unbeaten in Europe

1-0 Tottenham (PL) – narrow away success

Arsenal (W-W-W-W-D):

3-1 Bayern Munich (UCL) – big European scalp

4-1 Tottenham (PL) – derby dominance

2-2 Sunderland (PL) – the only recent blot, ending an extraordinary clean-sheet run

3-0 Slavia Prague (UCL) – Clean sheet and victory away from home

2-0 Burnley (PL) – away win

Momentum is heavy on both sides: Chelsea for the way they destroyed Barcelona and regained form, and Arsenal for their domestic consistency and a Champions League run which underlines depth and balance.

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Head-to-Head Record

Recent meetings have favoured Arsenal – the Gunners have not lost to Chelsea while top of the Premier League, and historically they have navigated Stamford Bridge well in recent seasons. The last five competitive fixtures show Arsenal emerging with more control and composure, and the visitors arrive with both confidence and proof they can beat elite opponents in big moments.

Injury News & Suspensions

CHELSEA

ARSENAL

Manager Quotes

Enzo Maresca (Chelsea): ‘Yes, Cole is available for both [to play and to start].’ ‘We are looking okay [after Barcelona]. Dario Essugo also took part of the session this morning, which is good news too.’

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): [on Leandro Trossard’s fitness]: ‘There’s another test today; we have to see how he’s feeling. It doesn’t look much, so we still have a few hours and we’ll have to see.’

[on the behind-closed-doors friendly]: ‘It did happen. Gabi [Jesus] participated, and Ethan [Nwaneri] as well, because he wanted some minutes. We took the opportunity; they wanted a bit of exposure to competition, and providing that was very positive.’

[on Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz’s availability]: ‘We have another day tomorrow, so let’s see how everybody is tomorrow.’

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Predicted Lineups

Tactical Preview & Key Battles

How Chelsea want to win

Maresca’s side have found a ruthless transition: press trigger, exploit space in half-spaces, and isolate full-backs with direct wide runners and the creativity of Cole Palmer (if introduced). The Barcelona scoreline masked tactical discipline—Chelsea’s midfield double of Caicedo and Fernández seeks to screen and instantly feed quick vertical passes to Estevão and Neto. Expect Chelsea to attempt to unsettle Arsenal with quick, angled switches and targeted overloads on the left where Cucurella can surge.

How Arsenal will set up

Arteta’s Arsenal remains founded on pressing intelligence and positional discipline. With the likely absence of Gabriel, Hincapié’s role is critical—he must carry balance while Timber and Saliba cover the channels. Midfield will be about protecting the centre, with Rice and Zubimendi curtailing Chelsea’s interior passing lanes. Offensively, Arsenal will exploit Saka’s corridor runs and Eze’s ability to link with Merino (or Martinelli) for between-the-lines moments.

Key battles

Marc Cucurella vs. Bukayo Saka—Saka’s directness against Cucurella’s recovering defensive form; the full-back duel will produce overloads.

Moisés Caicedo vs. Declan Rice—the midfield pivot fight: Caicedo’s range vs Rice’s intelligence on positioning and transitional control. Whichever side wins the midfield will influence possession and tempo.

Estevão & Palmer vs. Arsenal center-backs— Chelsea’s creative spark to unlock a regimented Arsenal backline missing Gabriel.

Set plays & fine margins

Both teams score from dead balls—Arsenal have been sensationally clinical from set pieces this season; Chelsea will look to counteract with zonal discipline and second-ball aggression. Small moments—a defensive clearance, an interception, an individual run—could swing the contest.

: CHELSEA vs ARSENAL MATCH PREVIEW – Premier League 2025/26

Predicted Scoreline

Arsenal’s combination of depth, pressing structure, and recent scoring form—coupled with the psychological edge of topping the table—gives them the narrow advantage. Chelsea’s rejuvenation and the returning availability of Palmer make this a dangerous night for visitors, and Stamford Bridge will be a cauldron. Expect a tight, tactical opening and decisive moments from Arsenal’s front line that tilt the balance in their favour.

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