Arsenal return to Emirates Stadium for a monumental London derby against Chelsea after their second win of the season against Aston Villa.
Both teams have made flawless starts to their league campaigns, with Chelsea defeating Fulham and Brighton in their opening fixtures.
Having been one of the busiest clubs during the recent transfer window, Chelsea's focus now shifts entirely to the football as they prepare to clash with Arsenal at 16:30 on Sunday.
Alonso's swift adaptation
Last season was a struggle for Chelsea, missing out on European football, but new head coach Xabi Alonso is already making his mark as the club's sixth permanent manager in the last six years.
The Spanish tactician, hailing from the same region as Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, has welcomed 11 new players, including former Gunners Emiliano Martinez and Danny Welbeck, as well as Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, and Maxence Lacroix from other Premier League clubs.
Things are looking promising for the ex-Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, who has overseen two wins from two since taking the reins.
Their campaign kicked off with a convincing victory in the west London derby against Fulham, where the attacking trio of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro all found the net, followed by a thrilling 4-3 win over Brighton.
This means both Chelsea and Arsenal head into the match with six points from six available, a stark reminder that Chelsea last won at Emirates in August 2021, triumphing 2-0.
What the managers are saying
Arteta:
“I love my players, that's all I can say. I think by the end of the season, we will have everything in its place, so let's just trust them. Let's do everything we can to support them and help unleash the incredible talent they possess.”
“In the two games Chelsea have played, they have scored very, very early, and that changes the dynamic of the game. But they are capable of playing in different ways, and Alonso can adapt tactics. So far, it has been a truly successful start.”
Alonso:
“We can be very happy with how the transfer window has gone. Much of what we started discussing in May or early June is now in place.”
“This has been a very balanced first phase of our transfer window. The first phase is complete; it’s a strong foundation for both the present and the future.”
Team news
In the pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bruno Guimaraes sustained an injury in the victory against Aston Villa, and a decision regarding his availability will be made this weekend. The same applies to Cristian Mosquera, who had to leave the field at Villa Park. Meanwhile, Jurriën Timber is training with the main group as he continues his recovery, while William Saliba remains sidelined for a longer term, though Mikel is optimistic about his progress.
Arteta noted:
“The dynamics of recovery have been really positive over the last few weeks, but we need to wait and see how the body reacts when we start to increase the workload.”
As for Chelsea, they await the results of a late fitness test for midfielder Moises Caicedo, who left the pitch during their victory over Brighton. The Blues will also be without Jordan Henderson, who suffered an injury during the World Cup with England, yet Alonso acknowledged the midfielder is nearing a return to action.
Tactical analysis
Chelsea's new attacking trio is brimming with talent. Homegrown duo Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer relish moving between the lines, supporting striker Joao Pedro. Currently, this trio is on fire, having netted five goals and provided four assists in just 180 minutes of Premier League action together.
The Blues' attacking full-backs, Pedro Neto and Yorrel Hato, also caught the eye. Portuguese international Neto has looked dangerous in the final third, yet he does not traditionally play as a defender. Will Alonso entrust him with that role? If Neto starts, it will certainly highlight the Spaniard's desire to attack at every opportunity.
However, the midfield looks potentially vulnerable. Enzo Fernandez has departed, and Moises Caicedo has faced early-season injury woes, prompting Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto, Richard James, and Valentin Barco to fill in. While these are gifted players, Chelsea currently lacks a reliable, experienced double pivot.
With so many changes across the pitch, growing pains are almost inevitable. Conceding two goals from set-pieces and showing noticeable nerves during deliveries into their box highlight defensive areas that Alonso still needs to address.
Facts and statistics
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches against Chelsea (6 wins, 3 draws) — their best streak against the Blues since 19 straight games without defeat from 1995 to 2005.
- Chelsea have lost their last four Premier League away matches against Arsenal, conceding an aggregate 11-2. Their last victory at Emirates came in August 2021 (2-0).
- Arsenal have lost only one of their last 29 Premier League London derbies (22 wins, 6 draws) and are unbeaten in their last 16 encounters (12 wins, 4 draws), with their only longer unbeaten run occurring from August 2022 to November 2023 (17 matches).
- Chelsea started the 2026/27 season with three consecutive victories across all competitions (two in the Premier League, one in the league cup). The last time the Blues won their first four matches of a season was in the 2016/17 campaign (the first four under Antonio Conte), and the last time they won their first three Premier League games was during the 2018/19 season (under Maurizio Sarri).
- Arsenal have taken the first two Premier League matches of the season, but they have only kicked off a campaign with three wins once in the last 21 years, which was in the 2022/23 season.
- In the two Premier League matches involving Chelsea this season, 12 goals have been scored (seven scored, five conceded) — the third-highest total after Arsenal in the 2004/05 season (13 goals) and Leeds United in 2020/21 (14 goals). They could become the first team whose first three league matches of the season see 5 or more goals in each game since Arsenal in the 1988/89 season.
- After the first two rounds of the 2026/27 season, Arsenal have allowed the fewest shots from opponents (11), the fewest shots on target (one), and recorded the lowest xG (0.54) among all Premier League clubs.
- Since the start of the 2022/23 season, the Gunners have played 16 matches where opponents failed to register a shot on target — twice as many as any other team (Liverpool, 8 matches).
- Bukayo Saka has scored in each of his last two Premier League matches. The last time he scored in more consecutive games was in January-February 2024 (five matches in a row). The last player to net in his first three matches of a season was Alexandre Lacazette in the 2020/21 season.
Match officials
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant referees: Dan Cook, Tim Wood
Fourth official: Tom Bramall
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR: Konstantin Hatzidakis
Historical rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea
Since their defeat to Chelsea in August 2021, Arsenal have enjoyed an incredible 11-match unbeaten run against the Blues, covering five years and nine different managers (both interim and permanent) at the helm of their rivals.
These 11 matches without loss include Premier League and League Cup encounters, where the Gunners defeated the Blues 4-2 on aggregate in last year’s semi-final.
The last time Arsenal triumphed over Chelsea was in March 2026, when goals from William Saliba and Jurriën Timber secured the win at Emirates Stadium.
