Football
Chelsea vs Arsenal Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
SportsBoom previews the Premier League London derby match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 10 November 2024. With excitement building and anticipation growing ahead of kickoff, Premier League betting fans are already diving into the odds and assessing both teams, hoping to find the best value. For a detailed, in-depth look at the match, be sure to check out our full preview.
Declan Rice Noni Madueke//Getty Images
Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. Both sides are eager to get back to winning ways after disappointing results last weekend. The teams are neck and neck in the standings, sitting in fourth and fifth, respectively, with the Blues edging ahead on goal difference.
Arsenal have dominated this fixture in recent matchups having gone unbeaten in the last five games against Chelsea. In those meetings, the Gunners registered four wins, including a thumping 5-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium when they last clashed on April 23.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Arsenal Clear Favourites
Home: 9/5 (2.80) – 35,7%
Draw: 51/20 (3.55) – 28,2%
Away: 143/100 (2.43) – 41,2%
*Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings (Premier League)
23/04/24: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
21/10/23: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
02/05/23: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
06/11/22: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
20/04/22: Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal
Chelsea: Current Form – WDLWD
Following a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United last weekend, Chelsea will welcome the return to Stamford Bridge, where they last beat Newcastle United on October 27. Enzo Maresca’s side are unbeaten at home since losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the opening gameweek.
They drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, despite dominating possession and having way more goal attempts, and saw off high-flying Brighton 4-2 as Cole Palmer scored four first-half goals. In their last game at the Bridge, Maresca’s side overcame Newcastle, who beat Arsenal last weekend, with a 2-1 scoreline.
The Blues drew 2-2 with Arsenal in this fixture last season. They looked nailed on for the win after being two goals in front but switched off later as the Gunners grew into the game and fought back to earn a point.
Chelsea’s last victory over Arsenal came in the 2021/22 season when they won 2-0 at the Emirates under Thomas Tuchel. Maresca will be looking to do what both Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino failed to do – beat Arsenal.
Cole Palmer and Alexis Mac Allister//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
Cole Palmer
Chelsea’s talisman is simply so good that despite this being only his second season as a regular starter, he has a claim to be the best player in the Premier League currently. With Palmer on the pitch, Maresca’s side can beat any team, and Arsenal will need to find a way to contain him.
Nicolas Jackson
The Senegalese striker has looked like a player reborn under Maresca this season. He is showcasing a newfound maturity and confidence in front of goal, with only Palmer contributing more goals and assists at the club, highlighting his importance in Maresca’s lineup.
Romeo Lavia
Despite being the youngest player in the team, the 20-year-old Belgian midfielder has established himself as a key player for the Blues. Now over his injury troubles and starting ahead of Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Lavia is forming a formidable partnership with Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea Team News
Jadon Sancho has missed the last two league matches due to illness but is expected to return to the squad, bringing Chelsea to full strength.
Arsenal: Current Form – WWLDL
Arsenal succumbed to their second defeat of the season last weekend as they went down 1-0 at Newcastle United. It was their second straight loss away from home having previously suffered a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth on October 19, and their second away game in a row where they failed to find the net.
The fixtures don’t get any easier for Mikel Arteta’s men as they travel to one of the most impressive teams in the league this season, but given their advantage in recent head-to-head encounters, and that Chelsea are yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the league, the Gunners will be confident of getting back on track.
Possibly Arsenal’s best performance last season came in their last meeting with Chelsea. The Gunners dished out a 5-0 hammering at the Emirates Stadium in April as Kai Havertz scored twice against his former club and was named the Player of the Match.
Arteta’s men are undefeated in their last five visits to Stamford Bridge, winning three times. This impressive streak highlights their recent dominance in away fixtures against Chelsea. That said, the Gunners will need to step up their performance, as the Blues have transformed under Maresca.
Kai Havertz//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
Kai Havertz
With a brace and Player of the Match performance the last team he faced his former side, Kai Havertz will be one to watch. The German, who is the club’s top scorer, will have extra motivation to shine when he returns to Stamford Bridge.
Bukayo Saka
Widely regarded as one of the best attackers in the Premier League, the 23-year-old is a major threat to the Blues. With his devastating speed, trickery and goal threat, the England star could make things difficult for Chelsea’s defence.
Martin Odegaard
Expected to make his much-anticipated comeback from injury this weekend, the Gunners skipper will inject the creativity his team has been missing in recent games which could spell trouble for Maresca’s side.
Arsenal Team News
Odegaard is set to hand Arteta a massive lift in his expected availability on Sunday. The Norwegian player was injured while representing Norway in early September, and Arsenal has missed his creativity and leadership.
While the Gunners will be over the moon to have Odegaard back in the side, they will continue to be without Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), while on-loan Raheem Sterling is ineligible to face his parent club.
Predicted Line-Ups
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueka, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Arsenal: 4-3-3
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Suggested Bets
If you love betting on the Premier League, here are some bets you can place at some of the top football sportsbooks.
Both Teams to Score: With the quality in attack that both sides possess, there’s a strong chance we could see goals at both ends of the pitch. (59/100 with Betway) (59/100 with Supabets) (31/50 with 1Win)
2nd Half – Both Teams to Score: Big games often tend to open up later, increasing the chances of both sides scoring in the second half. This bet appears to offer more value and could be worthwhile. (19/10 with Betway) (171/100 with Supabets) (177/100 with 1Win)
Over 2.5 Goals: With at least four goals scored in four of their last five meetings, this looks like a good option for betting. (71/100 with Betway) (71/100 with Supabets) (18/25 with 1Win)
Value Bets
Cole Palmer – Anytime Goalscorer: Given his red-hot form and the fact that he takes free-kicks and penalties, Palmer to score anytime in the match is worth a punt. (37/20 with Betway) (47/25 with 1Win)
Leandro Trossard – Anytime Goalscorer: Having scored in each of the last two meetings between these teams, the dependable Belgian seems to offer solid value. (3/1 with Betway) (3/1 with 1Win)
First Team to Score – Chelsea: The home team are expected to take the initiative and attack, especially considering that the visiting side have conceded the first goal in their last three away matches. (51/50 with Betway) (11/10 with 1Win)
Prediction: Draw and Both Teams to Score
Arsenal have bullied Chelsea in recent times, but the Blues look a completely different team under Maresca and will be confident of a positive result at their home stadium. Although the Gunners have struggled away from home recently, they did travel to tough places like Aston Villa and Tottenham, securing maximum points. Both teams will be highly motivated for this derby, and a win will enable either side to leapfrog the other in the table. A tight affair is expected but the sides are tipped to cancel each other out, like they did in this fixture last season.
Chad Nagel is a passionate sports fanatic who has worked in the sports and betting industry for over a decade. He spent most of his career as an editor-in-chief for Soccer Betting News, South Africa’s leading soccer betting newspaper, owned by Hollywoodbets. His articles have also featured in some of the most respected sports media platforms in the world, such as SPORTbible, Sports Illustrated, Combat Sports UK, and many others.