Of all the many possible London derbies in the English Premier League, none come bigger than Chelsea vs. Arsenal. This year will be no different, with the Blues coming into the derby top of the table, while the Gunners are fourth, but are reeling from some key injuries. And there’s also the small matter of former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas facing his old club for the first time as a Chelsea player just to add a little more spice to this exciting top-of-the-table clash.
Manchester United will look to join Chelsea and Arsenal in the upper reaches of the Premier League table, but first they must overcome a dangerous Everton team at home. Check out our preview of that match here, and read on for more on this London derby.
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Chelsea vs. Arsenal Premier League Betting Preview
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Fabregas is all set to meet his former club for the first time wearing Chelsea’s colors. He is yet to experience defeat with the Blues, who will be out to further extend their lead atop the table.
As for Arsenal, who currently sit in fourth, they will look to keep their title challenge alive by narrowing the six-point gap between them and leaders Chelsea.
Betting on Chelsea
Six games into the new season and Chelsea are looking every bit the championship favorites they were touted as before the season. The Blues have won five of those six games – the lone exception a tough draw away to Manchester City – all by two or more goals.
Chelsea has far and away the best attack in the league with 19 goals thus far, seven more than the next highest scorers. They owe that outstanding record in large part to star striker Diego Costa, who has scored eight goals in six Premier League starts.
But manager Jose Mourinho took a gamble on Costa’s fitness when he played the striker for all 90 minutes in their midweek Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon. Mourinho has already gone on record that the injury-plagued Costa can’t play three games a week, putting Costa’s effectiveness – or availability – for the Arsenal game in serious question.
Should Costa not pass fit, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba are two very capable stand-ins. Drogba has a remarkable goalscoring record against the Gunners with 15 goals in 15 games, his last goal coming just last year in the Champions League with Galatasaray.
But the key for Chelsea against the Arsenal will be their midfield. Nemanja Matic is one of the best defensive midfielders around and will be tasked with shutting down Arsenal’s army of tricky attacking midfielders. Meanwhile, former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is more than capable of dictating the play against his old club, who lack the defensive midfield steel to keep him from doing so.
Chelsea won this corresponding fixture 6-0 last season, their fourth win against Arsenal in the last five meetings at Stamford Bridge. And in their last six meetings overall, Chelsea are undefeated (four wins, two draws) against the Gunners.
Betting on Arsenal
Aside from Chelsea, Arsenal remains the only other undefeated team remaining in England’s top flight. But the Gunners have been far from impressive, with just two wins and four draws in their first six games.
Granted, their early-season schedule has not exactly been a walk in the park. They’ve already played champions Manchester City as well as Everton and Tottenham, who finished fifth and sixth last season, respectively. However, their continued instability in defensive midfield has left them vulnerable at the back, especially against the big teams.
There’s more instability than ever in that Arsenal midfield after both Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey left in their 1-1 North London derby draw against Tottenham last weekend with injuries. Mathieu Flamini, Arteta’s replacement in that defensive midfield role, subsequently made the critical error which led to Tottenham’s goal.
Arsenal are already without their two first-choice fullbacks, Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal, who are also out injured, and the lack of effective defensive midfield cover will be a major concern, especially against a Chelsea midfield teeming with talented players.
Up front, though, Wenger still has a wealth of talent from which to choose. Wenger couldn’t even find a place for top scorer Alexis Sanchez (three goals this season) against Spurs, a decision which drew some criticism from fans and media. Don’t expect Sanchez to be missing a second game in a row against Chelsea, where his speed will be a major asset in puncturing the Blues’ backline.
Sanchez marked his return to the starting 11 with his fourth goal of the season in Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of Galatasaray in the Champions League. But it was striker Danny Welbeck who stole the headlines with his first career hat-trick. And with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also available, the Gunners have more than enough ammunition to throw at Chelsea’s defense.
Writer’s Prediction
Costa or no, Chelsea dominates the midfield zone to snatch another win over Arsenal. Create a betting account today and cash in on all the exciting derbies the EPL has to offer.
