Chelsea FC face a significant test of their Premier League credentials this Sunday when they visit Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, aiming to end an eleven-match winless run against their London rivals. The fixture, scheduled for 16:30 BST on September 6, 2026, sees the Blues arrive in fourth place with six points from two wins, three points behind leaders Manchester City according to the latest standings.
Can Chelsea finally overcome their Arsenal problem?
Chelsea's recent record against Arsenal makes for grim reading. They lost all four meetings last season, including a draw at Stamford Bridge and a one-goal defeat at the Emirates in the league, plus two one-goal losses in the League Cup semifinals. The last competitive Chelsea victory at Arsenal's home ground came five years ago, when Romelu Lukaku scored the winner. As reported by weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com, "It’s been five years since we won at the Emirates, when Romelu Lukaku scored." This poor run extends to eight defeats in the last eleven encounters across all competitions.
What is the team news for both sides?
Manager Xabi Alonso has several selection issues to resolve. Midfielder Moisés Caicedo remains questionable after missing the first two games and playing only 13 minutes off the bench last weekend. Valentín Barco is expected to feature if Caicedo is unavailable. The Blues are also without new signing Jordan Henderson, who is not yet fit, and wing-back Marco Palestra due to a preseason injury. These absences are detailed on the club's injuries page. In attack, the front three of Cole Palmer, João Pedro, and Morgan Rogers is likely to continue, with Emi Martínez in goal having replaced Rob Sánchez.
Arsenal, the reigning champions, have also seen squad changes. They have added Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle, Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, and Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. Key departures include Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Christian Nørgaard. Former Chelsea players Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, and Kepa Arrizabalaga remain with the Gunners. Defender William Saliba is out with a back injury sustained in the World Cup semifinal, while Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice carry minor knocks but are probable.
How does Chelsea's current form shape this derby?
Chelsea's start to the season has been productive but leaky. They have scored seven goals and conceded five in their two victories, giving them a +2 goal difference. Interestingly, in matches where the midfield combination of Roméo Lavia, Reece James, and Malo Gusto has been used, the team has netted those seven goals while letting in five. This offensive output will be needed against an Arsenal side that scored 71 goals en route to the title last season. The Blues' next challenge after this is a home match against second-placed Hull City on September 12, a game featured on the fixtures list.
What happened in the summer transfer window?
The transfer window provided some near-misses for Chelsea. The club attempted to sign Lamine Camara from AS Monaco on deadline day, but the deal fell through. Earlier in the window, an approach for Arsenal's Martín Zubimendi was rejected by the Gunners. The major departure from Stamford Bridge was Enzo Fernández's transfer to Manchester City. Chris Kavanagh will referee Sunday's match, with Darren England as the VAR official.
Fans in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event or stream it via Sky Go. In the United States, coverage is on Telemundo with streaming on NBC Sports Live and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo. Indian viewers can tune into Star Sports Select HD1 or JioHotstar, while in Nigeria, the broadcast is on Canal+ and DStv Now. The full Chelsea squad available for selection will be confirmed ahead of the 16:30 BST kickoff on Sunday.
