The Gunners must not allow themselves to slip up in the London derby

The weekend brought a change at the top of the table in the race for the English championship. Arsenal FC regained their place in the sun with a 2-0 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but only because the actual leaders Manchester City had to play in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and have therefore played one game less as the current third-placed team. The Gunners could go one better on Tuesday evening and temporarily extend their lead to four points if Arsenal and Chelsea win at home

However, doubts about a three-pointer in the London derby are limited when looking at the standings. While the home side are still chasing their first championship in 20 years, the Blues are lagging behind their own expectations. Thanks to recent very pleasing results at league level, however, Pochettino’s team have at least caught up with the international ranks. Nevertheless, the betting odds on the three-way market point to a pronounced favorite status in favor of the Gunners, who incidentally could win two consecutive PL home games against their city rivals for only the second time this millennium.

The hosts should still be cautious, of course, as the two-time Champions League winners have enough talent and individual quality to make it foolhardy to reduce the Blues to their current ninth place in the table. Cole Palmer’s offense in particular has recently impressed at league level. For this reason, among others, it could be a sensible approach to predict a goal or two between Arsenal and Chelsea during the course of the match

Arsenal – Statistics & current form

After last Wednesday’s bitter Champions League exit at FC Bayern, the Gunners only have one goal in mind this season: the Premier League title! The Londoners may not be able to lift the league trophy on their own for the first time since 2004, but with five/six games remaining, hopes of Manchester City slipping up are anything but justified. However, the focus is not on the results of the direct competition, which cannot be influenced anyway, but on doing their own homework.

This was achieved in a very mature manner at the weekend. Thanks to goals from Trossard (45′) and Odegaard (90′), they won the difficult game at Wolves 2:0. It was the eleventh win in the 13th Premier League match in the 2024 soccer year for coach Mikel Arteta’s side, who showed a perfect reaction to their elimination from the top flight and the bitter 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa the previous week. The aim now is to build on this focused performance during the week

Can Arsenal keep a clean sheet against Chelsea?

A strong home record is one of the Arteta side’s strengths. Twelve of the 16 PL home matches to date have been victorious. The Red & Whites have not lost two consecutive home games in the English top flight since April. Only Manchester City have conceded fewer goals at home than the current league leaders.

In general, the Gunners’ solid defense continues to be one of their trump cards in the battle for the championship. They have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last ten PL matches. However, we doubt that this will be the case again on Tuesday evening against the Blues’ offense, which has been very strong of late. As a result, we are also checking the odds on over-goals or goals from both teams ahead of the Arsenal v Chelsea city derby.

One candidate for a potential goal for the hosts is undoubtedly Bukayo Saka. After all, the nimble right-winger has been involved in more London derby goals than any other player in the Premier League since the start of last season. He has scored eight goals and provided nine assists against teams from the capital. Should he add to that impressive tally on Tuesday, odds on Bukayo Saka scoring in Arsenal’s match against Chelsea will be attractive.

Predicted Arsenal line-up:

Chelsea – Statistics & current form

After reaching the final of the League Cup, Chelsea FC didn’t need much to reach the final of the FA Cup on Saturday evening. Despite a courageous performance against a tired and mentally weakened Manchester City, the Blues ultimately lost narrowly 1-0 and can now focus exclusively on the race for the international starting places in the Premier League in the remaining weeks of the season.

The capital club still have a lot of work to do, as Mauricio Pochettino’s charges are the only team in the English top flight to have only played 31 games. Nevertheless, they are only three points behind the sixth-placed team, meaning that their hopes of avoiding another season without European football are more alive than ever. However, given that the 2021 Champions League winners have a tough remaining program, the Blues would be well advised to land a surprise coup here and there

Thanks to Cole Palmer: Chelsea are currently experiencing their best phase of the season

The fact is that the Londoners have built up a lot of confidence in recent matches. They have not lost any of their last eight league games (4-4-0). Eight days ago, they also put Everton FC in their place with a 6-0 win at their own stadium. The outstanding man on the pitch was once again Cole Palmer, who scored four goals and already has 20 for the season. The summer signing from Manchester City has scored half of his goals in the last five Premier League games. The brilliant left-footer could therefore make the difference again on Tuesday evening at the Emirates Stadium. Possibly even from the penalty spot, as the youngster has actually converted all nine of his spot-kicks so far this season!

Palmer’s strength in form is also emblematic of the Blues’ recent excellent attacking performances. Pochettino’s team have scored at least two goals in six consecutive league games. In nine of the last ten PL matches involving CFC, the over 3.5 would have gone through, which is why we are not averse to predicting four or more goals after regular time in the London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Speaking of derbies, Chelsea Football Club have won five of the last eight London city duels (5-2-1). The Argentine head coach’s Arsenal record is less pleasing, however, having visited the Emirates seven times with Southampton and Tottenham without a single win (0-4-3). A three-pointer for the visitors also seems rather unlikely in this matchday 29 catch-up game.

Chelsea’s expected line-up:

Arsenal – Chelsea head-to-head comparison / H2H result

This is the 174th time the city rivals have faced each other in England’s top flight. Arsenal currently have the edge with 68 wins compared to 54 defeats and 51 draws. The Gunners have also had the upper hand in recent years. In the last eight PL duels between these teams, Arsenal have only lost once (5-2-1). In the previous season, Arteta’s team beat the Blues 3-1 at home. There could be a similar result again on Tuesday night

Arsenal – Chelsea tip

In the Premier League, we have an English week ahead of us with plenty of catch-up games. Among other things, we can also look forward to real derbies. The kick-off is on Tuesday evening with Arsenal against Chelsea. With betting odds of just over 1.50 on a home win, the Gunners are the clear favorites, having won twelve of their 16 PL home games to date, currently leading the table and having kept a clean sheet in seven of their last ten league games.

However, the task against their city rivals from Stamford Bridge will by no means be a walk in the park, as the Blues also travel to the game with the recommendation of eight unbeaten PL matches in a row. Cole Palmer and Co. have scored at least two goals in the league six times in a row. However, they suffered a bitter 1-0 defeat against Manchester City at the weekend. Although we believe that Pochettino’s team can score one or even more goals at the Emirates Stadium, we do not believe that the ninth-placed team will win a point

That’s why we’re backing a home win between Arsenal and Chelsea at odds of 1.52, which we found at Oddset.