Arsenal – Chelsea : Preview & Prediction
Arsenal fans have experienced a season of surprising highs followed by desperate lows in the most recent four rounds. The Premier League (PL) title race is over according to some bookmakers, although Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was keen to point out that “strange things have happened,” but if Arsenal are to get maximum points, they will need Manchester City to drop at least four.
That’s a situation Arsenal must believe until the title becomes mathematically impossible, but their resurrection must begin in this previously postponed game against Chelsea. The rescheduling unsettled the home side enough to issue a statement, although fans could take heart from the fact that Arsenal have never lost to Chelsea in the Premier League between a Tuesday and a Thursday (G4, E6).
Frank Lampard’s Blues might not be a threat to that run after losing all five games since the aforementioned manager took over as interim in what is their worst losing streak since 1993. Indeed, Chelsea are at risk of losing 20 official games in a season for the first time since 1987/88 if they slip up again in this clash, with the club on course to record their first bottom-half finish since 1996.
Trying to keep a squad of 30+ players happy was always going to be a big challenge for any manager, but it seems the £500m+ spend has not paid off in the short term. Among all the negatives, Chelsea at least have a relatively respectable record in London derbies in the PL this season (G3, E4, P4), despite coming into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss to a west of the capital side, Brentford.
Players to watch: Arsenal star winger Bukayo Saka has as many home league goal contributions as PL appearances at home this season (nine goals, seven assists), and also provided an assist in the previous league clash between the two clubs. For Chelsea, Conor Gallagher remains the scorer of the only goal in Lampard’s second spell with the club.
Key stat: Chelsea have won just one PL match against teams currently in the top half of the table this season (G1, E6, P9).
Arsenal – Chelsea : Betting Tips
Arsenal – Win Odds: 1.60
