Arsenal

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Mikel Arteta spoke to BBC Sport after Arsenal's draw with Chelsea: “I am very disappointed but very proud as well with what I have seen from the team again. We did the most difficult one to score the first goal but very disappointed with the way we conceded.

"The standards and our defensive habits were nowhere near. They have quality and if you give them space they are going to punish you.

"The team reacted in a way that was fabulous with the desire to win, show initiative, take risks and be so dominant but we didn’t manage to score the [winning] goal.

“They destroy every team that comes here in every way but I thought we were superb. We were very unlucky. We have dominated one of the best teams in Europe but we don’t get the results. That is what is missing.”

On players returning to fitness: "We are still missing a lot and some of the guys out there are not in the best condition and that is all we are asking, that they are fit and available and the physical condition to play at this level and we have not had any of that. It was patch, after patch, after patch - a lot of players starting and not in the condition to finish games, so that is what I am praying for."

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Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya spoke to BBC Sport after Sunday's draw with Chelsea: “We are disappointed. We are going to be disappointed to get just one point, especially the way we played, the way we approached the game and the chances we created but I think we showed what we are about.

“Coming to this place and knowing how hard it is just getting the ball off them and attacking. It is going to make us better over the next few games.

“We have played tough games away from home and coming here with that personality we show, we wanted to win and it is going to push us for the next games. We have to take the positives and focus on the next one."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance, external

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Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Leicester (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra)

• Tottenham v Ipswich (listen on BBC Sport website and app)

• Chelsea v Arsenal - 16:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC).

Sutton's prediction: 2-1 if Cole Palmer is in the Chelsea team; 1-1 if he isn't (final prediction will be made when the line-ups are announced before kick-off)

I don't do this very often but my prediction here rests on whether one player is fit or not.

Arsenal have a doubt over Declan Rice, which is a worry for them, and Martin Odegaard will be rusty after returning from his lay-off with a brief appearance against Inter Milan in midweek, but it is Palmer who holds the key.

You are asking me to make a prediction and I don't know which gun I've got - a bazooka or a water pistol.

Palmer has missed training this week after getting injured against Manchester United last weekend and Chelsea need him if they are going to win this.

Even if Palmer is absent, I don't think Arsenal will win. What worries me about them is what they do in the opposition box. They played well against Inter but they came up short in front of goal, and they certainly aren't clicking in the final third.

Mylee's prediction: 3-2

This is going to be a close game with lots of goals... and Chelsea will win!

Tate's prediction: 0-2

Chelsea have been much better this season so it might be a tight game. We have been missing Odegaard, who makes a massive difference, but fingers crossed we can do it. London is red!

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Do Arsenal fold under pressure? Do Chelsea need a statement win?

Blues fan Charlie Patrick and Gunners supporter Tanvi Shah go head to head on the latest episode of The Football News Show before the sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday.

Watch the full episode of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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With just goal difference separating the sides in the Premier League, it is all to play for in the London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

While they go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

Each fan got to ask three questions to each other before the big game...

Ross Mooring
Fan writer

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Here is what our Chelsea fan writer Ross Mooring had to say in response to questions from our Arsenal contributor Oli Price-Bates.

Excluding Cole Palmer, who do you see as your biggest attacking threat in this game?

Naming a deeper-lying central midfielder as second behind Palmer might seem counter-intuitive, but at the moment Moises Caicedo is a constant threat with and without the ball, breaking up the play and releasing Chelsea’s attacking players with accurate passing. It is somewhat reminiscent of Claude Makelele in his pomp.

Unlike Makelele, Caicedo is also capable of playing in the strikers, such as he did for Nicolas Jackson in the win at West Ham - as well as connecting sweetly with shots from long range when the opportunity arises. Given Jackson is in good form himself, he will be hoping to capitalise.

Which Arsenal player are you most worried about facing?

If he is fit enough to start, I am always wary of Martin Odegaard's ability to dictate play. While he might directly come up against one of Chelsea's players of the season so far in Caicedo, this Arsenal team seems to enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge and Odegaard has often been at the heart of that.

If the Norway playmaker is only available off the bench, or does not play at all, then Bukayo Saka is of course a worry. I do not think much needs be said about Saka's qualities, especially with Chelsea struggling defensively.

What weaknesses can Arsenal exploit in this Chelsea team?

As mentioned, the Blues are failing to keep the opposition out with any regularity (no clean sheets in the league since September). While Robert Sanchez is a good shot-stopper, the Spaniard lacks conviction with the ball at his feet and is prone to errors of judgement.

The bigger problem, however, is when Chelsea lose the ball in the attacking third as Enzo Maresca's inverted full-back, typically on the left, gets caught out of position and simply has too much ground to cover to successfully close down the opposition's winger.

As this is Bukayo Saka on Sunday, colour me concerned.

Find more from Ross Mooring at Chelsea Fancast, external

Oli Price-Bates
Fan writer

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Here is what our Arsenal fan writer Oli Price-Bates had to say in response to questions from our Chelsea contributor Ross Mooring.

Which unheralded player in this Arsenal team could make a difference in the game?

I'm going to say Gabriel Jesus. He might not start, but Gabriel Martinelli has been blowing hot and cold and Raheem Sterling will be ineligible, meaning Jesus is going to feature at some point and is a solid candidate to start on the left.

Arsenal's attack has not consistently clicked and the chaos factor Jesus brings could be pivotal in sparking something special. Arsenal need him back on form and this would be the perfect game for him to find his top gear.

Kai Havertz confounded Chelsea supporters throughout his time at the club - how do Arsenal fans view him?

Havertz was a divisive signing initially, but his form in 2024 has unified most Arsenal fans in believing he has been a great addition. He always gives 100% and has grown under Mikel Arteta. His ability to play several positions is of particular use to the boss.

