Chelsea vs Arsenal — Match Preview
The Premier League spotlight falls on Stamford Bridge this Sunday for a heavyweight London derby that could define the title race. Arsenal, sitting top of the table, arrive in west London looking to extend their lead, fresh off a statement Champions League victory over Bayern Munich. Mikel Arteta’s side is purring, but injuries to key attackers threaten to disrupt their rhythm.
Hosting them are Chelsea, who have quietly surged into 2nd place under Enzo Maresca. The Blues are just six points behind the Gunners and have momentum on their side after a stunning 3-0 win over Barcelona midweek. With the chance to cut the gap to three points, Stamford Bridge will be rocking. Can Maresca’s tactical structure withstand Arsenal’s precision, or will the Gunners prove why they are the team to beat?
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Chelsea vs Arsenal
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 13)
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London (Capacity: 40,341)
- Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 16:30 GMT / 17:30 CET / 22:00 IST
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Jarred Gillett (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
- TV Channel (USA): USA Network, NBC Sports App
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Stream: NOW TV (UK), Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Chelsea:
- Position: 2nd in Premier League (23 Points).
- Form: Surging. Unbeaten in their last 5 games, including a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Barcelona and a professional 2-0 victory at Burnley.
- Current Challenge: Breaking a mental block against Arsenal. They haven’t beaten the Gunners at Stamford Bridge in their last six attempts.
Arsenal:
- Position: 1st in Premier League (29 Points).
- Form: Imperious. They hammered Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby and followed it up with a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich. They look unstoppable, but injuries are mounting.
- Current Challenge: Managing a depleted forward line. With Gyökeres and Jesus out, and Trossard doubtful, the attack looks thin.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — What’s at Stake
For Chelsea:
- Title Credentials: A win here cuts the gap to 3 points and officially announces Chelsea as genuine title contenders. A loss would leave them 9 points adrift, likely ending their title hopes before Christmas.
For Arsenal:
- Dominance: A win would open a 9-point gap over their nearest rivals, creating a massive cushion at the top. It would also reaffirm their psychological hold over Chelsea.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Team Form
Chelsea (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Barcelona (3-0 – CL)
- W vs Burnley (2-0)
- W vs Wolves (3-0)
- D vs Qarabag (2-2 – CL)
- W vs Tottenham (1-0)
Arsenal (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Bayern Munich (3-1 – CL)
- W vs Tottenham (4-1)
- D vs Sunderland (2-2)
- W vs Slavia Prague (3-0 – CL)
- W vs Burnley (2-0)
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Team News
Chelsea:
- Cole Palmer: Out (Broken Toe – A massive loss for Chelsea’s creativity).
- Levi Colwill: Out (Knee Injury).
- Romeo Lavia: Out (Thigh Injury).
- Mykhailo Mudryk: Suspended.
- Dario Essugo: Out (Thigh Injury).
- Estêvão: Expected to start after his dazzling performance against Barcelona.
Arsenal:
- Gabriel Magalhães: Out (Muscle Injury – Huge loss in defense).
- Viktor Gyökeres: Out (Hamstring Injury).
- Gabriel Jesus: Out (Knee Injury).
- Leandro Trossard: Doubtful (Picked up a knock vs Bayern).
- Kai Havertz: Doubtful (Fitness concerns).
- Piero Hincapié: Expected to fill in at center-back for Gabriel.
- Mikel Merino: Likely to be deployed as an emergency striker/false nine due to the striker crisis.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Head to Head
- 16 Mar 2025: Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea
- 10 Nov 2024: Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal
- 24 Apr 2024: Arsenal 5–0 Chelsea
- 21 Oct 2023: Chelsea 2–2 Arsenal
- 03 May 2023: Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea
- Analysis: Arsenal have dominated this fixture recently, especially at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea need to rewrite history.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Maresca will rely on the pace of his wingers to hurt Arsenal in transition.
- GK: Robert Sánchez
- RB: Reece James (C)
- CB: Tosin Adarabioyo
- CB: Trevoh Chalobah
- LB: Marc Cucurella
- CDM: Moisés Caicedo
- CDM: Enzo Fernández
- RW: Estêvão (Messinho)
- CAM: Christopher Nkunku (Replacing Palmer)
- LW: Pedro Neto
- ST: Nicolas Jackson
Arsenal (4-3-3):
Arteta is forced into a makeshift attack but retains a world-class midfield.
- GK: David Raya
- RB: Jurrien Timber
- CB: William Saliba
- CB: Piero Hincapié
- LB: Riccardo Calafiori
- CDM: Martin Zubimendi
- CM: Declan Rice
- CM: Martin Ødegaard (C)
- RW: Bukayo Saka
- ST: Mikel Merino (False 9 role)
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Impact Bench Options
Chelsea:
- Jadon Sancho: Can provide a spark against a tiring Arsenal defense.
