Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news

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·16 Maret 2025

Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news

Two of London’s biggest clubs collide this weekend as Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta was able to rest many of his troops against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek after winning the first leg of their round-of-16 tie 7-1.

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The coaching staff are monitoring the fitness of Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli. Both players featured against PSV after spending prolonged periods on the sidelines.

Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka is edging closer to a return, but this afternoon’s match might come too soon for him. The 23-year-old was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad due to a hamstring injury, but the winger is expected to be back after the international break.

Chelsea also advanced into a European quarter final in midweek as they knocked out FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League.

Like Arsenal, the Blues have also had to deal with multiple absences in forward areas. Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are also on course to be available after a fortnight-long break.

Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are back at Enzo Maresca’s disposal today after being ineligible to play in Europe.

Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news

Form

Arsenal: LDWDD

Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night means they’ve only won once in their last five games.

Oleksandr Zinchenko recorded his first goal of the campaign with Declan Rice grabbing the other. However, the scoreline was virtually insignificant following their record-breaking 7-1 massacre in the first leg.

Mikel Arteta’s side will now face perennial winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

An underwhelming run of form in the Premier League has seen their title hopes dissipate. They are winless in three, with a home loss to West Ham preceding draws with Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.

Today’s match is Arsenal’s game in hand over Liverpool, but even a win would leave them 12 points off the summit.

Read – Moments that defined Arsenal and Chelsea’s modern rivalry

Chelsea: LWWWW

The Blues eased past FC Copenhagen in midweek courtesy of a stunning solo effort from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Maresca and his players can now look forward to a quarter-final tie with Polish giants Legia Warszawa in the Europa Conference League.

After losing consecutive Premier League games to Brighton and Aston Villa, Chelsea have rediscovered the winning touch in recent weeks. Championship-bound Leicester City and Southampton were both dispatched with relative ease at Stamford Bridge.

Regardless of today’s result the west Londoners are guaranteed to be in the top four heading into the two-week break.

Read – Chelsea predicted lineup vs Arsenal

Last Meeting

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal, Premier League, 10th November 2024

It was honours even back in November as nothing could separate Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer almost opened the scoring with a swerving strike in the third minute, but David Raya was equal to it.

The Blues continued to probe and full-back Malo Gusto spurned a gilt-edged opportunity midway through the half. Industrious work from Pedro Neto saw the winger loft a cross towards the back post, where the Frenchman somehow headed over from a few yards out.

Minutes later, the ball bounced to Gabriel Martinelli inside the box. Arsenal’s number 11 struck a firm effort, but only into the midriff of Robert Sanchez.

Quick thinking from a free-kick by Declan Rice resulted in Kai Havertz poking home against his former club. However, a VAR check revealed the German had strayed marginally offside and the goal was disallowed.

On the stroke of the hour mark in west London, Martinelli fired the Gunners in front. Club captain Martin Odegaard delicately stroked a pass into the unmarked 23-year-old, who steadied himself before beating Sanchez at his near post.

But exactly ten minutes later, the hosts had found an equaliser. Pedro Neto drilled a strike from range with vigour which whistled past Raya and into the bottom corner.

With virtually the last kick of the contest, Stamford Bridge was left speechless as the visitors somehow failed to find a winner. Neither Leandro Trossard nor Havertz could apply the decisive touch to William Saliba’s delivery as the game ended all square.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at the Emirates Stadium will be at 13:30 GMT on Sunday 16th March 2025.

Who is the referee?

Chris Kavanagh will be the match official. Lee Betts and James Mainwaring will assist him while Sam Barrott will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Jarred Gillett and he will be assisted by Darren Cann.