LONDON -- Chelsea vs Arsenal is always a tasty clash and there is so much on the line this Wednesday (watch live, 2:45pm ET on USA Network and online via NBCSports.com) when the London rivals clash at Stamford Bridge.
STREAM LIVE CHELSEA v ARSENAL
For Chelsea it’s all about solidifying third, while Arsenal are under serious pressure in the top four race as they have lost three in a row. However, this is their game in-hand over north London rivals Tottenham and Mikel Arteta’s side have to make it count.
Everything is set up for an incredible occasion in beautiful spring conditions at Stamford Bridge.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Chelsea vs Arsenal.
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How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 2:45pm ET, WednesdayTV Channel: USA NetworkOnline: Stream via NBCSports.com
Chelsea vs Arsenal live analysis! - By Joe Prince-Wright at Stamford Bridge
The Arsenal fans and players are going wild together here.
🔴🔥👏 Arsenal fans and players celebrating a HUGE win together here at Stamford Bridge.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 20, 2022
That is massive for #AFC vs Chelsea, as they go level on points with 4th place Tottenham and have now played the same number of games. pic.twitter.com/4QYEQLBlFD
GOALLL! Saka slams home a spot kick in stoppage time after Azpilicueta pulled him down. He deserved that. Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal is a full time score. Wow.
Arsenal should have wrapped this up. Tavares slams wide.
GOALLL! Eddie Nketiah puts Arsenal 3-2 up. Thiago Silva half clears but it goes straight back to the Arsenal striker and he slots home his 2nd of the game. The away fans go wild. I told you this game was boring...
A brace for Nketiah!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Arsenal take a 3-2 lead. THIS MATCH!! 🔥
📺: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/zKV2T1ELOH
Of course, I’m only kidding. Arsenal are seeing more of the ball but Chelsea look a threat with Werner and Lukaku playing on the shoulder of the last defender.
Not much has happened in the second half so far. What a boring game...
Thiago Silva on, Andreas Christensen off at half time. No surprise. Chelsea were all over the place at the back and Christensen had a bit of a nightmare.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal - That was an incredible first 45 minutes. Arsenal were brilliant in attack but made some big mistakes defensively. Chelsea made some poor defensive errors too but Mason Mount and Timo Werner looked so sharp.
It should be 3-2 to Arsenal! Saka again runs inside and causes chaos. Odegaard sets up Smith Rowe but his curler is inches wide. Brilliant attacking play from the Gunners.
Arsenal’s plan is basically get the ball to Bukayo Saka as early as possible and then get into the box. He’s been sensational as he whips in another dangerous cross but nobody is on the end of it.
The game has finally settled down a little. But my word, this is intense. So many mistakes but both teams just going for it.
Chelsea fans already singing for Thiago Silva here at Stamford Bridge. Safe to say they aren’t happy with this defensive display. Christensen has been all over the place.
Moments after Chelsea equalize, Nketiah and Tavares both flash shots wide as Arsenal almost go 3-2 up. What is this game!?
GOALLLL! Cesar Azpilicueta makes it 2-2. This game is nuts. What a finish from the Chelsea skipper. Brilliant cross from Mason Mount to set him up.
It's 2-2!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
We have a great match on our hands! This time it's Cesar Azpillicueta with the goal for Chelsea.
📺: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/rjDzr3Y11Y
WHAT A GOALLL! Arsenal 2-1 up. Xhaka did superbly to avert the danger at one end, then launched a lightning-quick Arsenal counter as Saka brilliantly set up Smith Rowe to sweep home. That was coming. Arsenal have looked so dangerous.
Lovely team goal by Arsenal!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
It starts with a Saka nutmeg and ends with a great finish by Emile Smith Rowe! Arsenal lead 2-1 at the Bridge.
📺: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/mGMpsWfZbB
Bukayo Saka just absolutely bamboozled Marcos Alonso. Incredible run, skill and ball to pick out Nketiah... but he scuffs his shot wide. Moments late Saka crosses but Nketiah can’t flick home.
Wow. What a game.
GOALLLL! Timo Werner equalizes. His shot deflects off Granit Xhaka, who turned his back, and beats Aaron Ramsdale. If anybody deserves a slice of luck in the final third, it’s Werner. Moments later Mason Mount spanks a shot just over.
Timooooo!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Timo Werner's shot takes a deflection to beat Ramsdale and we're level once again.
📺: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/jc2tF1lWXt
GOALLLL! Arsenal 1-0 up. Eddie Nketiah slots home after a terrible mistake from Andreas Christensen. Clinical finish. The away fans go wild. Huge moment for the Gunners. Christensen slaps his own head in disbelief.
A gift for Arsenal!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Christensen's back pass falls short and Nketiah picks it up and puts it home.
