Arsenal come out of the October international break with a London derby at Chelsea, so here is everything you need to know on the game including how to watch it on TV.
The Gunners and Blues have enjoyed vastly contrasting seasons so far with one chasing the title and the other struggling. Arsenal share the top spot with Tottenham Hotspur after eight games with 20 points. While Chelsea are in just 11th place with only 11 points to their name.
Mauricio Pochettino will hope he can keep Chelsea’s momentum going against Arsenal after winning their past two games. But Mikel Arteta’s squad are unbeaten in the Premier League so far this season on six wins. They also have the best defence and one of the best attacks.
No top-flight side has conceded fewer goals than the six that Arsenal have shipped. Arteta’s team have also scored 16 times to the 11 that Chelsea have fired home. But the Blues might prove a problem having also only allowed seven goals with their real issues at the other end.
Arsenal will visit Stamford Bridge confident of continuing their fantastic run against Chelsea, nonetheless. So, ahead of their Premier League seasons resuming with a London derby, here is everything you need to know about this weekend’s encounter in the west of the capital…
When is Chelsea vs Arsenal?
The Premier League agreed with Sky Sports to schedule Chelsea vs Arsenal for Saturday, October 21. Sky Sports chose the game for live TV coverage in the UK as its 17:30 kick-off.
How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal on TV
Fans can watch Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea live on TV in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage starts on the channels at 17:00 with a build-up show.
Live stream of Chelsea vs Arsenal
Sky Sports will also run a live stream of the Stamford Bridge showdown through their online streaming services and app. While BBC Radio 5 Live will provide an audio-only commentary stream starting from kick-off at 17:30. The station will run each 15:00 kick-off score at 17:00.
Arsenal team and injury news
Arsenal will come out of the international break with a mostly clean bill of health. But Arteta is awaiting news on some injury issues within his team after Arsenal lost Bukayo Saka before the break. The Hale Ender missed their 1-0 win over Manchester City with a hamstring issue.
Saka sustained the issue during the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to RC Lens and ultimately withdrew from England’s October fixtures, too. Now, 90min reports that Saka remains an injury doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea. Although Emirates Stadium chiefs do not feel it is a major issue.
Arteta will rue facing Chelsea without Saka and might possibly take Arsenal without William Saliba, as well. The 22-year-old withdrew from the France squad after Saliba played through a persistent toe injury against Manchester City. The Gunners had been managing his injury.
Reports by football.london add that Arsenal are hopeful of Saliba recovering from his injury to start at Chelsea. Like with Saka, Emirates Stadium chiefs do not feel it is a major problem. But Saliba had felt some discomfort in the affected big toe for some time before the break.
The Manchester City match also took another causality as Arteta replaced Leandro Trossard at half-time. He tweaked his hamstring during the first period and had to withdraw from the Belgium squad. But the Evening Standard reports it was just a precaution for him to recover.
Arteta will now wait for Arsenal to deliver their latest injury updates before deciding if Saka, Saliba and Trossard can make their team at Chelsea. The only other Gunners star currently receiving treatment at London Colney is Jurrien Timber following his ACL surgery in August.
Prediction: Chelsea (0) vs (2) Arsenal
Beating Manchester City without Saka will encourage Arsenal to beat Chelsea, even if injury rules the winger out again. Arteta will hope to have him back nonetheless and having Saliba fit will further their confidence in taking a result. Both players are essential for the Gunners.
Yet neither scored as Arsenal did the double against Chelsea last season. Saliba also missed their 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium whilst sidelined with a back injury in May. Captain Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus got a win after Gabriel Magalhaes hit in a 1-0 win in November.
The results followed Arsenal beating Chelsea 2-4 at Stamford Bridge in April 2022. Now, the Gunners can claim four in a row over the Blues for the first time since 2004. Arsene Wenger took four consecutive victories in all competitions between March 2003 and February 2004.
Wenger’s run included two wins in the FA Cup. Arsenal have never won in four straight top-flight games against Chelsea so far. They have won three league fixtures in a row against the Blues eight times. Arsenal followed six of their previous seven with a draw, plus one defeat.
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