Story summary
Arsenal vs Chelsea: A Tale of Two Derbies
The highly anticipated London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea is just around the corner, with both teams looking to assert their dominance in the Premier League.
In a pre-match interview, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his confidence in his team's ability to compete against the Blues. "I think they have every ingredient to be in the highest part of the table," he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is expected to deploy Reece James in midfield, where his importance will likely grow after the transfer collapse of Lamine Camara and Enzo Fernandez's departure for Manchester City.
The two teams have been on a roll so far this season, with Arsenal showcasing their strength in depth against Aston Villa and Chelsea impressing with an attacking display against Brighton.
This match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with different strengths. Can Arteta's side contain the Blues' new-look attack, or will Alonso's men prove too strong for the Gunners?
Chelsea XI vs Arsenal: Predicted Lineup
Emi Martinez is set to keep his place in goal, while Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro will again form the fearsome front three.
Reece James could start in midfield, where he will be expected to play a crucial role alongside Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco.
Arsenal XI vs Chelsea: Predicted Lineup
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that Cristhian Mosquera's withdrawal against Aston Villa was precautionary, but the Gunners may still opt to add more experience to their back line with Ezri Konsa pushing for his full debut.
Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt after picking up a small issue in the previous match, while Timber is closing in on a return from injury.
How to Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm BST ahead of the 4.30pm BST kick off.
Written for “Arsenal vs Chelsea Derby” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 34 other(s) covering the same event.
Premier League clubs continue to work behind the scenes despite the summer transfer window closing earlier this week.
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window → continue → scenes
Following a record-breaking spending spree involving Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, attention is already turning towards January.
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attention → follow → January
Arsenal had a relatively quiet Deadline Day, with a move for Julian Alvarez remaining out of reach, but the club is expected to be active when the winter window opens.
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window → have → reach
Chelsea experienced one of the most dramatic Deadline Day finales, selling Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for a British-record-equalling £125 million, but failing to sign a replacement with Monaco pulling out of an agreement to sell Lamine Camara.
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Monaco → experience → Camara
Chelsea have now reportedly identified Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios as a potential January target, with the Spanish club potentially demanding around €100 million.
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club → identify → million
Latest transfer news and rumours
Live updates
Ndiaye explains Tottenham transfer snub
Iliman Ndiaye says signing for Manchester City was a no-brainer, despite Tottenham’s attempts to bring him to north London.
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signing → explain → London
The former Everton winger moved across the north-west to join City in a Deadline Day deal worth £65m.
City’s interest in the player, though, was not formalised until after Tottenham had agreed terms with Everton for his sale.
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Tottenham → move → sale
Enzo Maresca’s side successfully hijacked the move with the transfer deadline drawing in, and, speaking after making his City debut in defeat of Coventry on Saturday, Ndiaye said it did not take much for City to turn his head.
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City → hijack → head
“I was just being patient and when City came through I was buzzing.
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I → come → ?
“(Maresca is) someone that admired me and as soon as they came through I had only one direction where I wanted to go.”
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I → admire → direction
WSL rocked by new controversy after substitution snafu
The WSL has launched an investigation after Crystal Palace “breached competition rules” in their opening-day win over Everton at the VBS Community Stadium.
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Palace → rock → Stadium
Lexi Lloyd-Smith’s first-half strike ensured Palace made a winning return to the top flight, but they could now face repercussions as a result of the number of substitution stoppages they made.
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they → ensure → stoppages
Teams are allowed to make up to five substitutions in a game but they must be done within a maximum of three windows.
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they → allow → windows
Palace used four.
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Palace → use → four
Eagles boss Jo Potter made four substitutions, bringing on Abbie Larkin, Ashleigh Weerden, Allyson Swaby and Kirsty Howat in the 62nd, 83rd, 90th and seventh minute of stoppage time respectively.
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Potter → make → time
The WSL said in a statement: “We can confirm there was a breach of competition rules in the Crystal Palace versus Everton match.
“
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We → say → match
Crystal Palace used a fourth substitution opportunity during a fourth stoppage in play, when the rules permit a maximum of three substitution opportunities per match.
