More than just London derby bragging rights are on the line at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, when Premier League top-four contenders Arsenal and Chelsea cross paths for what is shaping up to be an intriguing tactical battle.
Both teams made their case to be considered genuine title contenders over the autumn, but the Blues hopes realistically ended a couple of months ago, while the Gunners can surely forget about an extraordinary comeback over rampant leaders Liverpool, whom they sit 15 points adrift of in the top-flight table.
However, Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta could both still end the season with a European winners' medal around their neck, as the Gunners thrashed PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek, while Chelsea edged out Copenhagen to make it to the last eight of the Conference League.
As the two capital outfits prepare for their final battle before the March international break, Sports Mole looks at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two clubs.
© Imago
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 210
Chelsea wins: 66
Draws: 60
Arsenal wins: 84
Always an eagerly-anticipated London derby and one that first took place back in 1907 - when Arsenal were prefixed with Woolwich - there have now been 210 meetings between the Gunners and Chelsea in all tournaments.
The head-to-head edge belongs to the men in red and white, as Arsenal have conquered Chelsea 84 times while suffering 66 defeats, and the two capital outfits have shaken hands on a draw on 60 occasions.
With the Blues experiencing a couple of years of decline and Arsenal rising from the ashes under Arteta, the Gunners have asserted their dominance over Chelsea in recent times, going unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against them.
That streak includes a 5-0 humiliation at the Emirates during the final few weeks of the 2023-24 season, where Kai Havertz bagged a brace against his old team to help the Gunners earn their fourth win from their last six matches against the Blues.
The two aberrations in that sequence were a 1-1 draw in West London in November 2024 a 2-2 stalemate at Stamford Bridge in October 2023, prior to which Arsenal defeated Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates (May 2023), 1-0 away from home (November 2022) and 4-2 at the Bridge (April 2022).
Not since the second gameweek of the 2021-22 season have Chelsea got one over their London rivals, earning a 2-0 Emirates victory thanks to Romelu Lukaku and Reece James, and they have to go all the way back to August 2018 for their last home win against Arsenal.
Also familiar foes at Wembley, Arsenal and Chelsea clashed in the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals - both of which were won by the Gunners - but the Blues denied Unai Emery's side an elusive continental crown with a 4-1 Europa League final demolition in the 2018-19 season.
Arsenal's perennial nemesis during his time in the Premier League, Didier Drogba scored an unrivalled 13 goals in this fixture, while Thierry Henry and ex-Chelsea Bobby Tamling boast 10 efforts of their own in this London derby.
Last 20 meetings
Nov 10, 2024: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 23, 2024: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
Oct 21, 2023: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
May 02, 2023: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Nov 06, 2022: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 20, 2022: Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal (Premier League)
Aug 22, 2021: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
May 12, 2021: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Dec 26, 2020: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Aug 01, 2020: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (FA Cup Final)
Jan 21, 2020: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Dec 29, 2019: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
May 29, 2019: Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal (Europa League Final)
Jan 19, 2019: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
Aug 18, 2018: Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Jan 24, 2018: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (EFL Cup Semi-Finals)
Jan 10, 2018: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal (EFL Cup Semi-Finals)
Jan 03, 2018: Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Sep 17, 2017: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal (Premier League)
August 6, 2017: Arsenal(p) 1-1 Chelsea (Community Shield)
Last 10 Premier League meetings
Nov 10, 2024: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 23, 2024: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
Oct 21, 2023: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
May 02, 2023: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Nov 06, 2022: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Apr 20, 2022: Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal (Premier League)
Aug 22, 2021: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
May 12, 2021: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Dec 26, 2020: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Jan 21, 2020: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Ben Knapton
