Premier League: London is Calling But Not in The Way They Had Hoped

Arsenal vs Chelsea

At one point in the autumn, this looked like being a potentially key fixture at the sharp end of the Premier League. Not that this SBOTOP writer ever thought Chelsea would be in contention for the main prize.

After plenty of upheaval sparked by a change of ownership in 2022, the west Londoners are not at that level. But Arsenal seemed genuine contenders to go one better than their previous two campaigns.

Now the only Premier League 2025 highlights these two London giants can aim for is a third successive runners-up spot (Arsenal) and a top four finish (Chelsea).

 

Talking Points 

In the Gunners’ defence, they lost too much ground in the autumn when they were hit by defencive absentees and have never made it up. A failure to strengthen an injury-hit attack in January proved the final straw in their title bid and, when there was a genuine chance to close the gap at the top at the end of February, they fluffed their lines – two blanks in a home defeat to West Ham and away draw at Nottingham Forest.

One week they struggle to score, the next they are putting seven past PSV in Eindhoven and confirming their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. That is the priority now for the Gunners who drew at Manchester United last Sunday when even a victory would realistically have not been enough to claw their way back into the title race.

On the same afternoon, Chelsea were labouring to a narrow home win over basement battlers Leicester City. While Enzo Maresca had done a steady job, there is little to suggest the side are building on the undoubted progress his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino made amongst the chaos and soap opera he inherited the summer before last.

The forward positions have long been a concern for the Stamford Bridge boys this term too. Until Marc Cucurella’s second-half strike on the hour, Chelsea had been frustrated by the basement battlers and last season’s young player of the year Cole Palmer saw a penalty saved.

Despite being Chelsea’s top scorer with 14 this term, the 22-year-old hasn’t scored or assist in the Blues’ last eight matches – a run stretching back to mid-January. And therein lies a problem.

The fact so much of Chelsea’s progress rests on young shoulders is unfair, not helped by an injury to Nicolas Jackson (not due back until early April) and the failure of the talented Christopher Nkunku to impress. Others are simply not stepping up sufficiently to shoulder the burden in attack.

That is not the case in midfield where Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández make a fine duo and contribute both in terms of tackles and recoveries.

Assuming both sides emerge from their midweek European exertions unscathed, Arsenal should be able to welcome back Gabriel Martinelli, a substitute at Old Trafford, possibly from the start, while Chelsea will hope club captain Reece James has recovered from illness.

This will still be a blood and thunder derby, but it certainly doesn’t have at stake what many thought it might have just a few months ago.

 

History 

Over the years, Arsenal have won 84 of their meetings with 66 Chelsea victories and 60 draws. That includes an absorbing contest at Stamford Bridge in November when a clever Martinelli finish was cancelled out by a Pedro Neto thunderbolt.

Chelsea only have one victory in their last 11 meetings in all competitions in this long-established rivalry.

Last season, this contest was a rout, as the Gunners hit five without reply with Kai Havertz netting two against his former club and being joined on the scoresheet by Leandro Trossard and Ben White (two).

Arsenal also beat Chelsea in the 2020 FA Cup Final when talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang worked his magic as the Gunners came from behind to win the FA Cup for a record 14th time. That gained revenge for a clash 15 months earlier – a 4-1 Chelsea success in the Europa League Final.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2025 betting odds back Arsenal and so do I. The Gunners may be only playing for the runners-up spot, but they will want to secure second place rather than slip further down the standings.

They are priced 1X2 @ 1.82 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.08. This compares to Chelsea who are on offer 1X2 @ 3.92 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.42. A draw will pay out @ 3.37 and another contest ending one-apiece will earn you a pay day of @ 6.60 with Correct Score.

Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.98 caught my eye, but I am going to go for Over 2.75 @ 2.14, with Arsenal edging the contest.

   

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