Arsenal follows their impressive North London derby victory over Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur with another crucial derby, as they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s squad rebounded from discussions of a title ‘wobble’ in remarkable fashion, cruising to a 4-1 victory away against Spurs in Igor Tudor’s first match in charge. By the time Arsenal steps onto the pitch, the gap to Manchester City could shrink back to two points, making a favorable result against Chelsea even more critical.

Liam Rosenior expressed that his team ‘set fire to four points’ after squandering leads against Leeds and Burnley in their latest outings. Chelsea has slipped below Manchester United into fifth place as a result, and aside from the motivation to hinder Arsenal’s title aspirations, they desperately need points in the battle for UEFA Champions League positions.

The two teams last clashed in the Carabao Cup semifinal, where Arsenal triumphed 4-2 on aggregate in two tightly contested matches.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s game.

How to watch:

• The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League in the UK, NBC/Peacock in the U.S., JioHotstar in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN’s live updates.

Key Details:

• Kick-off time: Sunday, March 01 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. ET; 10 p.m. IST and 2:30 a.m. AEST, Monday).
• Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
• Referee: Darren England
• VAR: John Brooks

Injury and Team News:

Arsenal:

• Max Dowman, M: OUT, ankle, estimated return early March
• Mikel Merino, M: OUT, foot, estimated return late May
• Ben White, D: DOUBT, knock
• Kai Havertz, F: DOUBT, muscle

Chelsea:

• Reece James, D: knock, DOUBT
• Jamie Gittens, F: muscle, OUT, estimated return late March
• Romeo Lavia, M: thigh, DOUBT, back in training
• Dário Essugo, M: muscle, DOUBT, back in training
• Marc Cucurella, D: hamstring, OUT, estimated return mid March
• Levi Colwill, D: ACL, OUT, estimated return late April
• Mykhailo Mudryk, F: suspended, OUT
• Wesley Fofana, D: suspended, OUT
• Filip Jørgensen, GK: knock, DOUBT
• Estêvão, F: knock, DOUBT

Talking Points:

Are Arsenal back on track in the title race?

A 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur has increased Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City to five points, but it was the nature of the performance that alleviated concerns about Arteta’s team potentially losing their grip on the title race.

Arsenal appeared to be a vastly different side compared to the anxious team that relinquished a two-goal lead against Wolves. Arteta’s squad did not rest on their laurels after taking the lead and continued to press for additional goals — a significant shift from the defense-first strategy they have often employed.

While Arsenal’s defense has been vulnerable lately, a rare week’s rest could provide them the opportunity to recover from the mental and physical fatigue of playing every three days. Arteta’s title challenge has been built on a solid defense and set-piece effectiveness — both areas have seen a decline recently.

Thus, the realization that they can play free-flowing football when their usual tactics falter should ease some nerves ahead of the final stretch. However, City is in top form, and Arsenal understands that they can afford no mistakes moving forward.

How will Liam Rosenior set up tactically?

Liam Rosenior faced criticism for his tactics in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Arsenal. The Chelsea manager opted for a defensive setup despite needing a goal to level the tie, allowing Arsenal to capitalize late in the match.

The 4-2 aggregate scoreline did not accurately reflect how competitive the tie was — the Emirates was tense for much of the second leg, and it was that atmosphere that Rosenior aimed to exploit psychologically. However, Chelsea thrives when attacking, so Rosenior may need to find a balance in his strategy.

With Wesley Fofana suspended and Reece James and Estêvão both uncertain, Rosenior’s choices may be limited. Chelsea has recorded the highest expected goals (xG) in the league (52.3) but has significantly underperformed — Rosenior will be hoping for a turnaround at the Emirates.

Arsenal has conceded 44% of their goals in 2026 due to individual errors (only Spurs are worse), so a more aggressive approach from Chelsea could yield results.

Viktor Gyökeres faces a test of his momentum

With 15 goals for Arsenal across all competitions this season, Viktor Gyökeres has outperformed fellow summer signings Hugo Ekitike (14, Liverpool), João Pedro (14, Chelsea), Nick Woltemade (10, Newcastle United), Benjamin Sesko (eight, Manchester United), and Alexander Isak (three, Liverpool).

His performance against Tottenham was undoubtedly his best in an Arsenal jersey, although Spurs’ defense played into his strengths. Gyökeres physically dominated Radu Dragusin, and after receiving quick passes from Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber, he made the most of his opportunities.

Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo are significantly more capable defenders than Dragusin and may not be as easily overpowered, so Gyökeres might find it challenging against them. Kai Havertz has a chance to be fit from the start, and given his recent scoring record against Chelsea (three goals in just 191 minutes), Arteta might consider a striker with superior playmaking skills and hold-up play than Gyökeres.

Nonetheless, Gyökeres is in exceptional form this year (10 goal contributions in 2026, averaging one every 85.8 minutes / four goals in his last five games, averaging one every 80 minutes), so Arteta should maintain his faith in the Swedish striker.

Chelsea’s discipline and composure in the spotlight ahead of tough run of fixtures

Chelsea has dropped 19 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season — only West Ham (20) has fared worse. While the squad’s youth is a contributing factor, Chelsea’s discipline is also a concern. The club has received eight red cards this season, the highest in the Premier League.

This trend is particularly troubling as Chelsea often finds themselves down to ten men against Arsenal (seven red cards against them, only worse against Liverpool with eight). Rosenior needs his squad to maintain composure, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.

Following the Arsenal match, Chelsea will face Aston Villa, Wrexham, PSG/Newcastle, Newcastle, PSG/Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City, and Manchester United leading into mid-April. This period is critical for Chelsea, and a loss against the league leaders could dampen morale, while a victory could signal the start of a pivotal run for the season.

Arsenal holds the upper hand in recent history

Mikel Arteta has lost only two of his sixteen matches (10-4-2 W-D-L) against Chelsea as Arsenal’s manager, with Liam Rosenior’s only two defeats in 12 games so far (8-2-2 W-D-L) coming against the Premier League leaders.

Arsenal drew 1-1 against ten-man Chelsea in the reverse fixture earlier this season but has won their last three home games against Chelsea. Arteta’s team is also unbeaten in their last eight encounters with Chelsea, marking Arsenal’s best run against their London rivals since a stretch of 19 undefeated games between 1995 and 2005.

While the law of averages suggests a positive result for Chelsea, Rosenior has proven he can compete with Arteta. However, Chelsea must elevate their performance to secure their first victory over Arsenal in nine attempts.

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