In Martin Odegaard's recent injury absence, Havertz has stepped up as the Gunners' key central figure. Hopefully, for this game, Odegaard will be back. This would allow Havertz to play further forward again, as he has played his best football when the Norwegian is behind him.

Do you expect Arsenal to continue their good recent record at Stamford Bridge?

It is going to be tough. Chelsea look a more unified outfit now. It will be a different style of game to past meetings between the sides. Chelsea have settled into a possession-heavy game, while in the absence of key players, Arsenal have adapted their style to surrender the ball a bit more and instead look to benefit from duels and high turnovers in a traditional 4-4-2 shape.

Arsenal also have the challenge of facing Inter Milan at away in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Chelsea fully rotated their team for the European fixture. This gives Chelsea the edge in freshness and that, coupled with their improved form, will make it difficult for Arsenal to get all three points.

Find more from Oli Price-Bates at The Fresh Arsenal Podcast, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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It would be dangerous to write Arsenal off yet, even if Liverpool now have a semi-comfortable seven-point cushion.

‌There is however pressure everywhere on Mikel Arteta with Manchester City also five points clear of them without even playing that well. It will hurt Gunners fans that those upstarts from Stamford Bridge have the gall to be above them currently but worst of all is the fact that their mortal enemies Spurs are coming up fast on the rails.

‌I did not meet one single person who backed Spurs to be above Arsenal in the Premier League this season, but if things continue as they are just now it is a distinct possibility.

What’s more, Ange-ball is tastier than the thin gruel currently being served up by Arteta’s team.

I think finishing below Spurs might actually hurt more than missing out on the top-four finish that they have taken for granted up until now.

‌If that doesn’t get Arsenal fighting, nothing will.

‌Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Chelsea (16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta said he has "no clarity" on whether Declan Rice will be fit to face Chelsea but he "hasn't trained yet".

• He will see how captain Martin Odegaard trains on Saturday but added: "He's available, he's fit, then we make the decision."

• On Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, who were both withdrawn during Wednesday's defeat by Inter Milan: "[We have to] wait to see how they react. Kai's was quite a nasty cut. Mikel wasn't feeling great and we decided to substitute him at half-time."

• He believes a small tweak will see his side return to form: "Nobody works harder than me, I guarantee you that. We don't need a reset. In one particular aspect we need to go from 95 to 100. I will not tell you what that is."

• On how to deal with Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer: "That's a question that all the managers in the league have had and he's still managed to impact games. We will have a plan for Cole and all their threats, and to exploit their weaknesses."

• Arteta said not winning "affects the mood and energy" of the camp: "There is nobody in this room or outside who wants to win more than I do or the players do. That is impossible. I sense a big belief in what we do as a team."

• On the mentality of his players after no wins in their past four games: "They are paying attention, they are hungry and they want to work. Their desire is unbelievable. They are a joy to work with"

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Chelsea v Arsenal on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday

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I do not think Arsenal are out of the title race but they are now having to keep a very close eye on the teams around them and that is not something you want to be doing so early on in the season.

Arsenal know they have the capability to go on a long unbeaten run and that is what they are going to have to do if they want to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City.

Liverpool will drop points but not many.

If they still had to play the Reds twice this season, then it would be better because they could look at making up those points by getting a result on those matchdays. But they have not got that luxury. They face them one more time and it is at Anfield, so in terms of difficulty that is right up there.

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are currently above them in the league but are we expecting them to challenge for the title? I am not 100% sure on that.

Injuries are an issue across the board. Yes, Arsenal are having their fair share but people questioned what would happen if Alisson dropped out and the answer is nothing because Caoimhin Kelleher has come in and done well.

Yet we are seeing that having one or two key players out has a significant effect on teams' performances.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Arsenal will rival Juventus, Manchester United and Liverpool for 24-year-old Lille striker Jonathan David. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

The Gunners have also held talks with the agents of Sporting forward Geovany Quenda, with the 17-year-old also a target for Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. (Teamtalk), external

They also remain interested in RB Leipzig's Slovenian forward Benjamin Sesko, with the 21-year-old having a £55m buyout clause in his contract. (Mail - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, boss Mikel Arteta will have a say who in replaces Edu as the club's sporting director after the Brazilian's decision to quit the Gunners. (Times - subscription required), external

Finally, West Ham believe technical director Tim Steidten may come under consideration by Arsenal as a replacement for Edu. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Graham Potter thinks Arsenal will have a contingency plan ready after their sporting director Edu left, but thinks the situation will cause a "little bit of uncertainty" at the club.

Speaking on the Planet Premier League podcast on BBC Sounds, former Chelsea and Brighton manager Potter was asked if it is slightly disorientating when the director of football left the Seagulls. Potter said: "I would say it slightly is in my experience.

"But, at the same time, because the club had identified people within the club, there was a bit of contingency planning going on anyway. So David Weir came into the club and he carried on the role that they did, although they're different and do it in a slightly different way because clearly no one's the same.

"They do the role the same, but they'll bring their own identity and their own stamp to it. So I'm guessing that Arsenal have had people that they know. either within the club or externally, that they'll be thinking about.

"But there's always a little bit of uncertainty, a little bit of working out. How's this going to go... that's gonna be the next the next challenge for them."

The 49-year-old said how he thinks Premier League clubs do need a sporting director because "if you're a head coach in the Premier League, your main job is to look after the 25 players that are there on the pitch day in, day out - that's a big job in itself.

He added: "If all of a sudden, you've got to make decisions around recruitment in the short term/medium term/long term, identify players, have the conversations that require to make the best decisions possible - I just don't see how you can do it."

Listen to the full episode