MY ACCOUNT
– Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge on the back of some unconvincing away form
– Chelsea are struggling with injuries at the back and look defensively vulnerable
– Recommended bet: Back over 3.5 goals
This derby clash between Chelsea and Arsenal feels slightly bigger than most, with questions just starting to be asked around both camps.
The Blues had been going strong since Graham Potter came in and steadied the ship, but a shocking performance away at Brighton last weekend had many observers wondering if some fortunate results might have been papering over significant cracks at Chelsea.
Arsenal remain top of the Premier League and this week confirmed their passage through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
However, recent away performances have hinted that the Gunners’ early momentum might be starting to slow down.
One way or the other, this Stamford Bridge encounter looks set to either silence a few critics or pose a whole new set of questions.
Team news
Potter has a lengthy injury list to contend with at Chelsea, with as many as six first-team players possibly missing out against Arsenal.
England full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are both injured and look likely to miss the World Cup, and the same is true of France internationals N’Golo Kante and centre-back Wesley Fofana.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also looks set to miss out with a foot injury but there is hope that midfielder Mateo Kovacic might return following concerns over a tight calf muscle.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was able to welcome Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Elneny back to into action against FC Zurich on Thursday, while Oleksandr Zinchenko also returned to the squad, albeit as an unused substitute.
However, Takehiro Tomiyasu had to come off with a suspected hamstring injury in that game and must be a serious doubt, while reserve goalkeeper Matt Turner could again miss out.
Midfielder Emile Smith Rowe will not return until after Christmas.
The stats
Arsenal have a strong recent record away at Stamford Bridge, losing on just one of their last five league visits and winning the last two.
In fact, Chelsea have won just one of the last six meetings with Arsenal at any venue, losing the 2020 FA Cup final to the Gunners at Wembley as well as losing three of the last four league meetings.
However, for all their struggles on the road, Chelsea have been solid at the Bridge this term.
They remain unbeaten in eight home games in all competitions in 2022-23 and have won all three Premier League home games against teams from the bottom half.
They have drawn both times they hosted top-half visitors but on both occasions they were winning as the game went into added time — Tottenham and Manchester United equalised in the 96th and 94th minute respectively.
Arsenal’s last three away games have seen them lose at PSV Eindhoven and draw 1-1 at Southampton as well as getting lucky in a nervy 1-0 success at Leeds.
And while the Gunners boast an impressive record of 10 wins and just one defeat from 12 league games this season, it is notable that they have played only once away at a team in the top nine of the Premier League — and that provided a 3-1 loss to Manchester United.
Prediction
Arsenal’s recent away-day wobbles combined with Chelsea’s hefty injury list make this London derby a tough one to call.
The Gunners have an excellent recent record against the Blues but have been unconvincing in their last three road trips and are not particularly appealing at short prices.
However, Chelsea players are dropping like flies and with Potter denied his first-choice options in goal, defensive midfield, both full-back positions and at one of his centre-backs slots, it would be no surprise if his team again looked brittle — as they were in last weekend’s 4-1 capitulation at Brighton.
In the circumstances, it might be best to swerve the winner market and instead look towards the goals markets.
With Chelsea short of so many defensive players but consistently reliable in front of goal at Stamford Bridge this could be another clash against Arsenal where goals pile up on both sides.
In each of the past six seasons, one of the two Premier League meetings between these two has provided four or more goals.
This weekend’s encounter has plenty around it to suggest it will follow suit so try over 3.5 goals at 21/10 with LiveScore Bet.
