Former Dutch international and Premier League goal-scoring icon Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has suggested that Arsenal’s path to the league title could face a significant roadblock this weekend against a volatile Chelsea side. As the Gunners prepare to host their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday, March 1, 2026, the stakes are remarkably high. Should Manchester City secure a victory against Leeds United in Saturday’s evening kickoff, Mikel Arteta’s men will enter the derby with their lead at the summit potentially trimmed to just two points, placing immense psychological weight on the fixture.
Chelsea, currently under the management of Liam Rosenior, enter the contest seeking redemption following a frustrating 1-1 stalemate with relegation-threatened Burnley. That result, marred by a late Zian Flemming equalizer and a red card for Wesley Fofana, has left the “Blues” desperate for points in a crowded race for Champions League qualification. Despite Chelsea’s recent inconsistencies, Hasselbaink maintains that their tendency to perform in high-profile “Big Six” matchups makes them a far more treacherous opponent for the league leaders than Tottenham Hotspur, whom Arsenal recently dismantled 4-1.
“Chelsea are a strange kind of team, they will go out to a big team and get a result, get a draw or get a win. They can do that. That’s just how they are. We have seen it. I think that game for Arsenal will be so much harder than the Spurs game.”
The former striker’s analysis points to a recurring pattern in Chelsea’s season: a team that occasionally falters against lower-table opposition but finds a different gear when cast as the underdog in major derbies. While Arsenal’s recent form—driven by the clinical finishing of Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres—has been dominant, Hasselbaink warns that the emotional and tactical complexity of playing a “unpredictable” Chelsea side could disrupt the Gunners’ rhythm. He noted that if the West Londoners can replicate their big-game mentality, the Premier League title race could be blown wide open by Sunday evening.
As the London footballing world focuses on the Emirates, the pressure is squarely on Arsenal to prove they can handle the target on their backs. With Manchester City breathing down their necks and a Chelsea team capable of “strangely” inspired performances standing in their way, this weekend represents a definitive litmus test for the Gunners’ championship credentials. Hasselbaink’s skepticism serves as a sobering reminder that in a season defined by narrow margins, no lead is safe until the final whistle blows on the final day.
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