It’s the start of a huge week for Arsenal, so can they pull clear at the top of the Premier League, even if only temporarily?
Arsenal vs Chelsea match preview
Arsenal have five games to go in this Premier League season and, realistically, for them to have any chance of capturing a first title in 20 years, all five are must win, given that their fate is out of their own hands.
It had been a tough week for the Gunners, beaten in the Premier League for the first time since New Year’s Eve, ending an 11 game unbeaten streak, by Aston Villa at home nine days ago.
This was followed by a rather lifeless performance in Germany that saw Mikel Arteta’s team dumped out of the Champions League, ousted 1-0 by Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena.
Thus, it was vitally important that the Gunners got back to winning ways on Saturday night, doing just that at Molineux in a generally controlled 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Leandro Trossard shanking one in towards the end of the first half, before Martin Ødegaard belatedly made the points secure from an acute angle in second half stoppage time.
So, Arsenal kick off top of the table, above Liverpool on goal difference, but the bigger concern is of course Manchester City, who are only a point behind with a game in hand.
After this, the Gunners have the small matter of a North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, before concluding the campaign against Bournemouth (H), Manchester United (A) and Everton (H).
As ever, a trip to Old Trafford can never be taken for granted, but it certainly seems as though the pair of London derbies coming up this week will determine whether or not Arsenal remain in this title race.
Chelsea meantime make the short 7.4 journey mile north in dispiriting mood, following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Man City in the FA Cup semi-finals, a game they really should’ve won at Wembley.
Nicolas Jackson on his own could’ve scored a hat-trick, as the Blues paid the price for squandered opportunities.
Having also tasted defeat in the EFL Cup Final in February, Chelsea’s Wembley hoodoo continues, defeated in five of their last six five fixtures at the National Stadium, beaten there on seven occasions since their most-recent domestic cup triumph in 2018.
So, there will be no silverware for Mauricio Pochettino or his team, who have seven games left as they aim to sneak into a European spot.
The Blues are currently ninth, a point below West Ham and three adrift both Man United and Newcastle, the two sides occupying the final European positions, having played fewer games than anyone else.
After this, Chelsea’s fixtures are Aston Villa (A), Tottenham (H), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Brighton (A) and Bournemouth (H), so there aren’t many gimmes in there, although this team have often performed better against high-calibre opposition.
For example, Arsenal required two late goals to leave Stamford Bridge with a point in October although, having won three encounters on the spin beforehand, are aiming to go five Premier League games unbeaten against Chelsea for the first time since 2005.
Almost exactly a year ago, the Gunners swatted the Blues aside 3-1, three up in little over half an hour, and the vast majority in attendance would settle for a similar outcome here.
Arsenal vs Chelsea Tips
Arsenal haven’t won back-to-back Premier League home games against Chelsea for 21 years, most-recently achieving this during the Invincible season, but we’re expecting this fact to change.
Mikel Arteta’s team have won 12 of 16 Premier League home games so far this season, claiming victory in five on the spin before Aston Villa rather burst their bubble a week and a half ago.
Man City, Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle and many more have already left N5 defeated this season, a list we’re forecasting will grow.
On the flip side, Chelsea have won only two of their last ten away league games, this victories coming at Crystal Palace and Luton, most-recently held to a 2-2 draw by rock-bottom Sheffield United on the road.
In terms of both teams to score, this has occurred in 12 of the Blues’ last 15 matches, despite not being the case in either of their last two.
Meanwhile, despite keeping six successive clean sheets away, one short the Premier League’s all-time record, the Gunners have enjoyed just one shutout in their last five home league games, this against Luton.
Not just for narrative reasons, although that is undeniably a factor, we’re forecasting that Kai Havertz will net in this one.
The German has so far scored ten times during his first season at Arsenal, having been Chelsea’s top-scorer in all competitions with nine during the last campaign.
Havertz has scored five times in his last nine Premier League starts, providing four assists during this period too, so, as the Arsenal fans will be singing if this does come to pass, we’re backing Kai Havertz to score again.
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