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🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Sports

Arsenal Brace for Chelsea Test as Tottenham Seek a Spark

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Arsenal and Chelsea are among four teams with two wins from two Premier League matches before their meeting at the Emirates.
  • Arsenal have conceded once in their last seven league games, while Chelsea have scored seven goals but conceded five in their opening victories.
  • Bottom-placed Tottenham have lost both matches, despite spending more than £350 million in the summer, while Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is still seeking his first win.

Something has to give at the Emirates. Arsenal and Chelsea have both won their opening two Premier League games, but they arrive at Sunday's meeting with very different identities. Arsenal look difficult to break down, while Chelsea have begun the Xabi Alonso era with attacking ambition and defensive uncertainty.

Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Aston Villa followed a 3-0 opening win over Coventry. The result at Villa extended their run to six clean sheets in seven league matches. Bukayo Saka has also started strongly, scoring twice after an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea have won three matches in all competitions since Alonso took charge. Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have scored five of the team's seven league goals in wins over Fulham and Brighton. The concern is at the other end: Chelsea conceded five goals in those games. History offers little comfort, with the club winless in its last nine Premier League meetings with Arsenal.

Tottenham face a more immediate crisis. Roberto De Zerbi's team sit bottom after a 3-0 defeat by Brentford and a 2-0 loss to Newcastle. The club spent more than £350 million on a summer reset, bringing in players including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio, but will now visit Nottingham Forest, who beat Spurs twice last season. De Zerbi remains confident, saying, "After two defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same story, the same as the last two seasons. I have no doubt it's not like this. I think I can't change my opinion after two defeats. I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Liverpool are also looking for a breakthrough under new manager Andoni Iraola after draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. France forward Bradley Barcola could make his debut at newly promoted Ipswich after joining from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of up to £124 million.

After two defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same story, the same as the last two seasons. I have no doubt it's not like this. I think I can't change my opinion after two defeats. I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players.

· Roberto De ZerbiThe Tottenham manager defended his confidence in the team despite two defeats at the start of the season.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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