While both Arsenal and Chelsea aren’t exactly local rivals, the fact that both are London clubs and have a reasonable claim to be called the “Pride of London” gives this fixture a feisty edge. While Arsenal are the domestic kings with 13 First Division titles and 13 FA Cups, Chelsea’s success story is defined by their European conquests.
The two clubs are of a very contrasting tradition. Arsenal, the ‘established’ dynasty club with sustained periods of generational success. Chelsea, the ‘new rich kid in town’, who came into the party thanks to the funds of an Oligarch.
The Rivalry
The two teams’ first meeting dates all the way back to 1907. This was the first time two London clubs played each other in the First Division. But the rivalry only began to catch fire in the late 1990s. Under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal were revolutionizing English football and were the only worthy challengers to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Chelsea were slowly building a capable team of their own and were regular finishers in the top four. This was the pre-Abramovich era of course.
In 2002, the two clubs met in an FA Cup final, the start of many finals the two teams would contest. Arsenal won it 2-0, thanks to some Ray Parlour brilliance. Soon came the turning point of this rivalry, when Roman Abramovich bought the west Londoners. In his first season, Chelsea finished runners up to Arsenal, who would not lose a single match the entire campaign. However, the Blues knocked the Gunners out in the Champion’s League quarter-finals, with a win at Highbury.
From thereon, the power slowly shifted. Jose Mourinho was hired by Abramovich, and his feuds with Arsene Wenger are a vital element in this rivalry. The two managers hate each other, but worryingly for Wenger, his Arsenal team were on a slow decline, whereas Chelsea were looking up. Since 2004, Chelsea have finished above Arsenal in 15 of the 17 seasons, winning five Premier League titles, as Arsenal slumped from title contenders to top four contenders to Europa League contenders.
Despite Arsenal’s decline, the two rivals would regularly meet in Cup competitions and finals, as mentioned earlier. The 2007 League Cup final was a feisty encounter, involving a brawl between Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard. Three players were sent off. Chelsea won it 2-1, but the match is remembered for that fracas and only added fuel to this rivalry.
“He is a specialist in failure”.
Mourinho on Wenger
FA Community Shield meetings aside, the two clubs then met 10 years later in the FA Cup final. Arsenal triumphed once more, despite Chelsea winning the Premier League that season. Chelsea would get their revenge two years later in the UEFA Europa League final. A comprehensive 4-1 victory for Maurizio Sarri’s Blues over Unai Emery’s Gunners was a sizeable revenge. But next year, Arsenal once again came out on top in the FA Cup final in 2020. Last season, Arsenal also did the league double over Chelsea, despite enduring their worst season since 1995.
Arsenal vs Chelsea: Head-to-Head
Given their significantly better history, it is unsurprising that Arsenal lead the H2H battle. Overall, it stands at 80 wins for Arsenal, 65 for Chelsea, and 58 draws.
In the Premier League era, the score is far more even, though Arsenal still edge it. 22 wins for Arsenal, 19 for Chelsea, and 17 draws.
The onus is on Chelsea to make up that deficit. They have a chance at that on Sunday when they travel north to face their rivals.