Chelsea might have the money now, but that didn't used to be the case. They were an inconsistent mess during the opening years of the Premier League, finishing as low as 14th. This means they beat Arsenal just three times, whilst also losing nine times. The Gunners went unbeaten at Highbury as well.
However, the most memorable encounter came in September 1996, as Blues star Dennis Wise scored in the 90th minute to secure a point for them in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Highbury. This came after Arsenal overturned a 2-0 deficit to lead 3-2, only to be denied in the dying seconds. Drama.
2000sArsenal's dominance faded after early success
Arsenal's Patrick Vieira
Arsenal continued their '90s success against Chelsea in the early years of the new millennium, however, that quickly faded once Chelsea's money – and a certain Mourinho – arrived. Wenger's side went unbeaten during the 2003/04 campaign, and they did the double over their rivals, winning both matches 2-1.
However, Arsenal, partially due to a new stadium, were never able to maintain their title-winning form, with Chelsea quickly tasting success consistently in the latter stages of the 2000s. The most iconic came at the start of the 2006/07 campaign, which was in the aftermath of Ashley Cole's incredibly controversial transfer to Chelsea from the Gunners.
One of the greatest left-backs ever made the move after being insulted by the contract offer he received from Arsenal, but that infuriated the Gunners faithful. They made their frustrations known during the game when they threw fake cash onto the pitch with pictures of Cole adorning the front and back. Chelsea even had the last laugh, snatching a draw in the final few minutes via a stunning rocket from Michael Essien.
Custom image of Arsenal legends Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry
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2010s
Chelsea finally sat on top
Oscar celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Arsenal.
The story for Arsenal quickly went from disappointing to disastrous in the 2010s. Chelsea won the Premier League twice in the 2010s – in 2015 and 2017 – whilst the Gunners always seemed to fall at the final hurdle. That was replicated in the fixture between the two sides.
Arsenal only beat them four times, and this included just one win away from home — a chaotic 5-3 win in the 2011/12 campaign. That was the peak of their success in the decade though, with Chelsea winning 11 times, including an almost unbelievable 6-0 win at home to Arsenal.
It was made even more dramatic by the fact that it was Wenger's 1000th game in charge of the club, but it couldn't have gone worse. Samuel Eto'o, Andre Schurrle, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Mohamed Salah all found their names on the scoresheet, whilst Kieran Gibbs was sent off for Oxlade-Chamberlain handling the ball in the box. A case of mistaken identity, but everyone at Arsenal wished they could change names after that match.
2020s
Mikel Arteta clearly loves the fixture
While Arsenal suffered agony in the 2010s, which was capped off by losing the 2019 Europa League final to them in 2019, they have got revenge on them since. In the nine Premier League matches that have taken place this decade, Arsenal have won six times and picked up two draws, whilst Chelsea have won just once.
It's pure dominance, with their most recent fixture seeing Arsenal beat Mauricio Pochettino's side 5-0. While the north London side have continually improved under Arteta, Chelsea have been on a downward spiral. After winning the Champions League in 2021, they have sacked Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Pochettino — and now it's up to Enzo Maresca to bring stability to the club.
Frank Lampard, Gianfranco Zola and John Terry all at Chelsea with Chelsea badge in background
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Upcoming Matches
Arteta and Maresca will meet for the first time
Both sides will be looking towards the future instead of the past, though. At the start of the season, Arsenal were tipped to win the Premier League, but they've had an inconsistent start to the campaign. Away losses to Bournemouth and Newcastle leave them fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, and remarkably below Chelsea on goal difference.
Their encounter on the 10th November at Stamford Bridge is a classic six-pointer, with pressure already building on everyone in N5 to improve results. Chelsea have been a breath of fresh air under Maresca, and a result against one of their biggest rivals would only create a sense of belief. The return fixture takes place in March.
Chelsea vs Arsenal - Upcoming 2024/25 Premier League Fixtures
Match
Date
Venue
Competition
Chelsea vs Arsenal
10th November 2024
Stamford Bridge
Premier League
Arsenal vs Chelsea
15th March 2025
Emirates Stadium
Premier League
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