Arsenal vs. Chelsea Prediction: London Derby at the Emirates

• Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race after falling too far behind Liverpool

• Chelsea have a fight on their hands to qualify for next season’s Champions League

• Will Arsenal or Chelsea claim the local bragging rights in Sunday’s London derby?

Arsenal vs. Chelsea Odds

The odds for Arsenal vs. Chelsea are provided by the FanDuel Sportsbook, which offers Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

Arsenal vs. Chelsea Pick

Back Arsenal to beat Chelsea. Neither team is firing on all cylinders but we fancy the Gunners to edge it.

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Arsenal Downgrade Ambitions After Dropping Out of Title Race

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were already hanging by a threat prior to last weekend, but a 1-1 draw with Manchester United was the final nail in the coffin. The Gunners scored a late equalizer in that match to avoid defeat, but it was still a disappointing result given how poor United have been this season.

Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 the day before Arsenal took to the Old Trafford field, so Mikel Arteta’s men are now 15 points adrift of top spot. At this relatively late stage of the campaign, that is too large a deficit to overturn. Arsenal must now downgrade their ambitions to securing a top-five finish.

They are not over the line yet, but Arsenal are well positioned to qualify for the Champions League. They hold an eight-point advantage over sixth-placed Newcastle United, a sizable buffer given there are only 30 points still up for grabs for the majority of teams in the division.

Having finished as runners-up to Manchester City in 2022/23 and 2023/24, Arsenal fans are frustrated that their team has been unable to capitalize on City’s struggles this year. Arteta’s side may well become only the second side to finish second in three consecutive Premier League campaigns. Who were the first? Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, between 1999 and 2001.

Injuries have not helped, with attacking quartet Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka all sidelined at the same time (Martinelli is now available again). But in truth Arsenal were not at the level of last season even when they had everyone fit. 

It is not all doom and gloom, however. Arsenal are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and are genuine contenders to be crowned kings of the continent for the first time. This could still be a historic season for the north Londoners.

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Chelsea Still Searching for an Identity as Supporters Grumble

Chelsea are also in the mix for European silverware, although the Conference League does not exactly set pulses racing to the same extent as the Champions League. Indeed, all is not currently well at Stamford Bridge, where supporters staged a demonstration against the owners ahead of a recent game against Southampton.

Todd Boehly and co.’s scattergun approach to recruitment has not worked out so far. Chelsea have gone backwards on his watch. But Boehly is not the only figure in the crosshairs. A section of the fan base is growing increasingly frustrated with the manager, Enzo Maresca.

The Italian did a good job in the first half of the season. He inherited a bloated squad but quickly decided whom he wanted and whom he did not. That ruthlessness played a part in Chelsea’s positive start. In the middle of December they were above Arsenal in the table and thought of as title contenders.

Results since then have dipped alarmingly, even if Chelsea beat Leicester City 1-0 last weekend. Some supporters are also irritated by a style of play they perceive as too patient and ponderous. Maresca’s side lacks spontaneity and their possession play can be predictable. But the manager has made it clear he will not change his ways.

There are signs of a culture clash between the touchline and the terraces. Chelsea fans have never been fussed about style; winning is the only thing that matters to most of them. Maresca’s considered approach has not yet won them over.

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Arsenal Can Edge Out Chelsea but It Will Probably Be Close

Sunday’s clash is a meeting between two of the biggest clubs in English soccer. There is no love lost between the two sets of supporters either. Yet we should not necessarily expect a thrilling encounter. Neither team is setting the world alight in the final third right now.

Arsenal are further along in their development than Chelsea, as you would expect given Arteta’s longevity compared to that of Maresca. His team are solid and their approach play is more effective than Chelsea’s, even if they are struggling to turn possession into clear-cut opportunities without the likes of Saka and Havertz.

That is one reason to favor Arsenal. Another is home advantage. Only Liverpool have a better record in front of their own supporters than the Gunners in 2024/25. Even the Reds could ot win at the Emirates earlier in the campaign.

Finally, consider the recent head-to-head record between the pair. Chelsea have won just one of their last 11 meetings with Arsenal, who triumphed in this fixture 5-0 last season. The Gunners have emerged victorious in four of Chelsea’s last five visits to the Emirates, establishing dominance in this particular London derby.

With all that in mind, the best pick for sports bettors is an Arsenal win when they lock horns with Chelsea on Sunday. The Gunners have dropped out of the Premier League title race, but they are still the best of the rest behind Liverpool.

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How to Watch Arsenal vs. Chelsea

• Teams: Arsenal vs. Chelsea

• Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England

• Date and Time: Sunday, 16 March 2025, 9.30 AM ET 

• How to Watch: Peacock Premium