Arsenal
A London rivalry that sharpened when both chased the Premier League title.
The Arsenal–Chelsea rivalry is between two of London's biggest clubs. Neither has traditionally seen the other as its main rival, but there has been strong needle between the fans since the 1930s, and the fixture became a major derby in the 2000s when the two clubs competed regularly for the Premier League title.
Quick Facts
- Other names
- North West London derby
- Location
- London
- First meeting
- 9 November 1907
- Football League First Division
- Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal
- Teams
- Arsenal; Chelsea
- Top scorer
- Didier Drogba (13)
- Latest meeting
- 1 March 2026
- Premier League
- Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea
- Total meetings
- 215
- Most wins
- Arsenal (87)
Lore & Background
The first league meeting, at Stamford Bridge on 9 November 1907, was the first First Division game between two London clubs and drew 65,000. A 1935 meeting at Stamford Bridge drew 82,905, the second-highest attendance for an English league match. In a 2008 Football Fans Census survey, Arsenal fans named Chelsea the club they disliked most, and Chelsea fans named Arsenal their second-most disliked after Liverpool.
Reader's Guide
Arsenal have won more meetings overall. Chelsea's record win is 6–0 at Stamford Bridge in March 2014; Arsenal's is 5–0 at the Emirates in April 2024. Didier Drogba scored the most derby goals, 13.
The clubs have met in five major finals: the 2002 FA Cup final (Arsenal 2–0), the 2007 League Cup final (Chelsea 2–1), the 2017 FA Cup final (Arsenal 2–1), the 2019 Europa League final (Chelsea 4–1) and the 2020 FA Cup final (Arsenal 2–1).
More in Great Rivalries & Derbies
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