Arsenal’s quest for the first Premier League title in 22 years is entering a critical phase, with one significant London derby poised to shape the narrative of their 2025/26 campaign.
The fixture against Chelsea on March 1 is widely anticipated to represent a defining period for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The burning question on every neutral lip and likely every Gunner isn’t merely if this fixture will ‘shape Arsenal’s most hopeful campaign,’ but whether the Gunners can finally conquer their familiar demons, or if they’re simply gearing up to pen another tragically compelling chapter in the epic saga of the real league bottlers.
Under Arteta’s stewardship, Arsenal have finished runners-up in the Premier League for the past two consecutive seasons.
The 2022/23 campaign saw them finish five points adrift of Manchester City, while the 2023/24 season concluded with a two-point deficit to Pep Guardiola’s side. Last season, 2024/25, saw Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot in his inaugural season, secure the title with a ten-point advantage over Arsenal.
This sequence of near misses has, inevitably, led to scrutiny regarding the club’s capacity to sustain a title challenge over a full season.
This season, significant investment and strategic appointments were made at Emirates Stadium.
The arrival of acclaimed football director Andrea Berta, who oversaw eight new signings totalling in excess of £250 million ($333.5m), was understood to be a clear signal of intent, designed to bolster squad depth and address previous injury concerns. Arsenal subsequently capitalised on early-season instability among their traditional rivals.
Liverpool’s title defence was hindered by a combination of factors, including the demise of striker Diogo Jota, a heated disagreement between head coach Arne Slot and forward Mohamed Salah, and significant squad adjustments following player sales.
Manchester City, navigating an ongoing Premier League legal challenge regarding alleged financial breaches from 2009-2018, experienced a period of inconsistent form and tactical experimentation under Guardiola. Manchester United, for their part, underwent a change in management earlier in the season, with Rubén Amorim’s tenure concluding amidst scrutiny over squad selection and tactical approaches. Chelsea, recent winners of the Club World Cup, and Newcastle also faced periods of struggle, with the former having parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca, and the latter contending with a notable injury list. Tottenham Hotspur, under former head coach Thomas Frank, found themselves unexpectedly contending at the lower end of the table despite a strong UEFA Champions League showing.
Arsenal’s campaign had, until recently, progressed favourably. They secured qualification from their UEFA Champions League group unbeaten, topping it with 18 points. In the Premier League, the club has incurred only three defeats this season – against Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Manchester United – and had maintained a position at the summit of the table, benefiting from City’s occasional dropped points against mid-table opposition.
However, since January 2026, Arsenal’s league form has seen a dip, registering just four wins from their last nine Premier League encounters. This run has allowed Manchester City to close the gap, with Arsenal currently holding a five-point advantage, albeit having played one more game than City. A recent 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Wolves, where Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead, reflects the current challenge.
However, Arsenal managed to stretch the lead with a 4-1 away victory against bitter North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs.
The immediate focus for Arsenal now shifts to their London derby against Chelsea. There is an understanding that securing maximum points from this fixture is paramount, particularly with Manchester City’s own challenging schedule.
City recently defeated Newcastle and will face Leeds next. Historically, City have demonstrated a formidable capacity to accelerate their performance in the latter stages of a title race, a factor that will undoubtedly exert pressure on Arsenal.
Chelsea, despite their current league position, will approach their encounter with Arsenal with significant motivation. They are vying for a top four position, competing with a resurgent Manchester United and Liverpool. Chelsea recently drew 1-1 with Burnley, and their form will be critical in determining Arsenal’s fate.
Looking further ahead, Arsenal is scheduled to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final following the Chelsea fixture.
This will be succeeded by a critical league visit to the Etihad Stadium, a match widely anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the Premier League title race. There is also the potential for the two clubs to meet in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Consequently, any dropped points in the upcoming London derby could significantly alter Arsenal’s standing ahead of these crucial encounters.
Catch the action live at the Guinness Matchday on March 1st at Bar Next Door Kiambu Road and Konqa 254 Lounge in Ruaka. The experience will feature live screening of the game, Arsenal vs Chelsea, on HD screens, with perfect sound, expert punditry, and ice-cold Guinness.
Absa Bank Kenya, in partnership with Visa, has unveiled one of its future-ready, digital-first card proposition that marks a new chapter in Kenya’s payments industry. The launch, announced during the 2026 Magical Kenya Open Presented by Absa, reflects the bank’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of globally minded, digitally confident customers while advancing Kenya’s transition toward a cash-lite economy.
As part of the enhanced proposition, the bank unveiled a new Absa Visa Infinite Debit andCreditMetal card, introducing a refined design and integrating seamlessly with mobile-payment platforms such as MPESA Paybill and Till numbers. It also supports Tap n’ Pay functionality through NFC-enabled smartphones and Garmin sports watches, offering customers fluid, secure, and convenient payment experiences. Through the Absa Mobile App, cardholders can access flexible features, including an automated Buy Now Pay Later option that allows purchases to be converted into structured payment plans.
It also gives you access immense travel benefits with an International travel insurance of upto USD 2.5 Million, Various curated travels offers and discounts in key destinations like Dubai , London, New York through the Visa Destination proposition
Speaking at the launch, Absa Bank Kenya’s Director of Consumer Banking Moses Muthui, emphasized that the Visa Infinite card is the first in a phased rollout of refreshed card solutions tailored to customer expectations of efficiency, flexibility, and convenience. “The Absa Visa Infinite card is our response to the evolving demands of the Kenyan customer who is globally minded and digitally aware. Whether tapping on a smartwatch, phone, or Garmin device, paying through a till number, traveling internationally, or converting a transaction in the Absa Pay App, customers are assured of security, fluidity, and convenience wherever they are,” he said.
On her part, the Absa Bank Kenya’s Head of Card Payments, Linda Kimani, added that the initiative strengthens the bank’s card infrastructure while adapting to local realities. “We are meeting the market’s needs while redefining what modern banking looks and feels like by merging luxury, global access, and digital integration into one exclusive payment experience,” she noted.
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