Premier League preview and odds: Chelsea vs Arsenal

Published on: 03/02/2017

Premier League preview and odds: Chelsea vs Arsenal

February 04 , 2017 12:30pm - Stamford Bridge

Premier League

Chelsea will look to preserve their nine point lead at the top of the Premier League table when they welcome third-ranked Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. The visitors themselves can give their own title hopes a massive boost with a win over the pace setters.

Just one win in five matches against top four for Blues

So far this term, league leaders Chelsea have struggled against their top four rivals, having recorded just one win, a draw and three defeats in games against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. Last time out, they played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield and must now face the team that condemned them to their heaviest defeat of the season so far back in September (3-0).

Antonio Contes men may be in pole position but defeat on Saturday could reduce their lead to six points with 14 games still to play. However, they will be buoyed by the fact that they have won their last eight home matches in a row. Their last league defeat at Stamford Bridge came against Liverpool (1-2) back in September.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing midweek defeat (1-2) at home to Watford. Arsene Wenger`s men missed the opportunity to go second in the league and move within six points of the leaders but remain in third place, level on points with second-ranked Spurs.

Away from home, the Gunners have won just one of their last four, having lost to at Everton (2-1) and Manchester City (2-1) before drawing at Bournemouth (3-3) and winning at Swansea City (4-0).

Team news

Arsene Wenger is suspended and will have to watch from the side lines, while Granit Xhaka is also banned for this game. Other absentees included Aaron Ramsey (calf strain), Mohamed Elneny (calf), Mathieu Debuchy (hamstring strain) and Santi Cazorla (achilles) who are all out injured.

Recent form (League)

Chelsea: DWWLW

Arsenal: LWWDW

Betting odds and tips

Chelsea have kept six clean sheets in their last eight home matches but Liverpool and Spurs both netted at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal have scored on each of their last 10 away trips.

Both Teams to Score can be backed at 3/4 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 03/02/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (03/02/2017 14:50:23) but are subject to change.