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rules → use → match
“We will now conduct an investigation alongside both clubs and Pro Ref and update in due course.”
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We → conduct → course
Ex-Liverpool man finds new club
Former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is due to join Al-Ittihad on the Saudi Pro League’s deadline day.
The Dutchman last represented the Reds in 2021, since spending time with PSG, Roma and Al Ettifaq.
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Dutchman → find → PSG
He left the Saudi side when his contract expired in June, though, leaving him as a free agent.
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contract → leave → agent
Arsenal's full 25-man transfer shortlist revealed
Arsenal had 25 players on the summer transfer wishlist ahead of the window.
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Arsenal → reveal → window
BBC Sport’s report on Arsenal’s frustrating summer outlined every player Mikel Arteta had his sights on.
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Arteta → outline → sights
- Alex Scott
- Amadou Onana
- Bradley Barcola
- Bruno Guimaraes
- Christos Tzolis
- Cristian Romero
- Eli Junior Kroupi
- Elliot Anderson
- Ezri Konsa
- Illan Meslier
- Ivan Fresneda
- Jacobo Ramon
- Jeremy Monga
- Joao Pedro
- Julian Alvarez
- Kenan Yıldız
- Louis Page
- Malick Fofana
- Micky van de Ven
- Morgan Rogers
- Nico Paz
- Piero Hincapie
- Sandro Tonali
- Tarık Muharemovic
- Vinicius Jr
- Yan Diomande
They signed four.
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They → sign → four
Tottenham set Richarlison asking price
Tottenham are prepared to approve Richarlison’s departure as long as club’s meet their asking price.
Everton had agreed a fee of £25million, plus a further £10m in add-ons, but a move collapsed over personal terms.
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move → set → terms
Trabzonspor were then interested, but saw bids worth£15m and £20m rejected.
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worth£15 → see → ?
According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are insisting of offers of at least £25m to sell despite omitting the player from their Premier League squad.
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Spurs → accord → squad
Arsenal and Man City tracking Pedro Neto ahead of January
Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs monitoring Chelsea winger Pedro Neto ahead of the January transfer window, with both sides expected to make fresh contact over a potential move.
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sides → track → move
The Portugal international has attracted significant interest following his impressive start to the season, with Al-Hilal also continuing to track the 26-year-old.
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Hilal → attract → old
Chelsea are under no pressure to sell but could face a major decision if serious offers arrive in January.
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offers → sell → January
CaughtOffside claim that Neto is highly valued at Stamford Bridge.
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Neto → claim → Bridge
Arsenal and City are therefore expected to assess the situation before deciding whether to make a formal approach.
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Arsenal → expect → approach
A move would represent another major Premier League transfer for Neto, who joined Chelsea from Wolves in 2024.
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who → represent → 2024
With Arsenal looking to add more attacking quality and City continuing to reshape their squad, both clubs could make the Chelsea winger a priority when the market reopens.
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market → look → squad
Brentford open talks over new Kevin Schade contract after Arsenal interest
Brentford have opened talks with Kevin Schade’s representatives over a new long-term contract for the winger after interest from Arsenal during the transfer window.
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Brentford → open → window
Schade’s current deal runs until 2028, but the Bees want to reward his importance to the squad with improved terms and greater security.
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Bees → run → terms
According to reports, the proposed agreement would also include a significant salary increase for the Germany international, who has established himself as an important attacking player at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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who → accord → Stadium
Brentford are keen to secure Schade’s future amid continued interest in the 24-year-old, with the club looking to ensure he remains a key part of their plans beyond his current contract.
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he → secure → contract
Arsenal draw up two-man attacking shortlist for January
Arsenal have drawn up a two-man shortlist of attacking targets ahead of the January transfer window after failing to add their desired marquee forward this summer.
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Arsenal → draw → forward
Julian Alvarez is reportedly one of the options being considered, with the Atletico Madrid striker viewed as the blockbuster signing who could immediately strengthen Mikel Arteta’s attack.
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who → consider → attack
The 19-year-old would represent a younger and potentially more affordable option, with Arsenal having previously shown strong interest in his signature.
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Arsenal → represent → signature
…and 13 more, not listed.
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