Arsenal vs Chelsea predictions & betting offer: Claim up to R3,000 at Virgin Bet SA
Simon Winter
Sunday’s primetime fixture from the Premier League pits Arsenal against London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in a skirmish between the defending champions and a potential title challenger.
Arsenal vs Chelsea predictions
Over 3.5 cards – 1.57 –Two early unblemished records are on the line in what feels like a London Derby of real significance on Sunday. Alongside the local needle between the clubs, this fixture was extremely card-heavy last season and we expect more of the same at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal and Chelsea crossed paths four times last season and tempers boiled over on each occasion. The clubs’ Premier League encounters produced six and eight cards respectively, while their double-header in the Carabao Cup semis featured another four and eight cards.
Referee Chris Kavanagh, who handed out an average of 4.31 yellow cards per Premier League game he officiated last term, is likely to be just as busy on Sunday, so look to the card markets for dividends here.
Back Over 3.5 Cards in Arsenal vs Chelsea at 1.5 with Virgin Bet
Both Teams to Score – 1.73 – Arsenal have yet to concede this season, however, Chelsea managed to score a league-high seven times across their first two Premier League fixtures, and their new-look front three of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro can cause problems for the Gunners.
The Blues did ship five goals in their wins over Fulham (3-2) and Brighton (4-3), however, so their chances of keeping a clean sheet at the home of the champions feel incredibly slim.
BTTS landed in both of Chelsea’s first two league assignments of the campaign and in three of their four meetings with Arsenal across two competitions last term. The same market had plenty of appeal again at the prices quoted.
Back Both Teams to Score at 1.75 with Virgin Bet
Arsenal vs Chelsea Bet Builder
Odds - 13.00 – Place bet on Virgin Bet
Odds – 13.00
Morgan Rogers over 1.5 fouls (1.91) – Rogers was on Arsenal’s radar and was rumoured to be close to joining the Gunners in the summer before Chelsea swooped in. That could mean that Rogers is extra motivated on Sunday. The 24-year-old has already committed more fouls (3) than any other Blues player this season and he offers plenty of value in the over 1.5 fouls bracket again here.
Kai Havertz over 1.5 fouls (2.00) – The German forward, who has already given three free kicks away in two Premier League appearances since the summer, won’t shirk any physical duels against his old club. Havertz had an injury-hit 2025/26 campaign, but the year before that he averaged 1.83 fouls per 90 minutes and he has a habit of committing fouls when duelling with his markers.
Bukayo Saka over 0.5 shots on target (1.44) – Saka scored in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Coventry and was the Gunners’ match winner against Aston Villa last weekend, so he won’t be short on confidence against Chelsea. The 24-year-old has been averaging 1.12 shots on target per 90 minutes in the Premier League so far and he is priced generously to threaten Emi Martinez at least once at the Emirates Stadium.
Joao Pedro over 0.5 shots on target (1.55)– Pedro has a decent track record against Arsenal, scoring home and away against the Gunners during his last season with Brighton (2024/25). The centre-forward hasn’t scored for Chelsea against Arsenal yet, but he did register four shots and two attempts on target when the Blues last visited the Emirates in March. Buoyed by his goals against Fulham and Brighton, Pedro could be a handful on Sunday.
For all the latest odds on Arsenal vs Chelsea, visit Virginbet.co.za
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