English Premier
2025-03-16 - Arsenal vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 16th March 2025 - Kick Off 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
There was never really any jeopardy in the Second Leg of the Last 16 Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday evening and Arsenal's 2-2 draw took them through to the Quarter Final with a 9-3 aggregate win. Mikel Arteta used the game as an opportunity to give some players a chance to refresh, while others were given a chance to impress, and Arsenal should be ready to go in this final Premier League fixture before the March international break.
Any lingering hope of pushing Liverpool in the title race look to have ended over the last three weeks and 2nd placed Arsenal are 15 points off the top and even a game in hand does not make that sound much better. There has to be a slight concern that Arsenal are 'only' 8 points clear of 6th placed Newcastle United and missing the Champions League spots would be unforgivable. The Gunners will look to ease any concerns about doing that on Sunday by improving the 8-4-1 record at home.
Arsenal stunned a lot of people by scoring seven times in Eindhoven in the Champions League Last 16 First Leg, but that is now the only win in 5 games in all competitions. The 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday means Arsenal have failed to win either game played at the Emirates Stadium since thumping Manchester City 5-1.
Bukayo Saka is still recovering from his long-term injury and there is a potential for him to miss at least a couple more weeks after the March international break. A number of changes were made to the first eleven during the week and so key players will be restored.
Chelsea
Finishing in the top five of the Premier League should be enough to earn Chelsea a place back in the Champions League for next season and that is the priority for the club. Despite that, the UEFA Conference League has proven to be a competition in which Enzo Maresca can make changes and continue to progress and the fans will be expecting Chelsea to become the second English club to win that relatively new trophy.
The Quarter Final of the Conference League will be played next month, but Chelsea have some big Premier League matches scheduled either side of the March international break. The Blues moved up into 4th place in the Premier League table after a narrow home win over Leicester City last weekend, but they are only 2 points clear of Newcastle United in 6th and there is work to do. First off is improving the 6-3-5 away record where Chelsea have scored 26 goals and conceded 21.
Chelsea conceded late at Villa Park in the Premier League last month and were beaten 2-1, but have followed up by winning 4 in a row in all competitions. However, the majority of those wins have been at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea's 1-2 win at Copenhagen in the Conference League Last 16 First Leg snapped a run of 4 away defeats in succession.
The likes of Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson will be hoping to return after the March international break. Malo Gusto is a doubt for this big London derby.
Head to Head
Two second half goals were shared out as Chelsea and Arsenal drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
Recent visits to the Emirates Stadium have been difficult for Chelsea who have lost 3 of their last 4 here, including a 5-0 thumping last season.
Prediction
This might have been a big game for both of these London rivals if it was played a month ago, but it feels like the Premier League points mean more to Chelsea as we approach the March international break.
Recent setbacks have ended the Arsenal title push, but they will certainly want to dent the Chelsea hopes of earning a top five finish and a place in the Champions League. That is one motivation, while the other for Arsenal is to make sure they are not dropping back towards the chasing pack for the Champions League spots.
However, the injuries in forward areas continue to be a concern for Arsenal and they will be keen to get Bukayo Saka back as soon as possible. Gabriel Martinelli was a surprising substitute last week at Old Trafford, and he may get a few more minutes, but the focus for Mikel Arteta may be ensuring his squad is ready to come out of the international break ready for a big push in the Champions League.
Arsenal's fans will be expectant, especially with an extra day of recovery compared with their Chelsea rivals, but Enzo Maresca's team deserve some respect.
A 4 game winning run will have boosted confidence, even if Chelsea have been struggling away from home, and The Blues did manage to rest plenty of key players for the win over Copenhagen on Thursday. That was at home so the squad doesn't have a lot of excuses ahead of this big League game and one goal may be enough to secure a positive result.
The home team look short considering the issues they continue to have in the final third, especially in the Premier League, and Chelsea may be the right side to back with a positive start on the Asian Handicap.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
