Royal Rumble: Chelsea, Arsenal Set For Titanic Clash At Stamford Bridge

By Augustine Akhilomen

The City of London would literarily be on standstill as two teams with great football rivalries and cultural heritage come head-to-head as Chelsea face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in Saturday’s London derby Premier League clash.

The Blues will be hoping to erase the memories of their 3-0 lose at the Emirates Stadium back in September, 2016, which changed the tactical formation of newly appointed manager, Antonio Conte.

Conte reverted to his usual 3-4-3 formation and has won 14 and lost just one of his last fifteen Premier League matches; conceding just fewer goals in the process. A run of 13 consecutive league wins followed that defeat, and in all Chelsea have picked up 46 points from the 51 available since – a sensational run of form that has seen them build a nine-point lead over the chasing pack.

After playing a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Tuesday, the Blues will be hunting all three points as eagerly as usual at Stamford Bridge, where they have won 10 consecutive matches in all competitions and 13 of 14 all season, scoring 41 goals and conceding just nine in the process. Gunners will be hoping to wake up from their slumber after losing 2-1 against Watford at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Conte will be banking on the attacking trio of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and William to strike down a Gunners side that will be relying on Alexis Sanchez, Oliveir Giroud and Mesuit Ozil.

Overall, Arsenal have won the more games in history, having won 73 times to Chelsea’s 61,with 54 draws (as of 24 September 2016). Arsenal’s record win was a 5–1 victory in a First Division match at Stamford Bridge on 29 November 1930. Chelsea’s record win was a 6–0 victory at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on 22 March 2014. Chelsea also had scored 5 goals against Arsenal at Highbury on 11 November 1998.

On 29 September 2012, where Chelsea became the first team to beat Arsenal three times at the Emirates with a 2–1 away victory. This followed a 4–1 win in 2009 and a 3–0 scoreline later that year. Didier Drogba holds the mark for the most derby goals with 13 in all competitions.