Chelsea vs Arsenal Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups, Betting Tips & Prediction

Chelsea will be looking to kick start their title defence when they entertain Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime.

The Blues have endured a disappointing start to the new Premier League season that’s seen them take just four points from their opening five games to leave them sitting 17th in the table.

Three defeats so far have left the West Londoners 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City so Jose Mourinho will be desperate to register their first home victory of the season tomorrow.

Arsenal head into the game six points clear of Chelsea in the table but they slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in midweek so Arsene Wenger will be hoping they don’t suffer a Champions League hangover this weekend.

The Gunners have a poor recent record against the Blues but they did manage to win 1-0 in the Community Shield last month so they’ll come into the game with renewed confidence of leaving Stamford Bridge with a positive result.

Back Chelsea at 7/1 or Arsenal at 8/1 + money back if you lose & £100 bet bundle

Team news

Chelsea will be without Willian after the Brazilian picked up a hamstring injury during Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Striker Radamel Falcao remains a doubt after missing the last two games with a knee injury while Pedro will also face a late fitness test on a thigh problem.

Mourinho says he’ll see how Oscar responds after making his return from injury in midweek but the playmaker is expected to be passed fit to start.

Arsenal are set to make several changes to the side that lost in Croatia with the likes of Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin and Theo Walcott all restored to the starting eleven.

Petr Cech is also set for a recall in goal to face his former club but Per Mertesacker remains a doubt with a virus.

Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are long-term injury concerns.

Predicted Line-Ups

Predicted Score

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: Chelsea are unbeaten against Arsenal in their last seven league meetings but the Blues just don’t look themselves so far this season. Mourinho’s men have been leaking goals in recent weeks and I can see the visitors getting on the score-sheet, but in the end I think Chelsea will still do enough to get a draw.

Betting Tips

Chelsea are the 7/5 favourites to win the game but Football-Talk can get new customers enhanced odds of 7/1 on Chelsea to win or 8/1 on Arsenal taking home the three points. However, I think it will end all square and my prediction of 1-1 is available at odds of 6/1, while I also like the look of Eden Hazard to open the scoring at odds of 15/2. If we combine those two bets in a score-cast, then we get very tempting odds of 45/1.

Back Chelsea at 7/1 or Arsenal at 8/1 + money back if you lose & £100 bet bundle

What do you think? What line-up would you like to see start?