It's tough to imagine that five matches into the season, mighty Chelsea sits just two points above the relegation zone and is -5 in goal differential. The Blues got back to their winning ways with an impressive display against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Wednesday in the Champions League though, and that might be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track in the EPL as well, starting with a date with Arsenal this Saturday.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Blues are still looked at as the favorites in this match, but it is clear that the oddsmakers' confidence is waning. Chelsea is set at PK -133 on the Asian Handicap, translating to just +142 on the moneyline for this fixture, which is about as small of a favorite as the Blues have been in a home match against a Premier League team in years.
The total is somewhat high, largely thanks to Thibaut Courtois' absence in the pipes for Chelsea. The number to beat is 2.5 with vig on the over set at -125.
KEY INJURIES
The Blues have more than just Courtois to worry about in terms of injuries. Both Pedro and Radamel Falcao sat out the UCL match with Maccabi Tel-Aviv with knocks, and Willian left that match as well with what at this point is an undisclosed injury.
Arsenal didn't have Per Mertesacker for its Champions League battle with Dinamo Zagreb after he was involved in a minor car accident early in the week, but we suspect he'll be available to selection on Saturday. Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere will all be absent from the squad this weekend, though.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"There are a number of players here that you play against and you know that the player has great technique, great passing and so on. But then you train with them and you see them play, and you realize that some of them have really special qualities. This is a special club." – Arsenal goalie Petr Cech on his new surroundings on the opposite end of London now that he has transferred from Chelsea
RECENT FORM
Chelsea's struggles are notable. Yes, the team beat up Maccabi Tel-Aviv, but this run of Premier League form is awful. Even a 3-2 win at West Brom should have been more decisive a few weeks back. The Blues have just two wins in their 11 matches this year, and perhaps we should have been more aware this was a possibility after a winless preseason.
Arsenal meanwhile, crashed and burned in the UCL on Wednesday, losing to Dinamo Zagreb 2-1. That was the Gunners' first setback since a 2-0 loss at home against West Ham to kick off the season. Arsenal has taken the maximum six points from its last two fixtures against Stoke City and Newcastle in the Premier League.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
When this one is said and done with, we suspect that Chelsea will be back in form. However, it is going to have to come with some changes.
At the back, John Terry is probably ultimately going to have to come off before he runs out of gas, as has been the case in many of his matches this year. Branislav Ivanovic has been awful for the most part, and Gary Cahill needs to be a lot more decisive at the back to boot.
Furthermore, elite players like Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard really need to play up to their salaries.
If all of that exists on Saturday, the Blues will win and order will be somewhat restored. We'll bet on that happening, but we suggest getting up early and watching this game closely in live betting. If Chelsea has no life early on, backing out of this bet and getting on Arsenal would be a good idea, especially with Petr Cech wanting nothing more than to come back to Stamford Bridge and beat the team which couldn't find a place for him after signing Courtois a couple years ago.
Chelsea 2, Arsenal 1
BookMaker has live English Premier League odds for every clash of the season. You can find a moneyline price on Chelsea of +142 and a total of 2.5 right now! BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer game now!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The fixture between Chelsea and Arsenal will take place at 7:45 a.m. ET on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Stamford Bridge. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
