Photo Credit: Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta celebrates with Gabriel Magalhaes and Eberechi Eze after victory over Chelsea at Emirates on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
EPL Preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea in top-of-table clash, Tottenham chase revival
Arsenal will put their perfect start on the line when they host Chelsea this weekend in a heavyweight Premier League clash.

Both sides have won their first two league games of the season, along with Manchester City and newly-promoted Hull. For defending champions Arsenal, it has been a continuation of last season’s defensive solidity.

Mikel Arteta’s men followed a 3-0 opening win over Coventry with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa last week — their sixth clean sheet in seven league matches. England winger Bukayo Saka has also hit form with two goals already after an injury-hit 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea, under new boss Xabi Alonso, have started with three wins in all competitions. The new attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have scored five of their seven league goals in wins over Fulham and Brighton, but the team has also conceded five goals — an area Alonso will want to tighten.

History favours Arsenal, who are unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s meeting at the Emirates.

Elsewhere, Tottenham are bottom of the table after a difficult start. Roberto De Zerbi’s side lost 3-0 to Brentford and 2-0 to Newcastle, despite spending over £350m in the summer on players including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio. They face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday — a side that beat them twice last season.

De Zerbi remains confident of a turnaround: “I have no doubt it’s not like this… I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players.”

New Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is also still searching for his first win after draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. The Reds could hand a debut to France forward Bradley Barcola, signed from PSG for up to £124m, at Ipswich on Friday. Liverpool’s attack now features Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz alongside Barcola, but four goals conceded in two games has raised questions about balance.

Weekend Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):
Friday: Ipswich v Liverpool (1900)
Saturday: Newcastle v Bournemouth (1130), Brentford v Sunderland, Brighton v Leeds, Fulham v Crystal Palace, Man City v Coventry, Nott’m Forest v Tottenham, Hull v Aston Villa (1630)
Sunday: Everton v Man United (1300), Arsenal v Chelsea (1530)
Source: Punchng.com