Prediction: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Verdict: Chelsea win

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to make it back-to-back derby victories this weekend, Chelsea will make the trip to North London on Saturday evening when they face off against a struggling Arsenal.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, hit with a 4-1 drumming on home soil in midweek and watching Manchester City end their EFL Cup adventure in North London, Arsenal find themselves in the midst of a real crisis. With many around the Emirates feeling that Mikel Arteta is a man fighting for his job in the capital, the Gunners open Christmas Day sat way down in 15th and firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone. Coming under even more scrutiny for their performance earlier in the week, Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man has only seen his struggling squad continue to break unwanted records by the week. With the mood in their camp at a continued low, Arsenal were last seen on Premier League duties away at Goodison Park last weekend getting hit with a 2-1 defeat. In fact, their 14 points from 14 games this season is their worst record at this stage of a season since the 1974-75 campaign. With a growing reputation for their issues on home soil, the Gunners should face another stern test this weekend.

Team News

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be monitored after missing successive matches with a calf strain.

Gabriel Martinelli’s shin problem will also be assessed, while Granit Xhaka returns after a three-match ban.

Chelsea

As for the visitors, while Chelsea would have been hugely disappointed to have been hit with back-to-back defeats against Everton and Wolves earlier in the month, the Blues did manage to make a return to winning ways on Monday night. With Head Coach Frank Lampard praising his side’s character at Stamford Bridge, the former England midfielder saw his side eventually cruise to a 3-0 win against West Ham. Once again sat within striking distance of climbing back into the top-four and managing to book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League, Lampard will now be hoping for his side to find some stability on their travels. Suffering those consecutive defeats away at Goodison and Molineux earlier in the month, Chelsea have managed to win just a pair of their last six Premier League contests outside of West London. Watching Tammy Abraham bag himself a brace against the Hammers last time out, the Blues’ fans will also be hoping for summer arrival Timo Werner to find some form. The German international has failed to find the net in his last 10 straight matchups across all formats.

Team News

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech is yet to recover from a hamstring problem and will not feature against Arsenal.

Full-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James are doubtful with respective ankle and knee injuries.

Key Factors to Consider

• Collecting just 14 points so far this season, Arsenal are enduring their worst start since the 1974-75 campaign.
• More worrying, the Gunners have managed to collect just a single point from their last five Premier League contests on home soil.
• Despite picking up a 3-0 win against West Ham on Monday night, Chelsea have suffered back-to-back defeats on the road.
• Five of Chelsea’s last seven away fixtures across all formats have seen over 2.5 goals by the final whistle.
• Seven of the last eight matchups between Saturday’s opponents have seen both teams find the net.

Conclusion

While Arsenal might have managed to lift the FA Cup over the summer thanks to victory over Chelsea at Wembley, the Gunners find themselves in the midst of a real crisis. Crashing out of the EFL Cup thanks to a 4-1 drumming against Manchester City on home soil, Mikel Arteta’s strugglers are enduring their worst start to a domestic campaign in 46 years. While Saturday’s guests might have shown their own issues on the road this season, there is no doubt that Frank Lampard’s new-look squad will be looking to cash in across the capital. Landing themselves a 3-0 win against West Ham on Monday night and with a chance to break back into the top-four, we’re backing an away victory this weekend.

Verdict: Chelsea win

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet