Arsenal vs Chelsea Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Arsenal and Chelsea meet at the Emirates on Monday morning New Zealand time with both sides on maximum points after two rounds - and very different ways of getting there.

Arteta’s defending champions have started exactly how they left off. Four goals scored, none conceded. Chelsea under new manager Xabi Alonso have been entertaining but reckless, winning 3-2 at Fulham and 4-3 against Brighton. In this Arsenal vs Chelsea preview, I look at whether the Blues’ wild start can survive a trip to north London.

I’ve got a goals-market angle at over $3.40 for those keen on some football expert tips this week.

Arsenal

Two games, two clean sheets, four goals. Arsenal’s title defence is off to the ideal start.

The 3-0 win over Coventry on opening night was comfortable - Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored inside 23 minutes before Martin Odegaard added a third just after the break. Villa away was a different test. Saka’s scrappy 59th-minute finish was enough, and David Raya wasn’t troubled.

I’m impressed by how well Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera have looked together at centre-back. Nobody expected this partnership to start the season, and yet Arsenal have conceded nothing. Two different opponents, two clean sheets.

Bruno Guimaraes missed the opener with a groin issue but returned for the Villa win. Him alongside Declan Rice and Odegaard is a midfield I wouldn’t want to face as an away side.

Team News: Saliba is out until November with a back injury. Timber targets a return next week. Mosquera is expected to be fit despite coming off at Villa. Rice was seen limping post-Villa but Arteta played it down. Guimaraes returned for the Villa game and should start.

Predicted Lineup: Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis.

Chelsea

Chelsea have been fun to watch, I’ll give them that. Seven goals scored and five conceded in two games isn’t a formula that works at the Emirates, though.

Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 is all-in on attacking transitions. Joao Pedro scored after 31 seconds on opening day at Fulham. Chelsea were 3-0 up inside 32 minutes against Brighton before nearly giving it all back, and it took Cole Palmer’s solo goal in the 74th minute to settle the game. Morgan Rogers, their £117m record signing from Villa, has looked comfortable in the number 10 role.

My concern is with their depth. 

Enzo Fernandez was sold to Man City for £125m on deadline day, and Chelsea failed to sign a replacement after bids for Lamine Camara were rejected. Robert Sanchez has gone to Como on loan. Caicedo and Lavia started the Brighton game together in midfield, but Caicedo limped off after coming back from an earlier training-ground injury. If he’s unavailable here, Chelsea’s central options are worryingly thin.

Emi Martinez looked solid enough on debut against Brighton, but this is a different level.

Team News: Caicedo started against Brighton but limped off and is a doubt here. Henderson is out with a wrist problem from the World Cup. Palestra hasn’t featured this season. Fernandez and Sanchez have both departed.

Predicted Lineup: Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.

• Arsenal have won their last three Premier League home games against Chelsea.
• Chelsea haven’t beaten Arsenal in 12 meetings across all competitions since August 2021.
• Both teams scored in two of the last three Premier League meetings at the Emirates.
• Arsenal have conceded zero goals in their opening two league games this season.
• Chelsea have conceded five goals across their first two Premier League fixtures.

I’m picking Arsenal to win. 

They haven’t conceded a goal yet and they’ve dominated this fixture for years. Twelve games without a Chelsea win at the Emirates is not a run you bet against lightly.

Chelsea’s front three will trouble most sides, but I don’t think Palmer and Rogers will get the space they’ve been finding. Arteta’s defensive structure is too organised for that. And even if Caicedo is passed fit, Chelsea have lost Fernandez and replaced him with nobody. That midfield is weaker than a month ago.

I do think Chelsea score. 

Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers have five goals between them in two games, and Arsenal will push forward rather than hang back. If you’re looking at betting bonuses to use this week, the goals markets in this one are where I’d be focused.

Arsenal Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.40

Arsenal won 2-1 the last time these two met at the Emirates in the league. BTTS has come in during two of the last three Premier League meetings here.

Chelsea’s defensive record this season - five goals conceded in two games - suggests they’re going to leak chances. But their attack has been prolific too, and I can see Rogers or Palmer grabbing one on the counter.

At $3.40, I’m happy to back Arsenal to get the result while both sides find the net, on the best online betting sites available in New Zealand.