Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge as Premier League leaders with a six-point advantage over second-placed Chelsea. The Gunners are on a 16-match unbeaten run, while Chelsea aim to close the gap in this crucial top-of-the-table clash. Both teams enter the match in strong form after recent Champions League victories.
The Premier League's marquee matchup on Sunday, November 30, 2025, pits league leaders Arsenal against challengers Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, have been dominant, securing a six-point lead at the top with an impressive 16-match unbeaten streak since their last defeat on August 31 at Liverpool. They recently thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby and followed it with a 3-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich, making them the only team to win all five league-phase matches in Europe's elite competition this season.
Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, sit second after winning five of their past six Premier League games. They benefited from an extra day's rest following a 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona on Tuesday. Maresca downplayed the immediate impact of a win, stating, "We still have five or six months to go. It will be important where we are in February or March, we'll see then." A victory would place Chelsea just three points behind Arsenal.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal line up in a 4-3-3 formation: David Raya in goal; Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, and Riccardo Calafiori in defense; Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze in midfield; and Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Martinelli up front. Leandro Trossard is sidelined with an injury from the Bayern match, while William Saliba joins Gabriel Magalhães on the injury list—Gabriel with a thigh issue expected back in late December. Viktor Gyökeres and long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus are on the bench, with Kai Havertz targeting a return in early December from a knee problem.
Chelsea's Title Credentials
Data highlights Arsenal's edge: they lead in defensive metrics, achieving a +1 non-penalty expected goals (npXG) difference per game, essential for title contenders. Chelsea match Arsenal's attacking output but lag defensively. Marc Cucurella noted inconsistency against weaker teams: "I think we dropped points this season against teams where you expect to win." Arsenal excel in set-pieces with 10 goals (xG 7.88), while Chelsea have eight (xG 5.44) but struggle defensively (xG against 6.40). Chelsea's record against Arsenal is poor, with just one win in the last 11 Premier League meetings and no victory in six Gunners' visits to Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer is fit to play despite a two-month absence.
Chelsea's youth—average starting XI age of 24 years and 169 days—remains a factor, as no team has won the Premier League with an average under 25. Maresca is optimistic: "For sure, it's different compared to one year ago because we spent one more year together." Striker Liam Delap believes Chelsea can challenge for the title or Champions League.