Chelsea vs Arsenal betting tips: Preview, predictions & odds
Mauricio Pochettino’s men are starting to find some form after a difficult start to the campaign, and will be striving to inflict a first defeat on the Gunners in the top flight this term.
Arsenal continued their impressive start with a 1-0 win over Manchester City before the break as Gabriel Martinelli’s late, defelected strike ended a cycle of poor results against the champions.
Mikel Arteta’s men are now level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table. But, Arsenal know they need to keep picking up victories amid the lurking presence of City if they are to end their 20-year title drought.
After looking at the latest Premier League odds, here are our predictions for the clash between Chelsea and Arsenal at 5:30pm Saturday, 21 October (Sky Sports Main Event).
Arsenal to edge tight game
Although Chelsea have improved over the last month under Pochettino, the Blues have some way to go before they can compete with the best in the Premier League.
Chelsea's wins over Fulham and Burnley were decent performances, but those are the types of teams the Blues of old would have past brushed aside with few problems.
There are encouraging signs as Mykhailo Mudryk, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling are beginning to blend in the final third. Only time will tell if it’s the start of a Chelsea resurgence or simply just a couple of solid results.
Arsenal produced arguably the best result of Arteta’s reign with a hard-fought win over City. Pep Guardiola’s men have tormented the Gunners in the Premier League and although the champions aren't in peak form right now, it was still a significant result.
Arteta’s side had to dig deep to claim a gritty 1-0 victory; the kind of win that should boost Arsenal's confidence going forward in the title race.
The Gunners have a great recent record against Chelsea, winning six of their last seven meetings, including a 1-0 triumph at the Bridge last season.
That made it three wins on the bounce at Chelsea for Arsenal, who could be missing Bukayo Saka for this latest visit but have the depth to edge a close contest.
We’re backing them to secure a narrow win at 13/10 with BetUK. If you are looking for a larger price on an Arsenal victory, BetVictor are offering 16/5 on an away win to nil, which appeals after three straight away clean sheets for the Gunners.
Will there be cards at Stamford Bridge?
In the past Chelsea and Arsenal have played out some fiery affairs, which weren't just limited to the pitch.
Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho had their fair share of bust-ups on the touchline as matters on the field spilled over, although there has not been a red card in the fixture since Mateo Kovacic was dismissed in the 2020 FA Cup final.
What can we expect from this London derby? The last meeting between the clubs contained only two bookings in a contest that the Gunners won comfortably against a Chelsea side desperate for the season to end at that time.
However, the last encounter at the Bridge was a bit more intense as seven players were booked by referee Michael Oliver in Arsenal’s 1-0 win.
Only Tottenham have collected more yellow cards than Chelsea’s 26 in the Premier League season, while Arsenal have collected the second fewest with 12 cautions.
Referee Chris Kavanagh will be taking charge of the contest, having only officiated twice in the top flight this term. He has dished out seven yellow cards in his two matches, including five in his last outing.
Given the occasion and Chelsea's eagerness to make their mark against a title contender, we’re backing over 4.5 cards to be awarded at the Bridge at 7/10 with BetMGM.
Odegaard to be in the action
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has led by example this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the Premier League, setting him on his way to matching his tally of 15 top-flight strikes from the last campaign.
The Norweigan is always involved in the action, and although he was not quite as effective against City, he is a constant threat to opposing teams.
Chelsea have struggled to contain midfield players this season, and Odegaard's battle with Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park could decide the contest.
Odegaard is on the list of set-piece and penalty-takers for Arsenal, enhancing his appeal on football betting sites to get on the scoresheet.
The Norway international scored twice against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in their last meeting in May and registered an assist in a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge in 2022, so there's no questioning his record against the Blues.
We’re backing him to have an impact on the game with either a goal or an assist at odds of 7/5 with bet365.
Simon Sinclair is an experienced sports journalist, who has written for national publications for football, cricket, NFL and many more. He contributes tips on a wide range of sports for The Independent.
