Arsenal vs Chelsea Picks and Prediction for Sunday September 6 2026

Arsenal welcomes Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium in London, England, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, for one of the headline matches of the Premier League weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 AM ET, with both London rivals entering with perfect 2-0-0 league records and six points. Arsenal has scored four goals without conceding, while Chelsea has scored seven and allowed five. DraftKings currently lists Arsenal -145 on the moneyline, Chelsea +425 and the draw +265. Arsenal is -0.5 at -160, while the total is 2.5 goals with Over -130 and Under +100. Get all of the best soccer picks with our free soccer picks.

The early-season contrast makes this particularly intriguing. Arsenal has built its perfect start around defensive control, beating Coventry City 3-0 before grinding out a 1-0 road victory against Aston Villa. Chelsea has reached six points through a completely different route, winning 3-2 at Fulham before surviving a wild 4-3 home match against Brighton. Something has to give between Arsenal's clean-sheet streak and a Chelsea side averaging 3.5 league goals per match.

Arsenal Has Yet to Concede

Arsenal has started the Premier League season about as efficiently as possible. The Gunners opened with a 3-0 victory against Coventry before going to Villa Park and winning 1-0 on August 31. That leaves Arsenal with six points, four goals scored, zero conceded and a +4 goal differential through two league matches. Arsenal sits near the top of the early table alongside Manchester City and the other remaining perfect clubs.

The defensive performance is the biggest reason to favor Arsenal on Sunday. Chelsea has demonstrated considerable attacking ability, but Arsenal has yet to concede in Premier League competition and also beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield before the league season began. Across those three competitive matches, Arsenal has scored seven times without allowing a goal.

There is also a substantial recent head-to-head advantage. Arsenal has not lost to Chelsea across the clubs' last 12 meetings, producing nine victories and three draws over that stretch. The most recent league meeting at the Emirates ended in a 2-1 Arsenal victory. Chelsea's attacking start makes this a dangerous matchup, but recent history and Arsenal's defensive form both favor the home side.

Chelsea's Attack Has Been Explosive

Chelsea arrives at the Emirates with a perfect Premier League record of its own. The Blues opened the season by beating Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage before defeating Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea also beat Luton Town 2-0 in the Carabao Cup between those league matches, giving the club three consecutive competitive victories to begin the campaign.

There is little question about Chelsea's ability to create goals. Seven through two Premier League games represents an average of 3.5 per match, and Chelsea has scored at least three times in both league appearances. The concern is at the other end. Five goals conceded in those two matches means the Blues have required their attack to overcome defensive problems, a dangerous formula when traveling to face an Arsenal team that has yet to allow a league goal.

Sunday therefore represents Chelsea's biggest test so far. Fulham and Brighton both created enough chances to score multiple times, and Arsenal should be even more capable of exploiting defensive mistakes. Chelsea's attacking production means the Blues cannot be dismissed at +425, but beating Arsenal at the Emirates requires doing something Chelsea has failed to accomplish in any of the last 12 meetings between these clubs.

Arsenal vs Chelsea Picks and Prediction

Pick: Arsenal Moneyline (-145)

I'm taking Arsenal Moneyline at -145. Chelsea's perfect start and seven goals scored make the +425 underdog price tempting, but Arsenal has been substantially more balanced. The Gunners have taken six points without conceding, have won three consecutive competitive matches without allowing a goal and return to the Emirates for this London derby. Arsenal's nine wins and three draws across the last 12 meetings with Chelsea provide additional support. The -145 price is reasonable for a home favorite with Arsenal's current defensive profile, making Arsenal Moneyline the preferred side.

Pick: Over 2.5 Goals (-130)

I'm taking Over 2.5 goals at -130, but this is the more difficult of the two wagers. Arsenal has not conceded this season, which creates an obvious argument for the Under. Chelsea, however, has scored seven goals and conceded five through only two league matches, with its games finishing 3-2 and 4-3. The Blues' attacking style should force Arsenal into a more aggressive match than it faced at Aston Villa, while Chelsea's defensive vulnerability gives the Gunners a realistic path to multiple goals themselves. Something like 2-1 Arsenal fits the matchup well, making Over 2.5 goals the preferred total.

Final Picks: Arsenal Moneyline (-145) and Over 2.5 Goals (-130)