Two clubs, eleven miles apart, with decades of needle between them. When Arsenal vs Chelsea shows up on the fixture list, a good chunk of London circles the date. Form goes out the window for ninety minutes, and the league table barely matters.
The next one is close. Arsenal hosted Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 6 September 2026, and there is a fresh angle this season. Arsenal are the reigning Premier League champions for the first time since the Invincibles of 2003-04. Chelsea turn up with a new manager, Xabi Alonso, and plenty to prove.
New to English football? This guide explains why the game matters, who usually wins, and how to actually get a seat. Already obsessed? Here is what to know before kick-off.
| At A Glance | Details |
| What | Major London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea. |
| Next Match | 6 Sep 2026, 4:30pm, Emirates Stadium. |
| Grounds | Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge. |
| Who Is On Top | Arsenal, unbeaten in this fixture since 2021. |
| All-Time Record | Arsenal 87 wins, Chelsea 66, 62 draws. |
| Travel Tip | Pre-book a transfer for groups or match-day travel. |
What Makes Arsenal Vs Chelsea Such a Big Deal?
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Start with the basics, because the rivalry runs deeper than any single result.
| Two big London clubs, one city, and a balance of power that keeps shifting |
Arsenal plays in north London. Chelsea plays in the west. They are separated by about eleven miles and a lot of history. The clubs first met in 1907, when Arsenal were still called Woolwich Arsenal and based south of the river. They have gone at it 215 times since.
For a long stretch this was Chelsea’s game. Once Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, the money arrived and so did the trophies. Then the balance tipped back. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal rebuilt from a mid-table side into champions, while Chelsea slid into years of churn in the dugout. That back-and-forth is what gives the game its bite.
A quick word for anyone new to this: a derby is a match between two clubs from the same city or region. It carries local pride, so the atmosphere runs hotter than a normal game. This one is a proper London derby, which means a loud away end, tackles flying in, and neither set of fans letting the other forget the last score. You do not have to pick a side to enjoy it. You just need to know what is at stake.
Some of the heat is personal. Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger spent the best part of a decade needling each other from these two benches, once squaring up on the touchline, with Mourinho branding his rival a specialist in failure. The managers have long since moved on, but that era set the tone, and the fixture has kept its short fuse ever since.
Who Has the Edge in the Arsenal Vs Chelsea Head to Head?
The short answer is Arsenal, and right now it is not particularly close.
| Arsenal lead the all-time series and own the recent form |
The all-time record, across every competition since 1907, reads 215 meetings. Arsenal have won 87, Chelsea 66, with 62 draws. So the Gunners hold a clear lead in the books.
Recent years have been even more one-sided. Chelsea’s last win in this fixture came in August 2021, a 2-0 at the Emirates through Romelu Lukaku and Reece James. Since then Arsenal have not lost to them, including a 5-0 hammering in April 2024 and a 2-1 win in March 2026. If you are backing history, Arsenal are the safe pick. If you are Chelsea, you are well overdue.
Narrow it to the Premier League and the picture is tighter, but still tilts Arsenal’s way. The two have met more than 60 times in the league, and Arsenal hold the edge on wins, with a stack of draws in between because these sides often cancel each other out. Where the Gunners have truly pulled clear is the last five years, turning what used to be an even rivalry into a lopsided one.
| Total meetings | 215 (since 1907) |
| Arsenal wins | 87 |
| Chelsea wins | 66 |
| Draws | 62 |
| Chelsea’s last win | August 2021 |
| Most recent meeting | Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, March 2026 |
| Top scorer in the fixture | Didier Drogba, 13 goals |
Fun fact: the biggest crowd this fixture ever pulled was 82,905, crammed into Stamford Bridge in October 1935. Grounds were terraced back then, so nobody is matching that today.
What Makes the 2026/27 Meeting Different?
Every edition has its own backdrop, and this one carries a big one.
| Champions Arsenal against a rebuilding Chelsea |
Arsenal arrives as reigning champions for the first time since the 2003-04 Invincibles, and they got there by being hard to beat, conceding a league-low 26 goals across the season while also reaching a Champions League final. That is the bar Chelsea are now chasing.
Chelsea is the side rebuilding. Xabi Alonso has inherited a young, expensively assembled squad, and with no European football to split their week this season, the league is the entire job. For both, an early Arsenal vs Chelsea result sends a message. Arsenal wants to prove the title was no accident. Chelsea wants to show the gap has closed.
When Is the Next Arsenal Vs Chelsea Match and How Can You Watch It?
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Mark the date, because the first meeting of the season comes around early.
| Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Emirates, live on Sky Sports |
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 6 September 2026, kicking off at 4:30pm BST. It is week three of the Premier League season and it is live on Sky Sports in the UK. Watching from abroad? Find your local rights holder through the official Premier League fixtures page.
