Chelsea v Arsenal: Premier League prediction, odds and free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v Arsenal in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8.15pm Tuesday

Best bet

Arsenal or draw double chance
1pt 11-10 Hills, RedZone
Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Chelsea
Reece James and Marcos Alonso have recovered from injuries but Ruben Loftus-Cheek (achilles) and Christian Pulisic (tendon) are out.

Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is suspended and Reiss Nelson (hamstring), Sead Kolasinac (thigh), Calum Chambers (knee) and Kieran Tierney (shoulder) are ruled out. Sokratis (illness) may return.

Match preview

Arsenal have looked a stronger side since appointing Mikel Arteta and can register their best away result under the new regime by avoiding defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The markets favour Chelsea, who are odds-on for a sixth home league win of the season, but that may have underestimated the task facing Frank Lampard's stuttering side.

Judged simply on results, Arteta's Arsenal might appear to be struggling to make headway.

After taking seven points in six games under Arteta they are averaging 1.17 points per game – slightly below the seasonal average of 1.26.

But Arsenal supporters have noticed a more energetic, attacking style of play and witnessed improvement from several individuals, including Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe, who failed to convince under Unai Emery.

The only defeat of the Arteta era was a 2-1 loss at home to Chelsea and even that was a game which Arsenal took positives from.

Arsenal started the game on the front foot and deservedly led through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's early goal before tiring in the final quarter and were undone by late goals from Jorginho and Tammy Abraham.

Failing to maintain a high tempo may be an issue for Arteta's side, who also squandered half-time leads in recent 1-1 draws away to Crystal Palace and at home to Sheffield United.

But Arsenal are starting games in the right manner and, if they get their noses in front at Stamford Bridge, they can walk away with at least a share of the spoils.

Chelsea are sitting fairly comfortably in fourth but that is more to do with their rivals' shortcomings than their own prowess.

The Blues started the season in good nick and were briefly mentioned as potential title contenders, but have largely struggled recently, losing six of 11 league games since the November international break.

As a young team, Chelsea can be excused inconsistencies, however, their recent run compares poorly with the majority of top-flight teams.

Over the last two months only Burnley (seven league defeats) and Bournemouth (nine) have lost more times than Chelsea, who seem find ways to lose even when they play well.

They were dominant at Newcastle on Saturday but struggled to create clear chances and were undone right at the death when an unmarked Isaac Hayden clinched a 1-0 success for the Magpies.

Chelsea felt hard done by, although poor defending has been a theme for a side who have kept just five league clean sheets this season.

Tightening up in both boxes is going to be crucial if Chelsea are to ensure they qualify for next season's Champions League.

It is up to Lampard to find the answers, either on the training ground or in the transfer market, but the problems are not going to disappear before the visit of Arsenal, which promises to be trickier than the markets anticipate.