Hot in London
This weekend (11:30 p.m. on November 30), Stamford Bridge becomes the focus of English football when Chelsea welcomes Arsenal, in a London derby that could shape the entire 2025/26 Premier League title race.
Not only is this a simple clash between the two strongest teams in the capital, it is also a match of strategic significance.
Arsenal are in impressive form. Photo: The Guardian
Either Arsenal create a gap that is almost impossible to bridge, or Chelsea drag the season back into balance and drama.
Arsenal entered the match as the leading team in the Premier League, with 29 points after 12 rounds, and the best defense in the league since the beginning of the season - only conceding 6 goals.
On all fronts, the Gunners have maintained a stable performance with 16 consecutive unbeaten matches. They are the only team to have won all of the Champions League 2025/26.
Mikel Arteta's side are recreating the feeling of invincibility, reminiscent of Arsene Wenger's 2003/04 season, in a cool way: controlling possession, imposing pressure, rotating rhythmically and maintaining tactical coherence even when there are injuries.
This squad is the most complete version of the Mikel Arteta era, with pace, initiative and real squad depth.
What makes Arsenal the hardest team to beat in the Premier League right now is not the brilliance of any individual, but the diversity in their goalscoring ability.
The Gunners have 11 players who have scored in the Premier League this season, and 4 of them have scored 3 or more goals, a structure of firepower that is spread out and almost impossible to block by "killing" a few links.
This distribution of goals reflects Arteta's philosophy, not to create a single superstar (previously, the team relied heavily on Bukayo Saka), but to build an attacking ecosystem that always had someone appearing at the right time.
If Arsenal win at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League could be a repeat of last season when Arne Slot's Liverpool made a huge difference early on – the race could become a one-team affair.
The current 6-point gap will widen, especially in the context that Man City has not reached its usual speed, and Liverpool is in crisis.
Battle of the season
Another win against their direct rivals would turn Arsenal into a “lone wolf” in the race, even opening up the prospect of them ending December with a superior number of points.
Chelsea are determined to stop their neighbours. Enzo Maresca brings the fluidity in possession, boldness in build-up play and excitement that fans have long been waiting for.
Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League table with 23 points, close enough to threaten Arsenal, but far enough to understand that they cannot afford to lose the derby.
Stamford Bridge will compress all the pressure, ambition and noise of a derby into 90 minutes that could change the trajectory of a season.
Like Arsenal, Chelsea also has statistics showing their ability to create extremely strong breakthroughs: 11 players have scored, 4 of whom have scored 3 or more goals.
The entire Premier League is waiting for Chelsea to win. Photo: CFC
After the success at the FIFA Club World Cup, Maresca carried out a rebuild with excellent young players, no longer depending on Cole Palmer's goals as before.
In midweek, when Palmer continued to be absent due to injury, Chelsea still crushed Barca with a 3-0 victory, and had the ball in the opponent's net 4 other times but the referee refused.
Enzo Fernandez's creativity and ball coordination, the way Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Garnacho and especially young star Estevao move help Chelsea become a solid block.
If Chelsea win, the Premier League will open the door that Arsenal are trying to close. At that time, Man City will feel the chance to revive. Even Liverpool will find hope if Slot's team can stop the crisis.
A win not only gives Chelsea points, but also has symbolic significance: asserting themselves as real rivals to Arsenal in the title race.
Stamford Bridge has repeatedly shattered the confidence of Premier League leaders. This time, Chelsea fans hope history will repeat itself.
Both entered the battle with multi-dimensional attack systems, very high form and a desire to assert their position.
A derby that determines the fate of the season. That's why the whole Premier League is rooting for Chelsea.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chelsea-dau-arsenal-derby-cua-ngoi-vuong-ngoai-hang-anh-2467349.html
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