The game of the weekend in the English Premier League sees Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday and if the Gunners are to keep their chances of the title alive, it’s a match they simply have to win.
Arsenal
Current League Position 2nd (as of 24th April)
Last Six League Results W6 D0 L0
Home Record P15 W11 D3 L1 GS 37 GC 12
With six rounds of Premier League matches to go for both clubs, Arsenal come into this game eight points behind Chelsea in the title race. The Gunners are in terrific form with eight straight league wins and they have also booked an FA Cup final date with Aston Villa next month. Arsenal have lost just one league game at the Emirates Stadium this season, a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United back in November. Earlier in the campaign Spurs and Manchester City both drew at this venue but more recently Liverpool were trounced 4-1. Four of Arsenal’s six remaining league matches will be played in front of their own supporters but they do still have to visit Old Trafford. Arsenal have scored in every home game this season keeping five clean sheets in the process.
Chelsea
Current League Position 1st (as of 25th April)
Last Six League Results W5 D1 L0
Away Record P16 W10 D4 L2 GS 34 GC 19
Chelsea came through another tough test last weekend when they beat an in form Manchester United side 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. They are unbeaten in the league since losing 5-3 at Spurs on New Years day and their only other Premier League defeat this season came at Newcastle in early December. In recent week’s they have made a habit of winning by a single goal with seven of their last ten having being settled by a one goal margin in Chelsea’s favour. When visiting other top sides this season Chelsea won at Liverpool and drew at both Manchester clubs. Another draw here would suit them just fine whilst a win would put them within touching distance of the title. Chelsea have failed to score in just one of their 32 league games this season and they have kept five clean sheets in 16 road trips.
Overall Head to Head Record
Arsenal Wins 61
Draws 47
Chelsea Wins 53
Last time they met
05/10/14 EPL Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
Chelsea Scorers: Hazard (27, pen) Costa (78)
Half time: 1-0
Other Recent Head to Heads Results
22/03/14 EPL Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal
23/12/13 EPL Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
29/10/13 LCUP Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea
20/01/13 EPL Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal
29/09/12 EPL Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
Arsenal haven’t beaten Chelsea in any of the last seven head to heads (six league and one league cup). The Gunners last win over this opponent came at Stamford Bridge in October 2011 when they won a thriller 5-3.
Match Result Betting
Arsenal 2.40
Draw 3.25
Chelsea 2.88
*Odds are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
Summary:
Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table means they don’t have to take too many chances in their approach to a game where a point would be viewed as a highly satisfactory outcome. The question then is whether Arsenal can break them down whilst keeping the back door shut with Chelsea looking to catch them on the counter attack. It should be a terrific game and we give the vote to Arsenal to come out on top.
Pick: Arsenal to win @2.40