- João Pedro: Offers a different, more physical profile upfront if Jackson struggles.
Arsenal:
- Raheem Sterling: Facing his former club, he will be desperate to make an impact off the bench.
- Ethan Nwaneri: The youngster might get minutes if Arsenal need a goal, given the lack of senior attackers.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Tactical Outlook
Chelsea:
- Playing Style: Controlled Counters. Maresca knows Arsenal want the ball. Chelsea will likely sit in a mid-block and try to release Estêvão and Neto into the space behind Arsenal’s full-backs. Without Palmer, Nkunku must drop deep to link play.
- Weakness: Set Pieces. Arsenal are the best set-piece team in the league. Chelsea have looked vulnerable defending corners, and without Colwill’s height, they could struggle.
Arsenal:
- Playing Style: Suffocating Control. Even with injuries, Arteta’s system is robust. They will use Rice and Zubimendi to lock down the midfield and recycle possession. With a false nine (Merino), expect Saka and Martinelli to make diagonal runs into the box.
- Strength: Defensive Structure. They have conceded only 6 goals all season. Breaking them down is the hardest task in football right now.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Marc Cucurella vs. Bukayo Saka | The Ultimate Test: Saka is in Ballon d’Or form. Cucurella must be disciplined and not dive in, or Saka will destroy him. | Arsenal |
| Moisés Caicedo vs. Martin Ødegaard | Midfield Mastery: Caicedo needs to shadow Ødegaard everywhere. If the Arsenal captain gets time on the ball, he will pick Chelsea apart. | Tie |
| Estêvão vs. Riccardo Calafiori | Speed vs. Power: The Brazilian wonderkid vs. the Italian wall. Estêvão’s dribbling could be Chelsea’s X-factor. | Chelsea |
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Spotlight Players
Estêvão (Chelsea):
The teenager announced himself to the world against Barcelona. Now, in his first big London derby, can he replicate that magic? His fearlessness is exactly what Chelsea need to break down Arsenal’s structured defense.
Mikel Merino (Arsenal):
Likely playing out of position as a striker/false nine, the Spaniard has a huge job. He needs to hold up the ball, win aerial duels against Tosin/Chalobah, and bring Saka and Martinelli into play. It’s a selfless role, but vital.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Fan Reactions
Chelsea Fans:
“We beat Barca, we can beat Arsenal! Stamford Bridge needs to be a cauldron.”
“No Palmer is gutted, but Nkunku has to step up. This is his moment.”
Arsenal Fans:
” injuries are a nightmare, but our system is bulletproof. In Arteta we trust.”
“Merino up top? It worked for Havertz, it can work for him. Let’s smash them.”
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Main Event
- USA: USA Network
- India: Star Sports Select 1, JioStar
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Match-Defining Factors
- The “Palmer” Void: Chelsea rely heavily on Cole Palmer for goals and assists. Without him, do they have enough creativity to unlock the league’s best defense?
- Arsenal’s Fatigue: Arsenal played a high-intensity game vs Bayern on Wednesday. Chelsea played Tuesday. That extra 24 hours of rest could be crucial in the final 15 minutes.
- Anthony Taylor: The referee appointment has already sparked debate. His decisions in big tackles will set the tone for the match.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Prediction
Score Prediction: Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw.
- Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Arsenal’s defense is elite; Chelsea missing Palmer).
- Card Count: Over 5.5 Cards (A heated derby with Anthony Taylor refereeing).
Analysis: Arsenal are the better team, but their injury list—especially in attack—levels the playing field. Chelsea are confident and rested, but missing Cole Palmer is a hammer blow. Expect a tight, tactical battle where Arsenal control the game but lack the cutting edge to kill it off, settling for a valuable point away from home.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — Final Word
It’s the biggest game of the Premier League season so far. Chelsea have the chance to blow the title race wide open, while Arsenal can effectively put one hand on the trophy with a win. Injuries will dictate the lineups, but passion will dictate the result. Don’t miss this one.
Chelsea vs Arsenal — FAQs
When is the Chelsea vs Arsenal match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at 16:30 GMT (22:00 IST).
Is Cole Palmer playing?
No, Cole Palmer is out with a broken toe.
Who is Arsenal’s striker?
With Jesus and Gyökeres out, midfielder Mikel Merino or Kai Havertz (if fit) is expected to play as a false nine.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Star Sports Select 1 and stream on Disney+ Hotstar or JioStar.
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