Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League prediction, teams and lineups

Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso will meet as Premier League managers for the first time on Sunday, when defending champions Arsenal host Chelsea at Emirates Stadium. Both teams have taken six points from their opening two matches.

The meeting carries a personal dimension. Arteta and Alonso, both 44, grew up together in Spain’s Basque Country and have remained close throughout their playing and coaching careers. They first faced each other as managers in a 2024 friendly, when Alonso was in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, but Sunday’s match will be their first encounter in England’s top flight.

“I am really happy for him. It’s incredible because obviously we have the history we have together,” Arteta told reporters. “To be facing each other at such a level and with the responsibility we have managing some of the top clubs in the country is a really beautiful thing to experience.”

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I am really happy for him. It’s incredible because obviously we have the history we have together. To be facing each other at such a level and with the responsibility we have managing some of the top clubs in the country is a really beautiful thing to experience.

Chelsea have started the campaign with an impressive attack, with Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer finding form in front of goal. Arteta said the flow of the match could prove decisive, particularly because Chelsea scored very early in both of their opening games. He also praised Alonso as a manager capable of using different approaches.

Arteta dismissed suggestions that Arsenal fell short in the transfer market after being linked with attackers including Rogers, Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior. The club’s only forward addition was Greece winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. “The window is closed and I prefer to look at all the incredible things that we have in this squad,” Arteta said. Arsenal will rely on Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka, while Arteta insists the attack is not weaker than last season despite the departures of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.

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The window is closed and I prefer to look at all the incredible things that we have in this squad and not to spend any more time on the things that are not part of us right now.