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Paul Merson shares what Arsenal now risk doing that he ‘can’t believe’ ahead of Chelsea clash

Giuseppe Labellarte

Fri 14 March 2025 7:15, UK

Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on Chelsea on Sunday.

The Gunners have had a good week so far, getting the job done against PSV Eindhoven to go through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are fading with each passing week, having picked up just one point from their🔯 last three gam♏es.

Meanwhile, Chelsea won their last two league matches to go two🐭 points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City in fourth.

Paul Merson has𒁏 now predicted who will triumph between Arsenal and Chelsea in Sunday’s 1:30pm kick-off⛄ at the Emirates Stadium.

READ MORE: Kevin Phillips shares how close he came to joining Arsenal and what Arsene Wenger did after turning hi𓂃m down

Paul Merson backs Arsenal to win 2-0 against Chelsea

Merson stressed that Arsenal “need to win this game” against Chelsea, as defeat would force them to start looking over their 🌜shoulders in terms of a top-four finish.

However, the Gunners legend says he can’t see Chelsea winning against Arsenal after they “bored Leicester into subm💞issi𒈔on” last time out.

Merson reckons Arsenal will win 2-0 against a Blues side missing Nicolas🐬 Jackson and with Cole Palmer not doing as well without his teammate.

“What do I even say about Chelsea? They bored Leicester into 🌟submission last weekend,” Merson wrote on .

“The way they are playing, I don’t see how they can beat A🦩rsenal he🙈re.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	29	21	7	1	69	27	42	70
2	ArsenalArsenal	28	15	10	3	52	24	28	55
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	28	15	6	7	45	33	12	51
4	ChelseaChelsea	28	14	7	7	53	36	17	49
5	Man CityManchester City	28	14	5	9	53	38	15	47

“Cheꦺlsea have no threat up front with Nicolas Jackไson unavailable.

♛“I’ve always said that Christopher Nkunku is more of a No. 10 and you can’t expect or rely on him to do what a No. 9 does.

“Arsenal need to win this game. A defeat to Chelsea would pull the Gunners back into the race to finish in the top four🧜.

“They are now 15 points behind L🌊iverpool and just eight points ahead of Manchester City in fifꦅth-place.

“Another loss and you would have to start worrying about th꧋em finishing inside the top four and I can’t believe I’m saying that!”

Arsenal v Chelsea team news

As Merson mentioned, Arsenal’s Sterl☂♉ing, who is on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to face his parent club.

Martin Keown ♏noted how Sterli🐓ng’s great display against PSV was a “long time coming” at Arsenal, but an enforced rest now awaits.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesusꦓ and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain out, but the Gunners have an otherwise clean bill of health.

Arteta was able to rest a number of key players against PSV this wee෴k, courtesy of the 7-1 win in their last-16 first leg.

Jurrien Timbe๊r, William Saliba, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard all started on the bench in their second leg.

As for Chelsea, Reece James and Cole Palmer both came off the bench in the club’s Europa Conferen♉ce League win over FC Copenhagen.

The Blues remain without Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, who are expected to be back after t𓆏he March international break.