Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Latest scores and updates as Merino gives hosts the lead

Chelsea players inspect Emirates pitch before kick-off

Jack Rathborn16 March 2025 12:49

Team news

Gabriel Martinelli makes his first start since February 5 for the hosts, replacing Ethan Nwaneri, while Raheem Sterling is ineligible to face his parent club so doesn’t make the squad and Mikel Arteta persists with Mikel Merino as a striker. The big news for Chelsea is the absence of out-of-form Cole Palmer, who misses out entirely, as Enzo Maresca makes six changes from the side that beat Copenhagen in the Conference League midweek.

Flo Clifford16 March 2025 12:35

Confirmed line-ups

Speak and ye shall receive... confirmed line-ups are out.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Partey, Odegaard; Martinelli, Merino, Trossard.

Bench: Neto, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Nwaneri.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Sancho; Nkunku

Bench: Jorgensen, Bettinelli, Tosin, Chalobah, Gusto, Acheampong, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall, George

Flo Clifford16 March 2025 12:24

Teams news incoming

We’re expecting confirmed line-ups in the next 15 mins for this London derby.

In the meantime, here are our predicted line-ups:

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Nkunku; Neto.

Flo Clifford16 March 2025 12:13

How to watch on TV

The match will kick off at 1.30pm GMT at the Emirates Stadium today, Sunday 16 March.

Arsenal v Chelsea will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League TV channels. Subscribers can watch the match online via the Sky Sports and Sky Go website and apps.

Flo Clifford16 March 2025 12:07

Arteta expecting intense clash with Chelsea

A three-match winless run has left second-placed Arsenal 15 points behind Liverpool as the title race slips away from them and the north London side are now looking over their shoulder with Nottingham Forest and Sunday's opponents Chelsea catching up.

Chelsea are fourth, six points behind Arsenal ahead of the London derby at Emirates Stadium, where the west London side lost 5-0 last season, but Arteta said this time they play a much changed squad under Enzo Maresca.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

"It's two teams that want to be very dominant in their way of playing, very aggressive in the high press and the way we have to have the ball," Arteta said.

"There is a lot of individual quality on that pitch, so it's about imposing what you want in the direction you want to take the game and keep them very far from their strengths, that's going to be key."

Lawrence Ostlere16 March 2025 11:47

Arteta bats away talk of Real Madrid

Arsenal are very excited to play reigning champions Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals next month but they will not be distracted from their Premier League duties as they shift their focus to Chelsea, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday.

Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate to earn a quarter-final spot against 15-times winners Real Madrid, a team they have played only once before in the competition, knocking the Spanish side out over two legs in the last 16 en route to the 2006 final.

"Fascinating draw, we play the club with the biggest history in the competition," Arteta told reporters. "Very excited to play against them, but before that we have some big matches in the Premier League."

Lawrence Ostlere16 March 2025 11:31

Chelsea line up deal for Sporting's Geovany Quenda

Some transfer news, in case you missed it this week: Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda.

The 17-year-old, who was reportedly a target for Manchester United, will remain in Portugal throughout the rest of this season and next before moving to London in 2026.

He has made 52 senior appearances for Sporting and made his Champions League debut in September.

Able to play on the right wing and at wing-back, he joins a list of teenagers set to join up with the club in the coming years with deals also having been struck for 17-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian and 17-year-old Ecuadorian Kendry Paez, with both set to move in July.

Lawrence Ostlere16 March 2025 11:16

Sanchez set to start in goal for Chelsea

Robert Sanchez is set to start in goal after winning his place back for the win over Leicester.

He had previously missed four league games in a row following a series of errors but after understudy Filip Jorgensen played against Copenhagen, Maresca said Sanchez is his pick for the Emirates Stadium clash.

"I think Robert needed some days off or at least rest mentally," said Maresca. "He's back and hopefully we are not going to change until the end (of the season)."

Lawrence Ostlere16 March 2025 11:02

Maresca: Chelsea can flex tactics to beat Arsenal

"The intention will be that (to control the ball)," he said. "And if we are able or not depends a lot on the opponent.

"They just told me that Pedro Neto (against Copenhagen) did a sprint on 90 minutes. The reason why is that we were sitting back at the edge of our box. So if we plan the game (against Arsenal) sitting back and wait, sure our strikers and wingers are going to do 20 sprints for 60, 70 minutes.

"When you play most of your game in the opposite side, there is not space to do that kind of sprint.

"Our plan is to control the game but it's a team that is going to press high and try to be aggressive, and probably we will have more space to attack in behind."

Lawrence Ostlere16 March 2025 10:45