Arsenal vs Chelsea Prediction & Lineups: Two Betting Tips at the Emirates

Arsenal and Chelsea go head-to-head at the Emirates in just under an hour's time, live on Sky Sports Main Event at 1.30pm.

The Gunners have slipped way adrift of Liverpool in the title race and will now be looking over their shoulder at the likes of Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, and Man City.

Chelsea have been far from their best in 2025 but have upped the ante in recent weeks with four straight wins in all competitions.

With kick-off fast-approaching, there's still time to check out Oli Nixon's match preview and best betting tips below.

Arsenal have slipped to 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool and now look in a battle to hold onto second spot whereas Enzo Maresca’s history of poor second halves of seasons has returned with the Blues only winning four Premier League games this calendar year, all against sides in the bottom five. Regardless, this should still be a fiery London derby and both sides still have plenty to play for.

Having recovered from his most recent injury setback, Wesley Fofana is back in the Chelsea line-up and looks set to start at right back for this game. The Frenchman has been prolific in terms of fouls when he has played this season, averaging 1.65 fouls per 90. Across his 13 Premier League starts, he’s had two or more infringements in five and only failed to have at least one foul once and so is consistent with his late challenges.

Arsenal draw 10.5 fouls per game which puts them around mid-table by this metric. Fofana will likely be up against Leandro Trossard who draws 1.6 fouls per 90 across Arsenal’s last 30 matches. In Arsenal’s last 15 matches in all competitions, nine of the opposition right backs have made at least two fouls and so with Fofana’s record, he could be in for a busy afternoon. In Chelsea’s last two trips to the Emirates their right back was booked in one and made two fouls in the other.

Marc Cucurella’s winner against Leicester last weekend was his fifth goal in all competitions this season, representing the best goal return of his career. The Spanish full back seems to be getting forward in almost every Chelsea attack with boss Enzo Maresca preferring him to prioritise attack over defence. Across his last 14 starts in all competitions, Cucurella has had 14 shots, with at least one effort at goal in ten of those games and so is certainly in good form for shooting.

Having conceded just 11.6 shots per game at home, Arsenal will be tough opponents but Chelsea managed 17 shots against them at Stamford Bridge in November. Cucurella didn’t pull the trigger that day but this was before his new role which sees him in the box whenever the ball is in the final third. At the price on offer, Cucurella has to be backed to continue his recent hot streak in front of goal.

Arsenal vs Chelsea Lineups

The starting lineups for Arsenal vs Chelsea are displayed in the graphic below with complete information on who is starting and the substitutes.