Arsenal is set to host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a highly anticipated London derby, with both teams aiming to continue their unbeaten streaks in the 2026-27 season.
Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has triumphed in all three of their matches to date, netting seven goals while maintaining a strong defensive record with three consecutive clean sheets. Their most recent match ended with a narrow 1-0 victory against Aston Villa, thanks to a goal from Bukayo Saka.
However, Arsenal’s transfer decisions on deadline day have sparked some worry, as the team let several forwards depart without securing replacements. Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, and Gabriel Martinelli’s record sale left the squad with fewer attacking alternatives.
On the other hand, Chelsea has emerged as one of the most exciting teams in the league, scoring 12 goals in their first two Premier League outings, which include a dramatic 4-3 win over Brighton.
Chelsea trails Arsenal in the standings on goal difference, and a win on Sunday would mark the first time since the 2016-17 season that they start a campaign with four consecutive victories across all competitions.
Historically, Arsenal holds the upper hand in this matchup. The Gunners have gone unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League London derbies and have won their previous three encounters against Chelsea, who last claimed victory over Arsenal in August 2021.
Team News
Arsenal may see Declan Rice return after he was substituted during the match against Aston Villa. He has been training this week and is expected to be fit for the derby.
Cristhian Mosquera is a larger concern as he missed Thursday’s training session. His minor injury may open the door for Ezri Konsa to make his full debut in central defense. Jurrien Timber has returned to full training after a groin issue and could potentially feature, although William Saliba remains out due to a back injury.
Chelsea faces its own midfield challenges. Moises Caicedo aggravated an existing injury in their match against Brighton and is a doubt for the fixture at Emirates.
Lamine Camara will not make his expected debut for Chelsea, as his transfer from Monaco was unexpectedly cancelled. Therefore, Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia may continue to serve as options in the midfield.
Jordan Henderson is unavailable due to a wrist injury, along with Marco Palestra. Cole Palmer will be aiming to commemorate his 99th Premier League appearance for Chelsea by scoring his 50th league goal for the club.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Lacroix, Colwill, Fofana; James, Gusto, Lavia, Hato; Rogers, Palmer; Pedro
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 16:30pm (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea.