The return game is at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 13 March 2027. Kick-off times can shift for television, so double-check nearer the day. Both Arsenal vs Chelsea meetings tend to sell out fast, so if you want to be inside the ground, plan early.
| Fixture | Venue | Date | Kick-off | Watch |
| Arsenal vs Chelsea | Emirates Stadium | Sun 6 Sep 2026 | 4:30pm BST | Sky Sports |
| Chelsea vs Arsenal | Stamford Bridge | Sat 13 Mar 2027 | 3:00pm GMT | TBC |
How Much Are Arsenal Vs Chelsea Tickets and Where Do You Get Them?
This is the part that trips up most visitors, so here is how it actually works.
| Cheapest at face value through club membership, pricier on resale |
So how much are Arsenal vs Chelsea tickets in practice? It depends entirely on how you buy. Both clubs sell home seats mainly to members through a ballot. You pay a membership fee, then enter for the games you want. Face value for a single adult ticket runs from roughly £40 up to about £130 at the Emirates, and from about £40 at Stamford Bridge, with the derby priced near the top of each club’s tier.
The snag is that those seats are scarce and go to members first. If you are visiting London and not a member, you will most likely land on a resale platform, where prices for a game this size start well above face value. As a rough guide, resale seats for Arsenal at home tend to open around £120, and Chelsea from about £90, climbing steeply for the best views. Arsenal vs Chelsea tickets at face value are the real bargain, if you can get them.
For the official routes, go through the Arsenal ticketing pages or Chelsea’s ticket portal. Skip the touts outside the ground. Premier League stadiums are fully digital now, and a dodgy ticket will not get you through the turnstile.
A few extras are worth knowing. Away allocations are capped at 3,000 by league rule and are sold through your own club, not the host, so a travelling Chelsea fan buys from Chelsea. Children and seniors get concession prices in the family areas. And if you want the soft option, both clubs sell hospitality packages with food and a padded seat, though you pay handsomely for the comfort.
| Capacity | 60,704 | about 40,000 |
| Single ticket, face value* | approx £40 to £130 | approx £40 to £90 |
| Single ticket, resale | from about £120 | from about £90 |
| Adult season ticket | £1,291 to £2,196 | £700 to £1,095 |
*Face value is for club members buying through the official ballot.
Fun fact: Arsenal season tickets for 2026/27 run from £1,291 to £2,196, while Chelsea froze theirs at £700 to £1,095 after missing out on European football. Being a Blues fan is at least cheaper by the season.
What Should You Know About the Emirates and Stamford Bridge?
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The two grounds could hardly be more different, and that shapes the whole day out.
| A modern 60,000-seater against a tight, historic 40,000 |
The Emirates Stadium opened in 2006 and holds 60,704, one of the biggest club grounds in England. It sits in Holloway, north London, a short walk from Arsenal’s old Highbury home. The single-tier stands behind each goal, the Clock End and the North Bank, generate most of the noise. Licensed standing arrives in the Clock End for the 2026/27 season.
Stamford Bridge is the opposite kind of place. Chelsea have played there since 1905, and with a capacity just above 40,000 it is one of the smaller Premier League grounds. The stands hug the pitch, so on a big night the sound has nowhere to go. The Matthew Harding Stand is the loud home end, and away fans are tucked into the corner of the Shed End.
Turn up early and there is more to do than watch the warm-up. Both clubs run stadium tours on non-match days that take you down the tunnel, into the dressing rooms and around the museum. By the Emirates you have the Armoury megastore and a run of pubs down Holloway Road. The Bridge sits next to hotels, the club shop and the restaurants of the Fulham Road, with the King’s Road a short stroll away.
| Home of | Arsenal | Chelsea |
| Area | Holloway, N7 | Fulham, SW6 |
| Opened | 2006 | 1877 |
| Capacity | 60,704 | about 40,000 |
| Nearest tube | Arsenal (Piccadilly) | Fulham Broadway (District) |
| Record crowd | 60,383 (2019) | 82,905 vs Arsenal (1935) |
Fun fact: Stamford Bridge has hosted cricket, greyhound racing and even baseball down the years. It was an athletics ground before Chelsea existed.
How Do You Actually Get to the Ground on Match Day?
London’s transport is the make-or-break part of the trip, and it is very doable with a little planning.
| Tube for most, a pre-booked transfer for groups and airport arrivals |
For the Emirates Stadium, the closest Underground station is Arsenal on the Piccadilly line, with Finsbury Park and Highbury & Islington a short walk away and better for beating the post-match crush. For Stamford Bridge, it is Fulham Broadway on the District line, about five minutes on foot, with West Brompton a calmer option once the final whistle goes. Plan any tube trip with the Transport for London journey planner.
Match days get packed, so give yourself extra time. Neither ground has public parking worth the hassle, which makes driving yourself a poor bet. From central London, either stadium is roughly 20 to 40 minutes on the tube depending on where you set off. From the airports it is a fair bit longer, and that is where plenty of visitors come unstuck, hauling bags through two or three line changes with kick-off ticking closer.
Travelling as a group, or flying in for the weekend? A private transfer is the easy call. It skips the crowded platforms and the luggage juggling. Cheap transfer runs door-to-door rides across the city, including straight from the airport, so you go from landing to your seat without a single line change. Fixed prices, a driver waiting, and no scramble for a cab in the rain.
