We have seen many top quality battles between Chelsea and Arsenal during the Premier League era and this weekend we look set for another. These two have often found themselves competing against each other, usually for the league title and although that may be a stretch this season, both are still expected to compete at the top end of the Premier League table.

For over a decade we have seen both Chelsea and Arsenal pick up a coveted top four spot to give themselves Champions League football, but last season things were different. Both clubs fell out of the top four, with Chelsea finishing 5th and Arsenal behind them in 6th. Their rivalrly this season will now be about which one of them can make enough progress to get back into the top four, something both will have their eyes on.

Looking at the two teams going into the new season, it is clear that Arsenal have a lot more work to do than Chelsea. The Gunners brought in Unai Emery over the summer, and he has been given the license to slowly re-build an develop this Arsenal team. I think the board have accepted that they cannot really compete financially, so they have to take a slower route and bring youngsters in and develop them. Ironically, perhaps the best thing Arsenal could do right now would be to take a look at what their neighbours and fierce rivals Tottenham have done over the past five or six years, and try to replicate that.

In comparison, Chelsea appear content with their current approach, deciding to bring in a couple of new faces and let some players leave. They don’t feel the need to tear things up and start from scratch, and will be hoping to either get back in the top four, or go very close to that this season to show they are worthy contenders in their current state.

Receive exclusive betting tips and offers directly to your inbox. Receive exclusive betting tips and offers. SIGN UP

Chelsea vs Arsenal – What Happened Last Season?

These two are certainly no strangers when it comes to playing each other, and they squared off five times last season. Perhaps surprisingly to many people, Chelsea failed to win a game against Arsenal during that campaign, and that was a year when many Arsenal fans were left disappointed with their team’s record.

When it came to the cup competitions these two played, Arsenal certainly had the upper hand, winning the Community Shield on the opening day of the season and beating Chelsea over two legs in the League Cup. Those two games came towards the end of the season, with a draw coming in the first leg before Arsenal nicked it in the second leg, going onto reach the final.

The two Premier League games they played last season came sandwiched inbetween their cup games and both ended in draws. They were very different games though, with the first at Stamford Bridge being a subdued 0-0 fixture, while the return leg at the Emirates gave us an exciting 2-2 encounter.

The good news for Chelsea fans is that you have to go back quite a long way to find the last time Arsenal travelled to Stamford Bridge and won a game. That was back in 2011, a game memorable to everyone as it ended in a score line of 5-3 to Arsenal. Chelsea fans looking for better memories will probably head back to 2014 and remember the encounter that saw them beat their rivals 6-0 in what will go down as being one of the most embarassing games in recent season’s for Arsenal.

Players to watch

Chelsea – Eden Hazard

There are some doubts surrounding Hazard’s fitness going into this game, but he is likely to play and will be key for Chelsea assuming that he does. When Hazard plays, he is the heartbeat of this Chelsea team and the most important piece they have. Not only is Hazard a quality footballer, but he also makes other players around him grow and play better when he is on the field.

If Chelsea are to get back into the top four this season then Hazard is going to be hugely important for them, and he will be relied upon heavily by his club.

Arsenal – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The 29 year old arrived at Arsenal last season before his new boss Unai Emery, but he is going to be a vital part of his plans for sure. We have always seen Arsenal create a lot of chances, but sometimes they have struggled to put them away. In the past they have had some fantastic finishers, with Thierry Henry being the stand out one, and Aubameyang has to provide them with a similar level of finishing ability.

When the going gets tough in the Premier League, someone who can have one chance and score one goal can win you a game, and Aubameyang needs to win points for Arsenal by doing exactly that.

Arsenal defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties in their pre-season friendly earlier this month

Chelsea vs Arsenal Betting Tips

Both Chelsea and Arsenal have the same goal in the Premier League and that is to fight their way back into the top four. However, they are approaching this in very different ways, Chelsea are sticking with the players they have and adding just a couple, while Arsenal are taking the longer route and bringing in a new wave of younger players who they are hoping can lead them to glory.

As the teams look right now, Chelsea are in a much better position and because of this they are the pick to win this game. It is worth noting that looking back to last season Chelsea were not able to beat Arsenal in any one of the five meetings between the teams, but I am confident that the changes this summer mean that Chelsea are the better team. With home field advantage another positive for them, they are going to be the pick for the fixture on Saturday evening.

Arsenal were beaten by Manchester City 2-0 last weekend, but will have taken some positive from that game. Chelsea had a much easier task, and dispatched of Huddersfield without too much trouble, eventually running out 3-0 winners of that game. They return home to their own fans on the back of that victory and while another 3-0 score line may be asking a little too much, another victory will be expected by the fans this weekend.

We have seen some great games between Chelsea and Arsenal over the past decade and let’s hope this one can live up to the hype surrounding it. Both teams are capable of playing very well on their day, but we think Chelsea have the advantage and they are the pick to win this tie.