Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League – preview, team news, start, lineups
#Arsenal vs Chelsea#Premier League#Mikel Arteta#Liam Rosenior#Title race#North London derby
📌 Key Takeaways
Arsenal needs a win to maintain five-point lead over Manchester City
Chelsea hasn't beaten Arsenal since 2021 and lost twice in League Cup semifinal
Both managers emphasized focusing on present rather than past results
Several key players missing from both teams due to injuries and suspensions
📖 Full Retelling
League leaders Arsenal will face Chelsea at The Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday, March 1 at 4:30pm GMT in a crucial Premier League match, as the Gunners desperately seek a victory to keep resurgent Manchester City from closing the five-point gap at the top of the table. The match holds significant historical importance as Arsenal's last victory over Chelsea three times in the same season coincided with their last Premier League triumph in 2003-04. Despite bouncing back with a commanding 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, anything less than three points against Chelsea will put Arsenal at risk of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, closing the gap. Fifth-placed Chelsea, who have not beaten Arsenal since 2021, will be looking to capitalize on Arsenal's recent struggles against top-six teams, including draws with Liverpool and a loss to Manchester United at home. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is taking no comfort from his team's good record against Chelsea, emphasizing that past performances are irrelevant as every game presents different challenges. 'What you have done two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant because every game and every context is different,' Arteta stated. Meanwhile, Chelsea's interim boss Liam Rosenior, who has kept the team unbeaten against all opponents except Arsenal since taking charge last month, expressed his desire for an extended stay at the club to bring stability and success, saying 'I hope this is the end of the upheaval for this club.' The match will be missing some key players, with Arsenal's versatile midfielder Mikel Merino possibly out for the season after foot surgery, while defender Ben White is doubtful. Chelsea will be without Jamie Gittens, Levi Colwill, and suspended Wesley Fofana. Historically, Arsenal has dominated recent fixtures, unbeaten against Chelsea in eight Premier League games and ten in all competitions this season, including victories in both League Cup semifinal legs.
Liam James Rosenior (born 9 July 1984) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Premier League club Chelsea.
As a player, he usually played as a right-back, although he occasionally was moved to left-back and sometimes deployed as a right-winger. During ...
# Premier League
The **Premier League** is the highest level of the English football league system and the primary professional association football competition in Great Britain.
### Overview
Contested by **20 member clubs**, the league operates as a corporation in which the teams act as sharehol...
Mikel Arteta Amatriain (born 26 March 1982) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.
Arteta began his senior club career at Barcelona in 1999, but limited playing time led to a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001, where he w...
Sport | Football Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League – preview, team news, start, lineups League leaders Arsenal desperate for a win over Chelsea to keep resurgent Manchester City at bay. Listen to this article | 6 mins By Al Jazeera Staff , AP and Reuters Published On 28 Feb 2026 28 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google Who: Arsenal vs Chelsea What: Premier League Where: The Emirates Stadium, London When: Sunday, March 1 at 4:30pm (16:30 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 13:30 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. The last time Arsenal beat Chelsea three times in the same season was also the last time they won the Premier League, in 2003-04. And while one may not necessarily lead to the other, Arsenal are going into Sunday’s clash desperate for a win to keep Manchester City at bay. Arsenal, who finished second in the last three seasons, have struggled with the pressure of the title race in the current campaign as well, settling for back-to-back draws at Brentford and bottom-side Wolves this month. Last weekend, leaders Arsenal bounced back with a commanding 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur , but anything less than three points against Chelsea on Sunday will put them at risk of City, five points behind with a game in hand, closing the gap at the top. City, meanwhile, are visiting a stubborn Leeds side who almost held them to a draw in November. Fifth-placed Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal since 2021 and lost twice in their League Cup semifinal tie in January and February, but had held Arsenal to a league draw in November despite playing most of the game with 10 men. Arsenal also stumbled the last two times they hosted a club currently in the top six, sharing points with Liverpool and losing to Manchester United last month. Avoiding the ignominy of losing three times in a season to their local rivals will also fuel Liam Rosenior, who has kept Chelsea unbeaten against all ...
