London Derby awaits in-form Arsenal, Chelsea

CHENNAI: Geography isn’t the only dividing line for London on Sunday, it will also be loyalties as North London club, Arsenal takes on West London club, Chelsea in the first of many London derbies this year. It isn’t just a rivalry about London, it is about philosophy, pedigree and more importantly, bragging rights. 

Arsenal built its modern-identity upon patience, elegance and continuity. Chelsea, by contrast, mastered the chaotic and pragmatic, churning through managers like double-decker buses. On Sunday while the managers are different, their ideologies run quite close – steeped in Basque grit and elite Spanish schooling.

Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal into a defensive unit, guarding the Emirates like a fortress. Yet while solid defence remains its calling card, its frontline artillery has looked light, yielding just four goals so far. Factoring in the summer departures of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard, the Gunners’ attacking bite suddenly feels vulnerable.

Xabi Alonso’s Blues, meanwhile, have entertained the league thoroughly. They score in bunches, play with an infectious energy, making Alonso’s Stamford Bridge experience more explosive, with seven goals in two games. New signing Morgan Rogers has fit in like a glove, much to Arsenal’s angst, and has instantly formed a brutal triumvirate alongside Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.

But where’s the defence, Alonso? Chelsea are now 18 Premier League games without a clean sheet, a drought stretching back to a 2-0 win over Brentford under Liam Rosenior. If Alonso is to pull off a statement win on Sunday, his first priority must be reinforcing a backline that has leaked like an open lock on the Thames.

Decades after growing together in San Sebastian, and cutting through football at amateur club, Antiguoko, Arteta and Alonso find themselves at the opposite end once more. They have already lived that chapter as players on either side of Merseyside but now at the capital, the stakes have grown multi-fold with changing crests. 

Stats

11-2

Arsenal’s scoreline against Chelsea across last four Premier League games in Emirates

18

Chelsea has gone 18 games without clean sheet, longest run since 1960-61 season

49

Palmer needs one goal to become third-fastest to 50 goals in Chelsea colours

Last 29 Premier League London derbies

Arsenal: W 22, D6, L1

16

Arsenal is unbeaten its last 16 London derbies, with 12 wins and 4 draws

9

Arsenal’s unbeaten run against Chelsea in Premier League, going back to August 2021

0.54

Arsenal’s xG conceded across first two games

*Stats: Opta Analyst