The Premier League is entering its final stage. One match that many will be booking into their calendar is on the 1st of March, where Arsenal host Chelsea in yet another London derby. It has implications for the race for the title and Champions League football. With Arsenal sitting top of the table and a fantastic recent record against Chelsea, they will likely be firm favourites.
The title race and the battle for Europe
Arsenal head into this match with all of the momentum on their side. Despite some criticism on the side and a blow recently with Manchester City’s late winner against Liverpool, Arteta’s side is all about consistency. They’re still six points clear of City, and they have all the confidence with a recent 3-0 win over Sunderland. While many claim they struggle to score from open play, they have a +32 goal difference – the highest in the league. Games like Chelsea are where the title is fought and won, with 3 points being non-negotiable.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are undergoing a bit of a tactical resurgence under Liam Rosenior. Currently 5th, the City winner over Liverpool helped stretch their lead over sixth place, Liverpool, to 4 points. They’re now just a point behind United, who are now in great form, so settling for a draw at the Emirates may not be enough.
Breaking the Emirates curse
History is on Arsenal’s side – and it’s not close. Chelsea have not won a league game at the Emirates Stadium since August 2021. In Chelsea years, that’s 8 managers ago, and this four-year drought creates a tactical dilemma for Rosenior. He needs to decide whether to play his natural game or adopt a low block. He knows Arsenal will be up for it, and the crowd, but at the same time, they could be rattled and become tetchy as every game is a must-win for them. Arsenal hadn’t lost at the Emirates in the league this season until the United game – expected goals against is always very low, meaning many of the goals are simply long-range screamers.
Individualism could be the difference
With such rigid tactics from Arteta, sometimes the difference can be the individual. Chelsea will certainly be looking to Cole Palmer, who they didn’t have for their semi-final cup games against Arsenal. Palmer is still an output machine and certainly capable of scoring from range.
The tactical battle between Arsenal’s pressing system and Chelsea’s controlled, possession-based system under Rosenior will be interesting – Chelsea are more than capable of having more of the ball. Because Zubimendi and Rice are so good at intercepting central passes, Palmer may be forced into wider channels and leave the strikers isolated.
For Arsenal, Viktor Gyökeres is coming good at the right time. He has been slowly adapting to the league, but his six goals mean he’s now the top-scoring striker since the turn of the year. Saka will return, which is a boost, though Madueke is certainly chomping at the bit to play at his former club.
Momentum and predictions for the final run-in
The result of this clash impacts the run-in for both teams, but it’s arguably more important for Arsenal to win. While Arsenal has a bigger gap to fall back on and Chelsea are still playing catch-up, there is a feeling that City is back in form, as always, at the right time of the season.
As the game gets closer to kick-off, UK fans can check the best no deposit bonus betting sites. It’s almost a guarantee that Arsenal will be favourites, but anything can happen in a London derby.
What is ideal is that both teams are relatively free of major suspensions and injuries. Yes, Arsenal just beat Chelsea over two legs, but Rosenior will likely have more to learn from these than Arsenal does. Whether Chelsea can finally end their drought at the Emirates may come down to individualism, or it could come down to Arsenal losing their cool at the tail-end of the season once again.
