Chelsea will tonight take on Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium – and it is a quick turnaround for both sides who were in action on Saturday evening.

The London derby is often one of the most important matches of the season. This meeting was rearranged from mid-March due to the Blues' involvement in the FA Cup, the semi-finals of which were played over the weekend.

Mauricio Pochettino's side faced Manchester City at Wembley and unfortunate to suffer a 1-0 defeat. Later that evening, Arsenal returned to winning ways against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That was much needed for the Gunners after two significant body blows. In their last Premier League match at the Emirates, Arsenal's bid to claim their first Premier League title in 20 years was dented by Aston Villa's 2-0 victory.

And last Wednesday evening's Champions League wipeout at Bayern Munich ensured Chelsea will remain the only club in London with a European crown for at least another season.

Trevoh Chalobah says Chelsea have 'seven cup finals' to play in the Premier League and will arrive in north London unbeaten in eight top-flight matches. Four of those have been victories and two or more goals have been scored in our last six league games, our best sequence since March 2021.

We have claimed two wins from our past four Emirates visits and have drawn four of our previous five league fixtures against the current top three.

Chelsea would love to end Arsenal’s five-game unbeaten run in these derby encounters, and the Blues now know our final route into European this season lies in our league position.

Every point matters and following the weekend’s results, victory tonight would lift us to seventh in the table.

Chelsea team news

With seven Premier League fixtures remaining, Chelsea have scored 23 goals more than in the whole of last season while conceding an extra five.

The Blues are unbeaten in five straight away games across all competitions since January and have claimed ten points in the Premier League from losing positions on the road (three wins, one draw).

Our current total of 47 points is three higher than the final tally for 2022/23 – and we have led at half-time in ten of the previous 31 matches, trailing in just three.

In October’s reverse fixture, Pochettino's men raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to a Cole Palmer penalty, awarded for a handball by William Saliba, and Mykhailo Mudryk’s chip. But late goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard secured a draw for the visitors.

Pochettino has been dealt several blows ahead of tonight's game with the news that Cole Palmer is suffering from illness and Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell are undergoing medical assessment on injuries.

If that trio is not available, changes will be required. Fortunately, Axel Disasi ad Raheem Sterling made their respective returns from injury and illness on Saturday against Man City.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout – Arsenal

Arsenal are one of the most potent forces in the top flight in possession, with their speed, mobility and pressing difficult to resist.

The Gunners have made the fourth most tackles in the final third this season. However, Mikel Arteta's side have the eighth-highest figure for losing possession themselves.

When selected, Oleksandr Zinchenko roams into midfield to overwhelm opponents into their own third. But a largely defensive Wolverhampton Wanderers targeted his replacement at left-back, Jakub Kiwior, at the weekend.

The previous Wednesday, Bayern earned their success by doubling up to restrict the threat of Bukayo Saka and man-marking former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho.

Martin Odegaard is the Gunners’ talisman, delivering more passes into the opponents’ penalty area and the highest number of through-balls while setting up the second-most shots for teammates.

The Norwegian also contributes to their success at set-plays, where they have abundant threats.

With little time to prepare his team, Mikel Arteta has warned that the improving Blues will be no pushover. ‘I was ­watching [Saturday’s] game against City,’ he said. 'They are a really good side.’

The history

London's longest-running top-flight derby has only been played on this date once before: 75 years ago at Highbury on St George’s Day 1949.

Veteran former England forward Len Goulden ensured a half-time lead for the visitors but Denis Compton’s scuffed effort passed through three pairs of legs to deceive Harry Medhurst for the leveller.

The winner came from Chelsea’s inside forward Hugh Billington, who converted winger Bobby Campbell’s cross after a well-worked move.

‘If Arsenal players dream in colour, their nightmares must be blue,’ wrote Ralph Finn in The People. That was the west Londoners’ fifth successive visit in all competitions without defeat, four victories.

Shuttle forward to April 2004 and one of the most celebrated nights in the Blues’ history took place at Highbury in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Having drawn the first leg 1-1 at the Bridge and with away goals a factor, Claudio Ranieri’s men knew they had to score to progress. So when Jose Antonio Reyes broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, there was no panic.

Instead, the visitors remained patient and increased the intensity. Five minutes after the break, Frank Lampard equalised. Then, as extra time beckoned, left-back Wayne Bridge played a deft one-two into the box with Eidur Gudjohnsen and steered home the winner.

London became Blue that night as Chelsea became the first semi-finalists from the capital in Europe’s elite competition.

Similarly, the Blues came from behind to deliver league victory in December 2019. Future Gunner Jorginho equalised before a brilliant late finish from Tammy Abraham earned the points.

First-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James clinched our most recent win, which was our first away trip of the 2021/22 season.

West is best again

Once again Chelsea have the best points-per-game haul from all-capital clashes this campaign and Mauricio Pochettino will hope to claim a sixth win tonight from our last derby on the road.

Arsenal have drawn two and lost one of their five capital clashes at Emirates this season, this being their last as hosts.

Premier League London derbies 2023/24

Pursuit of the boot

No player has scored more Premier League goals this season than Cole Palmer, which puts our summer signing on course for the 2023/24 Golden Boot.

It is 14 years since Stamford Bridge was last home to the top flight’s leading marksman. Didier Drogba’s 29 goals in 2009/10 brought the honour home for the third time in four seasons after Nicolas Anelka (19, 2008/09) and the Ivorian again (20, 2006/07).

None of our top scorers since Drogba’s last success has exceeded Palmer’s current total.

Chelsea's top Premier League scorers since 2010