Arsenal vs. Chelsea Betting Odds, England Premiership Match Preview, Prediction
Arsenal sits atop the Premier League table, but comes off a humbling rout in its last match, 6-3, at the hands of Manchester City.
However, oddsmakers have faith in the Gunners back on their home pitch this weekend, opening them as slight betting favorites facing second-place Chelsea.
Most sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark had Arsenal as the home favorite at +138 with Chelsea at +188 and a draw line at +240 on the EPL odds front.
Chelsea is tied with Liverpool two points back of Arsenal and can, at least, be in a tie for first with a win.
Arsenal was dominated in the 6-3 drubbing against Manchester City, giving up 22 shots and losing the time of possession battle. Before the Man City match, Arsenal had led the league only giving up 11 goals in 15 matches.
The Blues got over their loss to Stoke City with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in their last match. They have respectable results so far this season against solid clubs on the road, playing to a draw against Manchester United and Tottenham and losing 1-0 to Everton.
Since losing their first league match at home, the Gunners have seven wins and a draw at Emirates Stadium.
Eden Hazard, Frank Lampard and Oscar have combined for 15 goals on the season. In the Crystal Palace win, Fernando Torres scored his second goal.
The Blues have been struggling on the defensive side of the pitch as of late, giving up seven goals in their last three league matches.
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott scored his first two goals of the season in the Manchester City match.
Both teams are strong in the midfield and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil is a terrific playmaker. His play will be key in this match, and the Blues must bottle him up in the midfield.
Last season at Emirates Stadium, Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1.
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was injured in the Man City match and he is expected to be unavailable.
Chelsea also has a mid-week match facing Sunderland in the quarterfinals of the Capital One Cup. It should serve as a solid tune-up, but won't be enough to save them at Arsenal.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
