Arsenal v Chelsea: A limp London derby

Arsenal host Chelsea in mid-week with the two London clubs struggling for consistency. Can Mikel Arteta really have the effect on the Gunners he is hoping for? Have a read of our preview here:

What’s that winning feeling?

Arsenal have, amazing, won just two of their last 15 Premier League matches. This is a scary figure when you consider they once went an entire season without losing a single game.

The main problem for Arteta is trying to get an expensively assembled squad to click. With the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe they have an attacking talent costing £160m, but it is 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli who looks their most potent threat, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of course.

The Brazilian’s finish against Sheffield United was excellent with his manager describing him as the next ‘superstar’ and he could well be right. Martinelli became the youngest player to score for Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League since 2012 when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netted against Blackburn.

He is a player the Gunners can build around for the future but right now they need to turn some of these draws into wins. Despite playing well, they allowed Sheffield United to stay in the game and conceded the inevitable equaliser with just seven minutes to go.

Arsenal have drawn more games than any other side in the Premier League this season (11), with the Gunners last drawing more in a single season in 2008-09 (12).

It is a tough situation for Arteta whose honeymoon period will not last long if results don’t pick up quickly, something that just does not look like happening anytime soon.

Chelsea’s blues

A mini-revival from Chelsea was halted at St James Park last Saturday giving more food for thought for Frank Lampard.

It is not a place where the Blues often find solace having lost five of their last seven visits but it was another frustrating afternoon in a game for much of which Chelsea were on top.

It was the eighth defeat of the campaign for the London club, as many as they managed in the entire 2018-19 season, but they still have a five-point gap over Manchester United in fifth.

Chelsea’s results over the last 10 games have been a real mixed bag and that is understandable given their young squad yet this campaign may well lay the foundations for some very exciting seasons ahead.

Arsenal v Chelsea betting tip

With neither side particularly free-scoring and certainly under pressure to perform, this one could be a slightly cagey affair. With this in mind, we are backing it to finish with under 3.5 goals at odds of 11/20 with Betway.

Bet Under 3.5 goals on Betway