NEW Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will take his seat in the Emirates dugout for the first time on Sunday afternoon when the Gunners go up against London rivals Chelsea.
Arteta's first game in charge of the capital club- a trip to Bournemouth on Boxing Day – ended in a 1-1 draw – a result which means Arsenal have only managed to win one of their last 16 matches across all competitions – a 3-1 successes away at West Ham earlier this month.
The new Arsenal boss will be desperate to hit the ground running at home and to deliver a first home win in almost three months for the Emirates faithful.
However, standing in Arsenal's way of a much-needed three points on their own patch is a Chelsea side who triumphed in north London last weekend when recording a richly deserved 2-0 victory against Tottenham.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard tactically outwitted mentor Jose Mourinho in what was arguably Chelsea's finest hour of the Lampard era to date, however, a surprise 2-0 midweek defeat at home to Southampton brought the Blues crashing back down to earth with a bang.
Despite suffering a Boxing Day blow at Stamford Bridge – Chelsea's third defeat in their last four games at home – the Blues still remain in the top-four and Lampard and Co will be itching to bounce back by bagging three points from another London derby.
The Betting Odds
Chelsea make the short trip across the city priced as 13/10 (Bet 365) favourites to edge this encounter at the Emirates.
Arsenal have drawn their last two Premier League games and a repeat of that outcome on Sunday pays 13/5 (PaddyPower), while a first Arsenal success on home soil since the 6th October is an unfancied 41/20 (UniBet)
The Betting Angles
Both Arsenal and Chelsea share similar attributes in that both teams are very adept at attacking, however, both are defensively vulnerable – and that combination points towards an open and entertaining encounter at the Emirates.
With that mind, as well as the fact that Arsenal are the second-highest corner kick takers in the division, I like the look of the 8/11 (Bet 365) on offer for the Gunners to take over 4.5 corners in this showdown.
Arsenal have averaged seven corners per-game in the first half of the season and they have taken five or more corners in eight of their nine Premier League matches in their own manor thus far.
Furthermore, those odds can be boosted up to 11/10 (Bet 365) by adding an Arsenal goal and that combination catches the eye given that it would have banked profit in all but one of the Gunners nine league games in their own backyard this season.
What's more, Chelsea have only kept one top-flight clean sheet away from home this term and that coupled with the hosts brittle backline – Arsenal have only registered one shutout in their last 16 attempts – all adds to the appeal of backing a goal-laden affair in north London.
There is no value in backing both teams to score at 1/2 (William Hill) or over 2.5 match goals for that matter at 8/15 (William Hill) , however, an alternative angle that I'm drawn to is to combine both teams to score, each team to take two or more corners and both rivals to rack up a least one card – a combination that is priced at Evens with Bet 365.
Both teams have scored in eight of Chelsea's last nine Premier League road trips and eight of the last nine sides to visit this venue have made the net bulge and backing both sides to to score along with a couple of corners and a card apiece all looks feasible in what should be a captivating contest at the Emirates.
This English Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea will be played on Dec 29, 2019 and kick off at 14:00. Check below for our tipsters best Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
