2024-25 Premier League: Week 29 – Arsenal vs Chelsea

Arsenal host London rivals, Chelsea in a huge clash in the Premier League’s top-four race. 

Victory would see Arsenal cut their title deficit down to 12 points, whilst Chelsea will stay fourth regardless of the result.

 

Team News

Arsenal will be without Raheem Sterling who is ineligible to feature against his parent club.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka (both hamstring), Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both knee) remain absent.

Chelsea could welcome Malo Gusto back after he missed their last two matches in all competitions with a knock.

Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Marc Guiu (muscle), Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke and Omari Kellyman (all hamstring) are still ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Arsenal host Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 16 March at 1:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six meetings against Chelsea (W4, D2).
• Chelsea have won two of their last six league trips to Arsenal (W2, L4).
• Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard has scored in two of his last three appearances against Chelsea.
• Arsenal are yet to keep a clean sheet in London derbies at home in the top-flight this season (W1, L1).
• Cole Palmer has scored four goals in Chelsea’s three London derbies away from home this season (W2, D1).

 

Prediction

Having stuttered to two draws in separate competitions this past week, Arsenal could do with rediscovering their winning spark ahead of the international break but to concede twice in front against PSV shows that their defensive vulnerability is still an issue with one clean sheet in their last five.

Chelsea meanwhile have had a stutter of their own with three pretty scrappy but ultimately clinical wins against Copenhagen – across two legs – and Leicester in their last three games, so aren’t exactly in top form either but they do have the pressure of the top-four race right up their neck.

If I am honest, I just can’t see this being a cracking game and wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in a draw.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

Result: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea