A huge top-of-the-table clash headlines the weekend Premier League action as Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge. While the Gunners have been clear favourites to win the title for a number of weeks, the Blues have quietly gone about their business to spark suggestions of a title challenge. As the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City faulted, they picked up points.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will know that his tactics, and the performance of his players, will have to be spot on to topple Arsenal. The table-topping Gunners look imperious at the back, and have a number of attackers returning to bolster the forward line, and a look at their recent head-to-head record is grim reading for those in Blue - with one win in 12 meetings.
Both teams geared up for the game by blowing away a European giant in midweek, with Chelsea first dispatching of Barcelona before Arsenal made light work of Bayern Munich. Now they face each other in what should be a pulsating clash. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith and Simon Collings at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Arsenal latest news
- GOAL! Merino equalises
- GOAL! Chalobah puts Blues ahead
- GOOD SAVE! Sanchez denies Martinelli
- RED CARD! Caicedo sent off for Merino tackle
- CLOSE! Estevao skies great chance
Arsenal player ratings
18:41 , Oli GentHere’s how Simon Collings rated the Arsenal players...
Chelsea player ratings
18:41 , Oli GentHere’s how Dom Smith rated the Chelsea players this evening...
10-man Chelsea hold league leaders in Stamford Bridge stalemate
18:40 , Oli Gent10-man Chelsea earned a credible 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo was sent off in the first half, before Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring.
Mikel Merino equalised on the hour to snatch a point for the Gunners, who couldn’t muster a winner.
FT: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:26 , Oli GentThere we have it.
The points are shared, and that’s probably a fair result.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE action.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:25 , Oli Gent90+3 mins: The game feels like it’s petering out now... Chelsea are shutting up shop...
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:23 , Oli Gent90 mins: Four added minutes.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:21 , Oli Gent88 mins: Gyokeres is booked, but the VAR deems it not sending-off worthy.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:20 , Oli Gent87 mins: Good save! Odegaard goes for the effort from the edge of the area, and it’s a good save from Sanchez to keep him out. Gyokeres goes for the rebound, but his studs connect with the Chelsea keeper’s chest. There’s outrage from the hosts...
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:16 , Oli Gent84 mins: Six minutes to play, and still no sign of Cole Palmer...
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:13 , Oli Gent81 mins: The aggression in the challenges hasn’t stopped. Merino is penalised for a foul on James, who must be the most fouled player on the pitch.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:10 , Oli Gent78 mins: Free kick, Chelsea. James throws it towards Fernandez at the back stick, but Arsenal clear initially. It fals for Delap who strikes, but Raya claims well.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:06 , Oli Gent74 mins: Nice try from the visitors as Rice and Saka look to link up, but the winger can’t get the connection on the ball back across for Gyokeres.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:04 , Oli Gent72 mins: Close! Saka looks to spark this game into life, cutting inside and letting fly, but it whizzes over the top.
Gyokeres is now coming on for Eze.
Simon Collings reports
18:03 , Oli Gent71 mins: All this talk about Caicedo v Rice - and Reece James has been the best midfielder today.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
18:00 , Oli Gent68 mins: Both sides throwing caution to the wind here. Yes, that does include the ten-man hosts...
Dom Smith reports
17:57 , Oli Gent65 mins: One Chelsea fan watches Mikel Arteta and Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover at the edge of their technical area before a long throw-in and shouts: “Hold on, which one's the manager?”
Simon Collings reports
17:56 , Oli Gent64 mins: I think we saw for that goal the issue of Cucurella being on a yellow. He can't get tight to Saka.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
17:54 , Oli Gent62 mins: Arsenal have got their tails up, and they still have men to bring on. Gyokeres, perhaps, could be the next to enter the fray...
Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
17:51 , Oli Gent59 mins: The Gunners are level, and it’s Merino! Odegaard is at the heart of it, finding Saka, who skins Cucurella and stands it up for Merino to nod home!
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Oli Gent58 mins: Two changes for Arsenal. Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard are both coming on, replacing Martinelli and Zubimendi.
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
17:48 , Oli Gent57 mins: Corner, Chelsea. The 10 men are still attacking, and Garnacho wins a corner off Rice down the left. James is over the set piece, aiming for the near post once more, but Rice clears.
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
17:46 , Oli Gent56 mins: Joao Pedro is replaced by Delap.
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
17:46 , Oli Gent55 mins: Lewis-Skelly is booked for a body check on James.
Dom Smith reports
17:44 , Oli Gent53 mins: Liam Delap has been told to get ready and is going to come on, I believe.
Simon Collings reports
17:43 , Oli Gent52 mins: It always felt like Chelsea would sit back with 10 men, but they certainly will now. How will Arsenal open them up? Such a huge opportunity for them.
Dom Smith reports
17:42 , Oli Gent50 mins: There is something quite poetic about Chalobah being the scorer as Chelsea edge ahead despite having ten men. He felt Hincapie should have been sent off for his apparent elbow to Chalobah's face in the first half. Now the centre-back has scored the game's first goal.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
17:40 , Oli Gent48 mins: It’s there, and it’s Trevoh Chalobah who opens the scoring! Against all odds, the hosts are ahead with 10 men. The corner is flicked on by the centre-back, and flies into the far corner!
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:39 , Oli Gent48 mins: Close! Chelsea have a free kick from a Hincapie foul. It’s floated up to Joao Pedro at the far post, and his header is acrobatically kept out by Raya! Corner.
Kick off!
17:37 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
Half-time change apiece
17:37 , Oli GentChelsea are bringing Alejandro Garnacho on for Estevao. Myles Lewis-Skelly replaces Calafiori for Arsenal.
HT: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:21 , Oli GentThere’s the interval.
Chelsea are down to 10, but still nothing to split these two teams.
What will the second half have in store?
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:19 , Oli Gent45+4 mins: Another Arsenal corner, and Sanchez punches clear.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:16 , Oli Gent45+2 mins: Good save! Rice and Martinelli link up as the Brazilian goes for a low strike into the corner, but Chelsea’s goalkeeper is equal to it.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:16 , Oli Gent45+1 min: Five added minutes.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:15 , Oli Gent45 mins: A first Arsenal corner, which is taken well by Sanchez from the Saka delivery.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:12 , Oli Gent43 mins: Chalobah is down getting treatment after that Hincapie challenge.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:11 , Oli Gent41 mins: There’s another card out, this time for Hincapie, who is adjudged to have elbowed Chalobah challenging for the high ball.
Dom Smith reports
17:10 , Oli Gent40 mins: It cannot be underestimated how damaging a blow that is of Chelsea's chances of winning this game. Not only are they down to ten men against the league's best team, the player they have lost is their very best.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:08 , Oli Gent39 mins: Red card! Caicedo is sent off!
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:08 , Oli Gent38 mins: It’s a snapping challenge at speed, with a straight leg, from Caicedo. The replay doesn’t make it look good...
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:07 , Oli Gent37 mins: The referee books the Ecuadorian, but there is going to be an on-field review...
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:06 , Oli Gent36 mins: There’s a bad challenge from Caicedo on Merino, and the Arsenal bench are furious. VAR is taking a look at this, while the Chelsea midfielder is hurt...
Dom Smith reports
17:04 , Oli Gent34 mins: It's been a really feisty match so far. Both sets of players fully aware of the ramifications the result could have here. Anthony Taylor has his hands full.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:02 , Oli Gent32 mins: Estevao cuts inside and finds Fernandez who goes for the strike from the edge of the area, but it’s straight at Raya.
Simon Collings reports
17:02 , Oli Gent31 mins: Boos for Madueke as he goes to warm up. The Arsenal away fans manage to drown them out, though.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:01 , Oli Gent30 mins: What a chance! The ball falls for Joao Pedro after Hincapie’s error, but the Brazilian freezes in front of goal, looking for the pass rather than getting a shot off!
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
17:00 , Oli Gent29 mins: There are complaints aplenty from both sides at the calls being made by Anthony Taylor so far. It’s been a hostile start...
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:57 , Oli Gent27 mins: Free kick, Chelsea. Great play from James as he snatches the ball off Calafiori and drives away from the Arsenal defender, who hauls him back and gets a caution.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:55 , Oli Gent24 mins: Still nothing to split the two teams so far. Saka has had that one chance, and Estevao had his. Nothing else of note yet.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:52 , Oli Gent21 mins: Jeers from the Chelsea faithful as Saka’s pass into Zubimendi is blocked by Caicedo, but his interception doesn’t stick and the Spaniard picks it up. He looks for Calafiori with a quick switch, but overcooks it.
Dom Smith reports
16:49 , Oli Gent19 mins: Well, it didn't half sit up for Estevao there! It's a poor miss in the circumstances, but he makes sure to gee up the Chelsea fans afterwards, insisting on yet more noise.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:48 , Oli Gent18 mins: An even contest so far. Not much to split these two as Chelsea maraud forwards. That could change here as Joao Pedro drives down the right... it comes for Estevao! But he skies it!
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:46 , Oli Gent16 mins: Chance! The ball breaks for Estevao in the Arsenal box, and it almost squirms through for Neto, but Rice steps in with an important tackle at just the right time!
Simon Collings reports
16:44 , Oli Gent14 mins: Cards flying about here. Anthony Taylor set the tone for that by booking Zubimendi inside five minutes.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:43 , Oli Gent13 mins: Good save! The first effort on target as Saka is denied by Sanchez with a low drive.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:41 , Oli Gent11 mins: There’s the second yellow of the afternoon as Cucurella lunges in on Saka. Arteta is furious, and the Chelsea left-back is in the book.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:40 , Oli Gent10 mins: No openings for either side yet in what has been a cagey opening few minutes. Expect it to explode into life soon, though...
Dom Smith reports
16:36 , Oli Gent7 mins: Very early stages, but evidence already, I think, that James in midfield is working and could be a really shrewd move this afternoon by Enzo Maresca. Physical player, and will be happy to receive from defence with his back to goal.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:36 , Oli Gent6 mins: A real edge to this game as James goes down under challenge from Zubimendi, who is booked for his indiscretion.
