Arsenal vs chelsea: A Crucial London Derby at the Emirates Stadium

By Vikram Nair / 02.03.2026

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Arsenal follows their North London derby triumph over Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur with another significant derby, as they host Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s team rebounded from discussions of a title ‘wobble’ in impressive fashion, securing a 4-1 victory away to Spurs in Igor Tudor’s inaugural match. The gap to Manchester City could narrow to two points by the time Arsenal takes the field, making a favorable outcome against Chelsea even more critical.

Liam Rosenior expressed that his side ‘set fire to four points’ after relinquishing leads against Leeds and Burnley in their latest outings. Chelsea has dropped below Manchester United into fifth place as a result, and aside from the motivation to disrupt Arsenal’s title aspirations, they require points in the battle for UEFA Champions League positions.

The two teams last faced off in the Carabao Cup semifinal, where Arsenal triumphed 4-2 on aggregate in two closely contested matches.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s game.

How to watch:

The match will be broadcast on Sunday on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League in the UK, NBC/Peacock in the U.S., JioHotstar in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. Live updates can also be followed on ESPN.

Key Details:

• Kick-off time: Sunday, March 01 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. ET; 10 p.m. IST and 2:30 a.m. AEST, Monday).
• Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
• Referee: Darren England
• VAR: John Brooks

Injury and Team News:

Arsenal:

• Max Dowman, M: OUT, ankle, estimated return early March
• Mikel Merino, M: OUT, foot, estimated return late May
• Ben White, D: DOUBT, knock
• Kai Havertz, F: DOUBT, muscle

Chelsea:

• Reece James, D: knock, DOUBT
• Jamie Gittens, F: muscle, OUT, estimated return late March
• Romeo Lavia, M: thigh, DOUBT, back in training
• Dário Essugo, M: muscle, DOUBT, back in training
• Marc Cucurella, D: hamstring, OUT, estimated return mid March
• Levi Colwill, D: ACL, OUT, estimated return late April
• Mykhailo Mudryk, F: suspended, OUT
• Wesley Fofana, D: suspended, OUT
• Filip Jørgensen, GK: knock, DOUBT
• Estêvão, F: knock, DOUBT

Talking Points:

Are Arsenal back on track in the title race?

A 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur has extended Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City to five points, but it was the nature of the performance that alleviated concerns regarding Arteta’s squad potentially squandering their lead in the title race.

Arsenal appeared markedly different from the anxious team that surrendered a two-goal advantage to drop points against Wolves. Arteta’s squad did not rest on their laurels after taking the lead and continued to seek additional goals—a notable contrast to the defense-first strategy they have employed in many matches.

Arsenal’s defense has been vulnerable recently, but a rare week’s rest could provide them the opportunity to recover from the mental and physical fatigue of a game every three days. Arteta’s team has built their title challenge on a solid defense and set-piece effectiveness—both elements of their game that have declined lately.

Thus, the understanding that they can play free-flowing football when their usual tactics falter should ease some nerves ahead of the final stretch. However, City is in excellent form, and Arsenal recognizes that they have no room for error.

How will Liam Rosenior set up tactically?

Liam Rosenior faced criticism for his tactical approach in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Arsenal. The Chelsea manager opted for a defensive setup despite needing a goal to level the tie, allowing Arsenal to capitalize late on as Chelsea chased the game.

The 4-2 aggregate scoreline did not fully reflect how competitive the tie was—the Emirates was tense for much of the second leg, and it was that atmosphere that Rosenior aimed to exploit psychologically. However, Chelsea performs best when attacking, so Rosenior may need to find a balance in his strategy.

With Wesley Fofana suspended and Reece James and Estêvão both doubtful, Rosenior’s choices may be limited. Chelsea has recorded the highest expected goals (xG) in the league (52.3) but has significantly underperformed—Rosenior will be hoping for a positive shift at the Emirates.

Arsenal has conceded 44% of their goals in 2026 due to individual errors (only Spurs are worse), so a more aggressive approach from Chelsea could prove effective.

Viktor Gyökeres faces a test of his momentum

With 15 goals for Arsenal across all competitions this season, Viktor Gyökeres has outperformed fellow summer signings Hugo Ekitike (14, Liverpool), João Pedro (14, Chelsea), Nick Woltemade (10, Newcastle United), Benjamin Sesko (eight, Manchester United), and Alexander Isak (three, Liverpool).

His performance against Tottenham was undoubtedly his best in an Arsenal jersey, although Spurs’ defense played into his strengths. Gyökeres was able to physically dominate Radu Dragusin, maintaining pressure throughout the match, and after receiving quick passes from Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber, the Swedish striker excelled.

Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo are significantly more competent defenders than Dragusin and may not be as easily overpowered, which could limit Gyökeres’ effectiveness. Kai Havertz has a chance to return to fitness and given his recent scoring record against Chelsea (three goals in 191 minutes), Arteta might consider opting for a striker with superior playmaking skills and hold-up play than Gyökeres.

Nonetheless, Gyökeres is in exceptional form this year (10 goal contributions in 2026, averaging one every 85.8 minutes / four goals in his last five games, averaging one every 80 minutes), so Arteta should maintain confidence in his Swedish striker.

Chelsea’s discipline and composure in the spotlight ahead of tough run of fixtures

Chelsea has squandered 19 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season—only West Ham (20) has fared worse. While the squad’s youth is a contributing factor, Chelsea’s discipline is also a concern. The club has received eight red cards this season, the highest in the Premier League.

It does not help that Chelsea frequently finds themselves reduced to ten men against Arsenal (seven red cards against Arsenal, only worse against Liverpool with eight). Rosenior must ensure his squad maintains composure, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.

Following the Arsenal match, Chelsea will face Aston Villa, Wrexham, PSG/Newcastle, Newcastle, PSG/Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City, and Manchester United leading into mid-April. This period is critical for Chelsea, and a loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a victory could signal the beginning of a season-defining stretch.

Arsenal holds the upper hand in recent history

Mikel Arteta has lost only two of sixteen matches (10-4-2 W-D-L) against Chelsea as Arsenal’s manager, while Liam Rosenior’s only two defeats in 12 games so far (8-2-2 W-D-L) have come against the Premier League leaders.

Arsenal drew 1-1 against ten-man Chelsea in the earlier fixture this season but has won their last three home encounters against Chelsea. Arteta’s team is also unbeaten in their last eight matches against Chelsea, marking Arsenal’s best run against their London rivals since a stretch of 19 undefeated games between 1995 and 2005.

The law of averages suggests a favorable result for Chelsea, and Rosenior has demonstrated he can compete with Arteta, but Chelsea must elevate their performance to secure their first victory over Arsenal in nine attempts.