Arsenal vs Chelsea takes centre stage at the Emirates Stadium today, with both London rivals protecting perfect Premier League starts — and several major selection calls still hanging over the derby.
The biggest question before kick-off is simple: who starts?
Arsenal have injury concerns involving key players including William Saliba, Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera, while Chelsea also have fitness issues to monitor as Xabi Alonso prepares for his first Premier League meeting with Mikel Arteta as Blues boss.
Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 4:30 PM BST today, Sunday, September 6, at the Emirates Stadium.
📅 Sunday, September 6, 2026
⏰ 4:30 PM BST
🇺🇸 11:30 AM ET
🇮🇳 9:00 PM IST
🏟️ Emirates Stadium, London
🏆 Premier League
📺 UK: Sky Sports
Both clubs have won their opening two league matches, but they have done it in very different ways.
Arsenal have yet to concede in the Premier League this season, following up their opening victory over Coventry City with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa.
That Villa victory came with some fitness concerns, however. You can read our earlier Aston Villa vs Arsenal match guide and team news for the buildup to Arsenal’s previous league fixture.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have provided considerably more chaos. The Blues followed their opening league victory by beating Brighton 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller.
Swikblog also covered the Chelsea vs Brighton team news and lineup story ahead of that dramatic Stamford Bridge meeting.
Arsenal vs Chelsea lineup: Who could start today?
Ezri Konsa could be one of the names to watch when Arsenal’s team sheet drops. The summer signing is pushing for his first Premier League start for the Gunners with William Saliba sidelined by a back injury.
Mikel Arteta confirmed before the match that Konsa is available for selection.
There are also questions over Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera. Guimaraes picked up a knock against Aston Villa, while Mosquera’s issue in that match was described by Arteta as precautionary.
Jurrien Timber has stepped up his recovery and returned to training, although a starting role today would represent a significant call from Arteta.
Declan Rice is expected to be available after concerns following the Villa match.
Possible Arsenal XI:
Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.
That would put Bukayo Saka on the right after scoring in each of Arsenal’s opening two Premier League matches. He now has the opportunity to score in the club’s opening three league games of the campaign.
For the latest official Arsenal information, supporters can also follow updates through Arsenal.com.
Chelsea have selection questions of their own.
Moises Caicedo is among the players whose availability has been under scrutiny, while Jordan Henderson and Marco Palestra have also featured on the Blues’ injury list ahead of the derby.
Emiliano Martinez is in contention to continue in goal following his summer move from Aston Villa. Swikblog previously reported on Emiliano Martinez’s Chelsea transfer and what the deal means for the Blues’ goalkeeping options.
Possible Chelsea XI:
Martinez; Lacroix, Colwill, Fofana; James, Gusto, Lavia, Hato; Rogers, Palmer; Joao Pedro.
All eyes will inevitably be on Cole Palmer. The Chelsea star goes into the derby on 49 Premier League goals for the club, putting him one away from the 50-goal mark.
1. Does Ezri Konsa make his first Arsenal league start?
2. Can Bukayo Saka score for a third straight Premier League game?
3. Can Cole Palmer reach 50 Premier League goals for Chelsea?
Arsenal vs Chelsea kick-off time and how to watch
Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 4:30 PM BST at the Emirates Stadium today.
That means an 11:30 AM ET start for viewers on the US East Coast and 9:00 PM IST in India.
In the United Kingdom, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports. Eligible subscribers can also stream the game through Sky’s streaming services.
In the United States, NBC Sports lists coverage through USA Network, with streaming options available through NBC’s Premier League platforms.
International broadcast arrangements vary by country, so viewers should check their local Premier League rights holder before kick-off.
Chelsea’s official Arsenal vs Chelsea match guide also provides live Match Centre updates and confirms the starting XI once it is announced.
The numbers give Arsenal an edge — but Chelsea’s attack makes this difficult to call.
According to Opta Analyst, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League meetings with Chelsea, winning six and drawing three.
Chelsea have also lost their last four Premier League visits to Arsenal by a combined score of 11-2. Their last league victory at the Emirates came in August 2021.
Opta’s pre-match model gives Arsenal a 57.4% chance of victory, compared with 19.2% for Chelsea.
There is a clear contrast in how the teams have started this season. Arsenal have faced only one shot on target through their opening two league games, while Chelsea’s first two Premier League matches have produced 12 goals in total.
It sets up a compelling London derby: one of the league’s most controlled defensive teams against a Chelsea side that has already shown it can turn matches into end-to-end contests.
The rivalry has produced plenty of drama before. When the teams met at Stamford Bridge last season, ten-man Chelsea held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw. Read our Chelsea vs Arsenal reaction from that London derby.
Follow Swikblog for confirmed Arsenal vs Chelsea lineups, late injury news and major updates from the Emirates.
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