Premier League Match Week 28 Preview: London Derby Could Impact Title and Champions League Races

Arsenal hosts Chelsea on Sunday in the feature match this weekend. The Gunners are presently five points clear of Manchester City in the title chase but have also played one additional match than the Citizens. A loss to Chelsea coupled with a Manchester City win at Leeds would reduce the margin to only a two-point advantage with Manchester City holding a game in hand as the top two teams hurtle towards a mid-April clash at the Etihad.

The Gunners made short work of another London rival last weekend in dismantling dysfunctional Spurs by a 4-1 margin. The Gunners have lost only once at home this season, a surprising defeat to Michael Carrick led Manchester United, while winning 10 of their 13 Premier League matches at the Emirates.

🎉 @Arsenal players celebrating with their fans after a massive north London derby win 🎉 pic.twitter.com/ptiDJjvcBL

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 22, 2026

Chelsea, meanwhile, has squandered leads in successive home matches to promoted sides, a lack of discipline which has seen the Blues drop 19 points from winning positions. The disappointment of the last two weeks makes the task even more daunting for Chelsea than its usual painful visits to the Emirates. The Blues have not won at Arsenal since August of 2021 and have won but one of the last 13 contests between the clubs staged anywhere in any competition.

Chelsea, still locked in a battle with Manchester United and Liverpool to secure Champions League qualification, has performed better this season when away from the not quite friendly confines of Stamford Bridge. Only Arsenal has a better away record than Chelsea this season.

Manchester City will be trying to keep the pressure on Arsenal when the Citizens visit Leeds. The Whites have much to play for as well with Leeds still sitting only six points above the drop line. The surprisingly game promoted side has grabbed valuable points against quality opponents in draws with Aston Villa and Chelsea in its last two league outings.

Manchester United, meanwhile, will try to remain undefeated under Manager Michael Carrick and preserve its current top four standing when the Red Devils host Crystal Palace. The performance under Carrick since the former club midfielder took the managerial reins, five wins and a draw, has lifted the Red Devils three points clear of fellow Champions League aspirants Chelsea and Liverpool.

Liverpool will be home to West Ham in a critical match for both the Reds and Hammers. Liverpool has won three of its past four matches as it tries to claw north from its sixth-place position in the table. West Ham is fighting for survival and trying to run down stragglers like Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle to see who survives to play again next season in the Premier League.

Spurs will be the visitor in a London derby at Fulham on Sunday. The Cottagers have prevailed in the last three meetings between the clubs across all competitions, outscoring their London rival by an aggregate 6-1. Nottingham Forest will take the pitch at the same time on Sunday, visiting Brighton where the Tricky Trees will hope to maintain, or increase, a current two-point advantage over West Ham in the relegation battle.

Aston Villa can ill afford a slip up at relegation bound Wolverhampton on Sunday. Once a title contender, Aston Villa is now only six points above sixth place Liverpool in the table and could fall into the battle to secure Champions League qualification. Three points against last place Wolverhampton, should help avoid, or at least delay, any such battle for the Villans.

Seventh place Brentford, meanwhile, has its own European hopes as the Bees visit relegation zone resident Burnley on Saturday while mid-table clashes this weekend will include Everton at Newcastle and Bournemouth playing host to Sunderland.