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
16:35 , Oli Gent5 mins: Rice snaps at Caicedo’s heels but is penalised for a foul. Merino isn’t happy with the Chelsea midfielder’s reaction, either. This is going to be a fiery affair.
Simon Collings reports
16:33 , Oli Gent3 mins: Cucurella v Saka is always feisty. Two minutes in - and it's already going off.
Kick off!
16:30 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minutes to kick off
16:26 , Oli GentThe players are on their way out, and the stage is set!
10 minute warning!
16:22 , Oli GentKick off is fast approaching...
Simon Collings reports
16:13 , Oli GentAs always, Gabriel Heinze is putting the Arsenal defence through their paces during the final stages of the warm-up. He is barking out orders in Spanish to Hincapie and Mosquera.
Dom Smith reports
16:10 , Oli GentArsenal's colourful '70s-style training kits are somewhere between a surprising triumph or an assault on the eyes, depending on your perspective. I'm willing to admit I actually quite like the design. Anyway.
Team Caicedo or Team Rice?
16:04 , Oli GentTeam Moises Caicedo or team Declan Rice? 🤔#CHEARS | #Chelsea | #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/SIzGFnvjod
— Premier League India (@PLforIndia) November 29, 2025
Saliba latest
15:56 , Oli GentThe French centre-back is out of this one for the visitors.
A huge blow.
What’s happened?
'The ultimate test of Arsenal's depth'
15:44 , Oli GentHere are Simon Collings and Dom Smith’s pre-match thoughts ahead of kick-off...
🗣️ "The ultimate test of Arsenal's depth." @sr_collings and @MrDomSmith give their thoughts on the two team lineups from Stamford Bridge...
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 30, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/EplcsxVSph #CHEARS | #AFC | #CFC pic.twitter.com/hqenghqGvU
No Saliba!
15:31 , Oli GentThat is huge news - and it leaves two summer signings to partner each other in a new-look central defensive partnership for the Gunners.
Can the hosts take advantage of any uncertainty?
Simon Collings reports
15:22 , Oli GentA big blow for Arsenal to have no William Saliba with Gabriel already out. A proper test of their depth today with Hincapie and Mosquera paired together in the heart of defence.
Dom Smith reports
15:21 , Oli GentVery interesting line-up from Enzo Maresca and immediately the eye is drawn to the name of Estevao Willian, who earns his first league start since September, forcing his way into the team after his heroics against Barcelona on Tuesday. That means Pedro Neto plays on the left, to accommodate Estevao, and Reece James will add physicality in midfield up against an excellent Arsenal midfield.
Arsenal lineup
15:20 , Oli GentArsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus
Chelsea lineup
15:19 , Oli GentChelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Estevao, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap
Arteta responds to Bayern tactics criticism
15:15 , Oli GentBayern Munich and Joshua Kimmich were furious at the manner in which they lost to Arsenal in midweek, blasting the Gunners’ tactics.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta responded in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
What did he have to say?
West Ham legend Billy Bond dies, aged 79
15:05 , Oli GentSome tragic news from east London to bring you as West Ham announced today that Billy Bonds has died aged 79.
Gary Cahill interview
14:57 , Oli GentFormer Chelsea defender Gary Cahill sat down with Dom Smith to discuss Chelsea’s recruitment and the superb form of Moises Caicedo.
Inside Noni Madueke's start to Arsenal life
14:50 , Oli GentAnytime Arsenal are looking at signing a player, the club conduct plenty of due diligence, writes Simon Collings.
Part of the process involves finding out all they can about the player by speaking to those who know them best.
In Noni Madueke’s case, one of those people was Bukayo Saka — and he gave Mikel Arteta a glowing reference.
Standard Sport prediction
14:39 , Oli GentThis fixture is perfectly set up as both teams will be full of confidence following impressive wins in Europe during the week. Chelsea have passed many tests this season, beating Liverpool and Barcelona at home, for example.
Though facing arguably the best team in the country represents a whole different prospect and we think it will be a bridge too far for this young Blues team.
Arsenal to win 2-1.
Arsenal team news
14:30 , Oli GentAs for Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz could be back for the London derby. The former has been absent since the 2-0 win over Burnley and the latter has not featured since the opening weekend of the season.
Speaking on Friday, Mikel Arteta hinted that his attacking options for the short trip to Stamford Bridge will be boosted.
Furthermore, Leandro Trossard could be available despite limping off in the first half against Bayern Munich, with Gabriel Martinelli and ex-Chelsea winger Noni Madueke on standby.
Chelsea team news
14:20 , Oli GentFor Chelsea, Cole Palmer will be available for selection after a two-month lay-off.
Palmer returned to full training earlier than expected after suffering a setback in his bid to make a comeback from a troublesome groin issue and is in contention to start against the Gunners.
Elsewhere, Enzo Maresca has the option of recalling either Joao Pedro or Liam Delap to lead the line for Chelsea, while there are calls for Estevao to start following his stunning goal against Barcelona.
How to watch
14:10 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 4pm GMT on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR ahead of kick-off at 4.30pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Hello and welcome!
14:00 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea.
It’s first vs second in the Premier League, with the division’s two form sides facing off at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
This should be a cracker. Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 4.30pm GMT.
