We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Arsenal and Chelsea XI ahead of the Premier League clash on Sunday.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are a combination of the team’s most used XI so far this season and predicted lineups for the match itself.
Goalkeeper: David Raya vs Robert Sanchez
A battle between two Spanish goalkeepers, both David Raya and Robert Sanchez have performed well this season. Raya is the league leader for clean sheets and also goals conceded — among those with significant minutes, of course. And he wins the matchup against Sanchez on clean sheets and goals conceded.
Raya also has the better long passing accuracy, but Sanchez comes out on top in the overall battle. The Chelsea shot-stopper is the busier man with 2.8 saves made per 90 minutes to Raya’s 1.5. But Sanchez does also save more of his shots. Sanchez is also the better short passer and attempts more long passes.
Winner: Robert Sanchez
Right-back: Jurrien Timber vs Reece James
This is another intriguing battle on paper, but Reece James shines in his head-to-head against Jurrien Timber. The Englishman will be aided in some metrics by the fact that he has played in midfield. But he is capable of producing such numbers from full-back.
James has created 1.2 chances per 90 in the league this season, which is slightly better than Timber’s 1.0. But James does massively out-gun Timber for crosses attempted per 90. James also attempts more clearances and interceptions per 90, and makes more ball recoveries. But the duo are matched on tackles made, take-ons completed and ground duels won — though James has the better success rate.
Winner: Reece James
Centre-backs: William Saliba vs Gabriel vs Tosin Adarabioyo vs Trevoh Chalobah
With Wesley Fofana suspended, Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to fill one of Chelsea’s two centre-back spots. And he’s the best centre-back in his matchup per the Squawka Comparison Matrix. Now that is slightly impacted by the fact that he has the fewest minutes of our four predicted starters. And that he’s part of the busier defence.
Adarabioyo has averaged 7.8 clearances per 90, while also winning 69.23% of his aerial duels. The Englishman also leads for forward passes and tackles made per 90. Trevoh Chalobah and Gabriel both win two of the other metrics. But Gabriel is the one to come out on top there. He leads in ground duels won per 90 and ground duel success rate. He takes a lot of beating on the floor. Gabriel is also second to Adarabioyo for aerial duel success rate.
Winners: Tosin Adarabioyo & Gabriel
Left-back: Piero Hincapie vs Malo Gusto
Marc Cucurella is out injured, so Malo Gusto is expected to continue at left-back. Piero Hincapie, meanwhile, has been favoured on Arsenal’s left ahead of the recently-returned Riccardo Calafiori. Hincapie’s creative numbers are hampered by the fact that he has pretty evenly split his time this season across centre-back and left-back. But he still puts up a good fight.
Hincapie has created 0.8 chances per 90 this season, which is only just beaten by Gusto’s 0.9. It’s a similar story for tackles with Gusto making 2.4 to Hincapie’s 2.3. The pair are equal on crosses attempted and interceptions. But it is Gusto who does come out on top overall, for all the minor wins.
Winner: Malo Gusto
Defensive midfielders: Martin Zubimendi vs Declan Rice vs Moises Caicedo vs Andrey Santos
A double pivot of dreams, Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice come out on top in the midfield matchup. Caicedo is the best passer of the quartet, matched up against Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Andrey Santos. The Ecuadorean has completed 91.74% of his attempted passes — with Santos (89.56%) in second. But Rice does take the crown for forward passes at 16.3 per 90.
Caicedo also leads for interceptions and ball recoveries per 90, with Rice second in the latter. And, of course, Caicedo stands clear for his 3.2 tackles per 90. Rice is the best in the air, though. The Englishman has won 71.15% of his aerial duels in the league this season. And he’s averaged 2.3 clearances per 90.
Winners: Moises Caicedo & Declan Rice
Right-winger: Bukayo Saka vs Cole Palmer
Perhaps the most anticipated matchup that isn’t Rice vs Caicedo. And it’s Bukayo Saka who takes it. Even when you bring Palmer’s lack of minutes into account, which can skew per 90 stats, he hasn’t hit the heights of Saka this season. Palmer is more of a goal threat with 1.4 shots on target per 90 and 0.7 goals. But Saka has still averaged 1.3 shots on target. Palmer also leads on through balls per 90.
Saka has been the more creative player. By some distance too. He has created 2.4 chances per 90 in the league this season, compared to his compatriot’s 1.1. Saka has also provided 0.2 assists to Palmer’s 0.1. The Arsenal man comes out on top for take-ons completed and success rate, as well as fouls won and touches in the opposition box.
Winner: Bukayo Saka
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No.10: Eberechi Eze vs Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez has been pushed forward to the No.10 role in recent weeks. And it’s a position Eberechi Eze has taken hold off at Arsenal since Mikel Arteta’s minor switch in formation. As you’d expect, Eze is the one who comes out on top. The Arsenal man wins six of the nine matchups outright and ties Fernandez in another.
Eze is more of a goal threat with his 1.1 shots on target per 90 and 0.5 goals, though Fernandez does average 0.9 and 0.4 in those metrics, respectively. Fernandez has created double the amount of chances created per 90, but Eze gets the win on assists. Eze is also more effective in beating his man with 1.7 take-ons copleted per 90.
Winner: Eberechi Eze
Left-winger: Leandro Trossard vs Pedro Neto
Leandro Trossard has been a key player for Arsenal this season. And he’s the better left-winger here in his matchup against Pedro Neto. Trossard is another of Arsenal’s goal threats in attack, which helped in the earlier parts of the season. The Belgian has averaged 0.7 shots on target per 90 with 0.3 goals. Neto has averaged 0.5 shots on target per 90 for Chelsea, while matching Trossard’s 0.3 goals.
Neto has created more chances per 90, but Trossard has more assists. The Belgian also leads on through-balls at 0.5 per 90 to Neto’s 0.1. There’s an interesting battle in duels too. Neto completes more take-ons per 90 with a better success rate. But Trossard has won more fouls. And he has had more touches in the opposition box.
Winner: Leandro Trossard
Striker: Viktor Gyokeres vs Joao Pedro
Viktor Gyokeres has started 2026 in a good run of form. But it hasn’t been enough to put him clear of Joao Pedro in this matchup. And that’s down to the overall centre-forward game, outaside of just goals. Gyokeres does average more shots and goals per 90 than Pedro, but the Brazilian leads on shots on target. Pedro also has a very slightly better conversion rate at 32.35% to Gyokeres’ 32.26%.
Pedro has the better creative numbers, with 1.1 chances created and 0.2 assists per 90. This is aided by his gametime as a No.10 in a more supportive role. It’s also thanks to the difference in systems of these two teams. Pedro also averages more take-ons completed per 90 and fouls won. But Gyokeres, naturally, has averaged more touches in the opposition box.
Winner: Joao Pedro
