Chelsea’s Title Hopes Crushed: Stats Show Gunners Are Too Strong to Defeat
Chelsea faces an uphill battle in their upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal, according to some startling data.
While the Blues travel to the Emirates Stadium with a chance to close the gap on Arsenal’s league lead, past performance and statistical trends suggest a difficult outcome for Enzo Maresca’s improving team.
Notably, they’ve only managed a single Premier League victory against their rivals at Stamford Bridge in the past seven years.
Despite Chelsea’s recent surge, marked by a string of three straight league victories that has propelled them to second place, they still trail the almost perfect Arsenal team by a significant six points.
Mikel Arteta’s squad boasts an impressive record of 14 wins and just two draws in their last 16 games, a level of performance that would be daunting for any opponent, especially a Chelsea side aiming for only their second win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in the last seven years.
However, a particularly condemning statistic reveals that Chelsea has secured only one win in their last eleven Premier League encounters with Arsenal.
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This indicates a significant shift in the power dynamic of this once closely contested rivalry, with the advantage heavily favoring one side.
Arsenal’s performance in London derbies has become incredibly impressive under Arteta’s leadership.
Beginning with the 2022-23 season, they’ve only suffered a mere three defeats in league derbies, with just a single loss on the road, that being against Fulham almost two years prior.
This season, they’ve emphatically won all four of their derby matches, including their recent dominant victory over Tottenham.
This upcoming match marks the fifth occasion where Arsenal will face Chelsea while holding the top spot in the league standings.
Mikel Arteta Compliments Chelsea, But Won’t Call Them Real Threats
In the past, Arsenal emerged victorious in all four previous encounters in 2003, 2004, 2007, and most recently in their overwhelming 5-0 triumph at Stamford Bridge in April 2024. Therefore, the pattern is very clear.
Chelsea previously transformed Stamford Bridge into a difficult venue for Arsenal, defeating them six times in seven visits between 2013 and 2018.
However, Marcos Alonso’s winning goal in 2018 represents the last instance of the Blues securing a home victory against their London adversaries.
Since that time, Arsenal have constructed an extraordinary undefeated streak of six league games at Stamford Bridge, consisting of three wins and three draws.
For a team aspiring to launch a serious title bid, Chelsea need to break a hoodoo that has solidified over almost ten years.
After a challenging start against Chelsea, which marked his initial loss as Arsenal’s head coach shortly after taking the reins in December 2019, Mikel Arteta has dramatically altered the power dynamic in this London derby.
In their recent encounters, Arteta has guided Arsenal to victory in a significant majority of matches, specifically securing wins in seven out of eleven games.
This impressive record translates to a winning percentage of over half, establishing him as one of the most successful managers against Chelsea, surpassed only by Pep Guardiola and Kenny Dalglish among those who have faced them on numerous occasions.
When questioned about Chelsea’s standing as a legitimate contender for the league title, Arteta responded with tact and cautious optimism rather than inflammatory statements.
The Spanish coach explained that Chelsea’s current position is well-earned, reflecting their achievements in recent seasons.
He emphasized the strength and depth of their squad, highlighting the high caliber of players and the expertise of their coaching staff as factors contributing to their success and deserving of their place at the top.
Regarding Chelsea’s offensive capabilities and whether they maintain their status as the league’s most potent attack, Arteta acknowledged their previous dominance.
He clarified that judging their current form is difficult given the limited sample size of the current season.
Nevertheless, he praised their attractive style of play, noting their fluid movement, diverse attacking threats, individual brilliance, and clear tactical approach, which collectively make them a formidable opponent.
Chelsea fans are likely hoping that Martin Odegaard, a player who has consistently caused them problems, will be absent from Sunday’s match due to a fitness issue.
The Norwegian midfielder has been highly influential in games against Chelsea, contributing to seven goals in eight league appearances, and has an impressive record of never having lost a Premier League encounter against them.
Gabriel Magalhães also shares this unbeaten run against the Blues. To find a longer unbeaten streak in Premier League matches against Chelsea, one must look to Patrick Vieira, who enjoyed a ten-game undefeated run.
Furthermore, Leandro Trossard presents another attacking threat for Arsenal, particularly in this specific rivalry.
The Belgian forward has a knack for scoring against Chelsea, with four Premier League goals already to his name.
If he finds the net again on Sunday, he’ll become only the fifth Belgian player to reach a milestone of 50 goals in the Premier League.
