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Premier League | Gameweek 15

Nov 6, 2022 at 12pm UK

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea
0 - 1
Arsenal

Aubameyang (27'), Azpilicueta (51'), Chalobah (60'), Gallagher (85'), Sterling (89')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Magalhaes (63')
Saka (42'), White (80')

Arsenal aiming to set new club record against Chelsea

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 November 2022

Arsenal are aiming to set a new club record in Premier League London derbies when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday lunchtime.

Arsenal will be aiming to set a new record in Premier League London derbies when they take on Chelsea in Sunday's Stamford Bridge battle.

The Gunners have already faced two capital sides away from the Emirates this term, firstly getting the better of Crystal Palace 2-0 in the inaugural game of the season.

Mikel Arteta's side then put Brentford to the sword 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium, avenging their 2-0 loss to the Bees from the opening day of the 2021-22 campaign.

Stamford Bridge has been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent memory, and a slice of club history will be on the line when the Premier League leaders travel across London.

Should the Gunners prevail and keep Chelsea at bay, it will mark the first time ever that they have won three consecutive Premier League London derbies away from home with three clean sheets.

Arsenal celebrate scoring against Chelsea in a pre-season friendly on July 23, 2022. © Reuters

Arsenal thrashed Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea 4-0 in a pre-season friendly in the United States, having also won 1-0 and 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the past two Premier League campaigns.

The Blues did record a 2-0 win at the Emirates in August 2021, but that represents Arsenal's only defeat from their last six meetings with Chelsea in all competitions.

Three points for Arsenal here would also see them win three consecutive games at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 48 years, having picked up 2-0, 1-0 and 3-1 wins between October 1971 and April 1974.

Arteta's side will head into the weekend at the top of the table, two points clear of Manchester City, who could temporarily reach the summit should they beat Fulham on Saturday.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal enter the London derby on the back of wins in Europe, but the London clubs also sustained fresh injury concerns with two of their main full-back options.

Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu goes off injured on November 3, 2022 © Reuters

During Arsenal's 1-0 Europa League win over FC Zurich, Takehiro Tomiyasu came off with a muscular problem in the final few moments, and the Japan international is not expected to be available here.

Furthermore, Emile Smith Rowe - who has scored in both of Arsenal's two most recent wins at Stamford Bridge - is also absent as he continues on the long road to recovery from groin surgery.

Meanwhile, Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell was a casualty of the Blues' 2-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb with a hamstring injury, which will be scanned over the weekend.

There are fears that Chilwell will be forced to miss the upcoming World Cup, and Chelsea are also without Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante and Kepa Arrizabalaga for the visit of Arsenal.

Sunday's encounter will see Blues striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang line up against his old club, but Potter has insisted that the 33-year-old should not be the sole focus of the derby in the wake of his acrimonious Arsenal exit.