Arsenal face their biggest test of the new Premier League season on Sunday when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium, with both London rivals aiming to preserve their perfect starts to the campaign.
The reigning champions have won their opening two league matches and will enter the weekend confident after a disciplined 1-0 victory away to Aston Villa last weekend. Chelsea have also collected maximum points from their first two fixtures, although their impressive attacking displays have been accompanied by concerns over their defensive stability.
The meeting promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the weekend, with both sides having plenty at stake.
Arsenal opened their title defence with a convincing 3-0 victory over Coventry before following it up with the narrow win at Villa. The result at Villa Park extended their impressive defensive run, with the Gunners recording six clean sheets in their last seven Premier League matches.
Mikel Arteta will also be encouraged by the return to form of Bukayo Saka. The England international has already scored twice this season after an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign and will be one of the players Chelsea must closely monitor.
Arsenal’s defensive organisation has been one of their biggest strengths, and Arteta will expect another disciplined performance against a Chelsea side that possesses considerable attacking quality.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have made an encouraging start under new manager Xabi Alonso. The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss has overseen three victories in all competitions since taking charge, giving supporters early reason for optimism.
The Blues have been particularly dangerous in the final third, with their new attacking combination of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers already making an impact. The trio has accounted for five of Chelsea’s seven Premier League goals in victories over Fulham and Brighton.
However, Alonso will know that his side cannot afford to be as open against Arsenal. Chelsea have conceded five goals in their first two league games, highlighting a defensive weakness that could be severely punished at the Emirates.
Recent history also favours Arsenal. Chelsea have failed to defeat the Gunners in their last nine Premier League meetings, adding another layer of pressure to Sunday’s encounter.
The match will also provide an early indication of whether Chelsea can challenge the established hierarchy this season or whether Arsenal’s defensive strength will once again prove decisive in the title race.
While Arsenal and Chelsea prepare for a high-profile London derby, Tottenham Hotspur are facing a very different situation.
Spurs are bottom of the Premier League table after suffering back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Newcastle. They lost 3-0 to Brentford in their opening game before Newcastle inflicted another setback with a 2-0 victory.
The results have raised concerns that Tottenham could once again struggle after finishing 17th in each of the previous two seasons.
Despite the poor beginning, manager Roberto De Zerbi remains confident that his team can turn things around. Tottenham invested more than £350m during the summer transfer window in an attempt to rebuild the squad, bringing in several high-profile players, including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio.
The scale of the investment has consequently increased expectations around the club, making Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest particularly important.
Forest defeated Tottenham twice last season, meaning Spurs will have to overcome both their poor current form and an opponent that has already demonstrated an ability to trouble them.
De Zerbi has refused to panic after the two defeats, insisting that he continues to believe in the quality of his players. The Italian coach will now hope his team can translate that belief into a much-needed result at the City Ground.
Liverpool are also searching for a breakthrough under new manager Andoni Iraola. The Reds have drawn their opening two league matches against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest and are yet to secure their first victory.
Liverpool’s attacking options have received considerable attention following the arrival of France international Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to £124m. The winger could make his debut against newly promoted Ipswich on Friday.
Barcola joins an already expensive forward line featuring Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, although Hugo Ekitike is currently injured.
Despite their attacking strength, Liverpool have conceded four goals in two matches, leaving questions over the balance of the squad.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has highlighted concerns in the full-back positions and midfield, while Iraola has welcomed the closure of the transfer window as the club begins to focus entirely on performances.
With Arsenal and Chelsea protecting perfect records, Tottenham searching for their first points and Liverpool chasing their first win, the weekend promises another fascinating chapter in the early Premier League season.
