Arsenal have lost five in a row at Chelsea (leaking 15 goals and scoring two)... it symbolises their decline and Sunday's visit must fill fans with fear

  • Arsenal travel across London to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
  • The Gunners have lost their last five Premier League visits to SW6
  • Prior to that, they had a very respectable record against their London rivals 
  • But the Gunners have beaten Chelsea in three of their last four meetings 
  • BETTING: Recent record doesn't look good for Arsenal, plus a Kane special

Few fixtures on the calendar generate as much trepidation for Arsenal supporters as a visit to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

The match has come to represent how the balance of power in London - and English - football has shifted over the past 20 years.

From Arsene Wenger taking over at Highbury in 1996 to the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in 2004, they went unbeaten in eight visits to the Bridge, winning four of them.

Arsene Wenger must view Arsenal's visit to Chelsea on Sunday with trepidation given their poor recent track record at Stamford Bridge

Arsene Wenger must view Arsenal's visit to Chelsea on Sunday with trepidation given their poor recent track record at Stamford Bridge

Arsenal have already suffered one humiliation to a rival this season, losing 4-0 at Liverpool

Arsenal have already suffered one humiliation to a rival this season, losing 4-0 at Liverpool

Mesut Ozil cut a forlorn figure after Arsenal's 4-0 humiliation at Anfield last month

Mesut Ozil cut a forlorn figure after Arsenal's 4-0 humiliation at Anfield last month

Arsenal last five visits to Stamford Bridge 

February 4, 2017 - Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1

September 19, 2015 - Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

October 5, 2014 - Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

March 22, 2014 - Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0

January 20, 2013 - Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1 

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And even as Arsenal drifted from being regular title challengers later in that decade, they could still point to a respectable record of just four defeats in 16 matches there.


But Robin van Persie's hat-trick in a 5-3 victory at the Bridge in October 2011 proved both a highlight and a turning point.

Since then, Arsenal have suffered nothing but misery when visiting Chelsea with five consecutive defeats in SW6 somehow neatly symbolising their decline.

They have lost 2-1, 6-0, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-1 in their last five league games there - their joint-worst sequence of results on the road against one team (the other being five losses at Old Trafford between 2009 and 2013).

Of course, the one that sticking in the memory is being hit for six in March 2014. Chelsea were already 2-0 ahead when Kieran Gibbs was mistakenly sent off instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and totally capitulated thereafter.

Later that year, Wenger and Jose Mourinho memorably squared up on the touchline during a one-sided 2-0 Chelsea win and in September 2015, Gabriel and Santi Cazorla were both dismissed as Arsenal lost the plot again.

Cesc Fabregas (second right) celebrates scoring in last season's 3-1 Chelsea victory

Cesc Fabregas (second right) celebrates scoring in last season's 3-1 Chelsea victory

Wenger was forced to watch the February defeat from the stands as he served a ban 

Wenger was forced to watch the February defeat from the stands as he served a ban 

Kurt Zouma celebrates after scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal in September 2015

Kurt Zouma celebrates after scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal in September 2015

That match saw Arsenal defender Gabriel sent off after aiming a kick at Diego Costa

That match saw Arsenal defender Gabriel sent off after aiming a kick at Diego Costa

Last season, although Arsenal won the meeting at the Emirates 3-0, things were very different in the reverse fixture in February as the Blues ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

So Arsenal head there on Sunday having not kept a Premier League clean sheet in 12 away meetings with Chelsea, yet another bad omen.

Arsenal have endured humiliating defeats at many of their top-six rivals - they were thumped 4-0 by Liverpool just the other week - but their recent failures at Chelsea somehow illustrates how far they now are from the title.

It seems to be something about Stamford Bridge that gets under their skin as well, seeing as they have actually won three out of their last four meetings in all competitions.

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho in their infamous touchline bust-up in October 2014

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho in their infamous touchline bust-up in October 2014

Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick the last time Arsenal won at Chelsea back in October 2011

Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick the last time Arsenal won at Chelsea back in October 2011

Foremost among these was, of course, last season's FA Cup final, as well as the Community Shield this season and the aforementioned 3-0 league win at the Emirates last September.

Trouble is, Chelsea come into Sunday's match buoyed by four consecutive wins. They have also scored in 23 successive league games at the Bridge and over half of these have seen them score three or more times.

It leaves the Gunners fighting both form and history when they head there on Sunday afternoon.

And when it comes to taking on their rivals directly, the last time Arsenal won away to one of last season's top six was their 2-0 win at Man City in January 2015. They've lost eight and drawn five since then.

If they are to ever be serious title contenders again, this urgently needs to change.