Which Managers and Players Decide This Fixture?
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Rivalries are carried by the people on the touchline and the pitch, and both have changed lately.
| Arteta against Alonso, with match-winners on either side |
In the dugout it is Mikel Arteta for Arsenal against Xabi Alonso for Chelsea, whose first full season in charge is 2026/27 after Enzo Maresca left for Manchester City. Arteta has the more settled side. Alonso is still shaping his.
On the pitch, Arsenal lean on Bukayo Saka’s directness, Martin Odegaard’s passing and David Raya in goal, who kept a league-high pile of clean sheets on the way to the title. Chelsea’s threat runs through Cole Palmer, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in midfield and Reece James at the back. Games between them usually turn on small moments, a set piece or one mistake, rather than getting blown open.
What Are the Biggest Moments in the Arsenal Vs Chelsea Story?
A handful of games stand out, and they tell you how far the rivalry has swung.
| From a 6-0 low to a 5-0 answer, plus two Wembley finals |
The Arsenal vs Chelsea story is full of these swings. Chelsea’s 6-0 win in March 2014 is still their record margin in the fixture, and it landed on the day of Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th match in charge. Cruel timing.
Arsenal returned the favour a decade later. Their 5-0 at home in April 2024 was their biggest win over Chelsea, with Kai Havertz scoring against his old club. Add two FA Cup finals, in 2017 and 2020, both won by Arsenal at Wembley, and a 2019 Europa League final that Chelsea took 4-1, and you have a rivalry that produces finals as well as league drama. Didier Drogba scored more goals in this fixture than anyone, 13 in total, which is why a generation of Arsenal fans still wince at his name.
How Do You Make the Most of an Arsenal Vs Chelsea Match Day?
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org
A few small moves separate a smooth day from a stressful one.
Book early, arrive early, and sort your travel before you set off
- Get your ticket first. For a game this size, seats vanish weeks out, and resale only gets pricier as kick-off nears.
- Arrive early. Turnstiles and nearby stations clog up in the last half hour, and every ground is digital entry only.
- Travel light. Both stadiums have bag limits, and a smaller bag means a quicker search on the way in.
- Plan the trip home. The nearest tube is rammed after the whistle, so walking one stop further or pre-booking a ride saves the queue.
So, Is Arsenal Vs Chelsea Worth the Trip?
Short version: yes, and a bit of planning is all it takes.
| A London classic that rewards a little preparation |
If you get one London derby in your life, this is a strong pick. Arsenal vs Chelsea has the history, the needle, and two grounds within easy reach of the city centre. Arsenal goes in as champions and clear favourites. Chelsea, under Alonso, will fancy ending a losing run that stretches back to 2021. That tension is the whole point.
Sort your ticket, sort your travel, and give yourself time on the day. Do that, and the only thing left to worry about is the result.
Flying in for the Weekend or Moving a Group Across Town?
My London Transfer handles door-to-door rides to both grounds and straight from the airport, so your match day runs on time.
Book your transfer and keep your focus on football.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When will Arsenal vs Chelsea be played in 2026?
The first league meeting of the season is on Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Emirates Stadium in north London, kicking off at 4:30pm UK time. The return fixture is at Stamford Bridge on 13 March 2027.
2. What channel is the match on?
In the UK, the September game is live on Sky Sports. Outside the UK, it is shown through local Premier League rights holders, so check your regional listings.
3. Who has won more, Arsenal or Chelsea?
Arsenal. In 215 meetings across all competitions, Arsenal have won 87, Chelsea 66, with 62 draws.
4. When did Chelsea last beat Arsenal?
August 2021, a 2-0 win at the Emirates. Arsenal have been unbeaten in the fixture since.
5. How much are tickets?
Face value for a single adult ticket runs from roughly £40 to about £130 at Arsenal, and from about £40 at Chelsea. Most non-members buy on resale, where prices for a derby start well above that.
6. How do I get to the Emirates?
Take the Piccadilly line to Arsenal station, a few minutes’ walk from the ground. Finsbury Park and Highbury & Islington are close by and quieter after the final whistle.
7. How do I get to Stamford Bridge?
Fulham Broadway on the District line is about a five-minute walk. West Brompton is a good alternative for the journey home.
8. Is it a real derby?
Yes. Both clubs are based in London, roughly eleven miles apart, so it counts as a London derby, even though Arsenal’s fiercest rivalry is with Tottenham.
9. Who is Chelsea’s manager now?
Xabi Alonso, who took charge ahead of the 2026/27 season after Enzo Maresca left for Manchester City.
10. What is the biggest scoreline between them?
Chelsea’s record win is 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in 2014. Arsenal’s is 5-0 at the Emirates in 2024.
11. Can I buy tickets on match day?
Officially, no. Home tickets go to members through a ballot in advance, and grounds use digital entry, so buying from touts on the day is risky and often fake.
12. Where do the away fans sit?
At the Emirates, visiting fans are in the corner of the Clock End. At Stamford Bridge, they go in the corner of the Shed End.
