It’s fourth versus fifth on Sunday at 4.30pm (GMT) as Chelsea host Arsenal in the last top-flight fixture before the final international break of the year.

This Remembrance weekend also marks the 117th anniversary of London’s first-ever top-flight derby, played at the Bridge on 9 November 1907 – a 2-1 win for the Blues.

Both squads fulfilled European commitments midweek: Enzo Maresca’s side rained a record number of goals on Noah while Inter inflicted the Gunners’ third straight away loss without scoring against top-tier hosts.

Mikel Arteta’s side, winless in three Premier League games on the road, have amassed their lowest league points tally at this stage since 2021/22 – six worse off than last season and nine down on 2022/23.

Currently the capital’s highest-placed club, the Blues are already seven points better off than last season in like-for-like fixtures, but have not taken all three points at home to Arsenal since the start of the 2018/19 season.

Chelsea have lost only once in the past 18 matches across all competitions at the Bridge, winning 14.

Chelsea team news

None of Enzo Maresca’s starting XI at Old Trafford were involved in Thursday’s Conference League romp and are fully rested for what is always one of the most intense and anticipated home games of the season.

Corners and free-kicks will almost certainly provide major goal threats in this hotly-contested derby. Every coach looks to shield their goalkeeper from the buffeting the Gunners dish out at set-plays but they are equally vulnerable defending them – 40 per cent of goals conceded have come from opposition dead-balls.

Three assists and a half-time removal from the fray on Thursday might suggest Enzo Fernandez’s involvement this weekend, but Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo have recently given Maresca the structural physicality he likes.

The Ecuador anchor’s defensive screen is one reason Chelsea are conceding fewer goals, shots and passes into the box than last season.

Heading into a match where midfield dominance will be key, Caicedo has recorded the most tackles and interceptions combined (52), won the most tackles, and prevailed in 61 per cent of challenges.

Meanwhile, in nine London derby appearances since joining Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson has scored ten goals and assisted two, a bigger contribution than any other Premier League player.

The Senegal striker is, though, one of 23 players to have accumulated four league bookings and must now pass gameweek 19 without another yellow to avoid a one-match suspension.

Chelsea vs Arsenal – the history

London’s longest-running top-flight derby was first played at Stamford Bridge 117 years ago this month.

A record league crowd for the metropolis witnessed ‘Gatling Gun’ George Hilsdon’s brace sink Woolwich Arsenal after Charlie Satterthwaite’s reply.

‘This great game will be fought over again a thousand times in the family circle, in club, workshop, office and factory,’ noted the Morning Leader, recognising its historic significance to the capital.

The same match in March 2014 featured a notorious mistaken-identity red card for Kieran Gibbs when it was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had handled a goal-bound shot.

By then, though, the Blues were already two goals to the good through Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle – Eden Hazard’s penalty conversion for 3-0 inside 20 minutes merely sealed the deal.

Oscar’s two goals either side of the break had the home crowd craving more and Mohamed Salah duly set our record scoreline in this fixture – 6-0.

Frustratingly, it is now seven years since the Bridge sent Arsenal packing with no points to their name – that was their sixth loss in seven league visits at the time.

Maurizio Sarri’s home debut in 2018 began with a bang – Pedro’s Marcos Alonso-fed opener within the first ten minutes.

Former Blue Petr Cech was beaten again before the midpoint of the first half was reached when Alvaro Morata doubled the Blues’ lead from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.

Then Henrikh Mkhitaryan pulled one back and Alex Iwobi produced a leveller as half-time loomed.

Inevitably Hazard intervened late on, setting up Alonso for the raucously received 3-2 winner.

The Blues led 2-0 through Cole Palmer’s penalty and Misha Mudryk’s speculative shot in last season’s rain-drenched 2-2 draw, but Declan Rice punished an error and Leandro Trossard stole in for the late equaliser.

Chelsea and Remembrance

In and around the stadium on matchday, supporters will be encouraged to join the club in commemorating those who lost their lives in war as part of Remembrance Sunday.

There will be a free-to-enter Chelsea Heritage Partnership showcase in the Tea Bar at the south of the stadium telling how the club survived two world wars, along with videos and memorabilia also celebrating the best moments from London’s longest-running top-flight derby.

Know this…

Chelsea (157) are one win behind Arsenal (158) in terms of all-time Premier League derby match victories.

Premier League London Derbies 1992-24

Three Chelsea forwards are in the Premier League’s top ten for shots on target – Nico Jackson (13), Noni Madueke and Palmer (both 12).

The ten youngest Premier League starting line-ups this season have been fielded exclusively by Chelsea, the youngest average being 23 years, 89 days for the Newcastle win last month.

Arsenal, with 107 Premier League red cards accumulated since 1992, are one shy of record-holders Everton’s 108.

On 11 November, it will be 26 years since Arsenal’s record League Cup defeat – Chelsea’s 5-0 win at Highbury.

Six different players found the net in Chelsea’s Conference League record-setting 8-0 victory over Noah – our overall club record remains the famous 13-0 at home to Luxembourg side Jeunesse Hautcharge in 1971.

It meant that for the first time Chelsea have scored four or more goals in three successive fixtures at the start of a European campaign.

Christopher Nkunku’s penalty success was also the 500th in our history across all competitions.

On the night Stamford Bridge said goodbye to club legend John Dempsey, the scoreline matched that of the Blues’ win in the Jeunesse away leg – one of the Ireland centre-back’s last European outings.