📺: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/6FEytLPTCB
WIDE! Romelu Lukaku, who has a rare start, sends an effort across goal which is not particularly close to the target. Perhaps he should have looked for Werner at the back post?
SAVE! Edouard Mendy makes a good stop with his feet after Xhaka did well to find Gabriel (yess the center back) in the box.
Good chance for Chelsea as Marcos Alonso has a shot deflected just wide. The Blues go close from a few corners after that.
KICK OFF: Lots of friendly banter between the two sets of fans early on.
“There’s nobody here, there’s nobody here, just like the old days, there’s nobody here!” sing the Arsenal fans to the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge, as there are close to 12,000 empty seats due to the current restrictions on Chelsea’s operating license.
Here are my thoughts ahead of kick off.
🔵🔴👋 Welcome to Stamford Bridge!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 20, 2022
The scene is set for Chelsea vs Arsenal. A huge game for the Gunners in their top 4 push.
I’ll have live analysis here ➡️ https://t.co/WgengsrSzC
Here are my thoughts ahead of #CFC v #AFC 👇 pic.twitter.com/7fMhVN0SZU
Quick reminder before kick off: I’ll be hosting a Twitter spaces Q&A from the press box here at Stamford Bridge after the game today. Join the chat and send me your questions on this game, and anything else you want to, by clicking below!
Join @JPW_NBCSports following Chelsea v. Arsenal to discuss the match and more! #CHEARShttps://t.co/4CSAKyI9RS
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Very subdued atmosphere here tonight. Why? Well, there are only Chelsea season ticket holders allowed to attend due to the sanctions on outgoing owner Roman Abramovich from the UK government. No match tickets are allowed to be sold for Chelsea’s home games under their current license. That means around 25,000 Chelsea season ticket holders and a few thousand Arsenal fans.
Intriguing team news as Lukaku comes in for Chelsea, while Elneny starts in midfield for Arsenal and it looks like Ben White is in at right back.
🔵🔴 Team sheet from here at Stamford Bridge.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 20, 2022
Lukaku, Loftus-Cheek and Sarr start for Chelsea. #USMNT’s Christian Pulisic on the bench for #CFC. #AFC start Ben White at right back, Nketiah starts up top with Lacazette on the bench. #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/pH9REjJo7Y
The weather is absolutely perfect here in west London as two rivals collide in the spring sunshine. There will be nothing pleasant about this battle.
🔵🔴☀️ Welcome to Stamford Bridge! It’s absolutely beautiful here in west London.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 20, 2022
Stunning night for a HUGE London derby. Massive game for Arsenal in their top 4 battle.
I’ll have live analysis, videos, stream link and updates here ➡️ https://t.co/q8xQ6EpTX5#CFC #AFC #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/960YccnLQT
Chelsea team news, injuries, lineup
Mateo Kovacic is out after suffering an ankle injury in the FA Cup semifinal. He joins Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the sidelines, while Ross Barkley has been missing through illness. Christian Pulisic, Thiago Silva and Hakim Ziyech remain on the bench, while Romelu Lukaku starts up top with Malang Sarr and Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming in to the starting lineup.
Your Chelsea team news tonight! 🔵#CheArs pic.twitter.com/q5y8IKHLiA
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2022
Arsenal team news, injuries, lineup
Tierney, Partey, Tomiyasu and Lacazette all missed the defeat at Southampton and Arteta is really struggling to replace their experience in his lineup. Ben White starts at right back, while Eddie Nketiah continues up top but Lacazette is back on the bench. Elneny starts in midfield.
🚨 TEAM NEWS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 20, 2022
🏴 Nketiah leads the line
🇪🇬 Elneny joins the midfield
🏴 Holding comes into the back-line
🙌 COME ON ARSENAL#CHEARS pic.twitter.com/IOfpc8Cx1q
Chelsea vs Arsenal preview
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have had a mixed few weeks as they were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage but reached the FA Cup final at the weekend. Timo Werner and Mason Mount have been the main men in recent weeks, while Kai Havertz continues to lead the line superbly. Despite all of the uncertainty about the ownership situation, Chelsea sit comfortably in third place and have games in-hand over the chasing pack of teams behind them. They have struggled against Arsenal in recent seasons though. The Gunners won at Stamford Bridge last season and Chelsea have won just one of their last four PL home games against Arsenal. After defeats to Brentford and Real Madrid in their last two home games, Chelsea haven’t lost three on the trot at home since 1993.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are desperate for a win to turn around their alarming slump in form which has seen the top four hopefuls lose three games in a row to Crystal Palace, Brighton and then Southampton at the weekend. Injuries to Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu have hit Arsenal hard and they lack a cutting edge in attack as they continue to create chances galore. All is not lost in their top four push but this is their game in-hand over Tottenham and Manchester United and they have to make it count. Arteta has seen his young side deliver statement wins against the big boys over the last few years and the stakes are extremely high for this encounter in west London.