As English top-flight football geared up for its return after the Second World War, there was uncertainty over which 22 clubs would compete in the new season.
Arsenal chairman Sir Henry Norris convinced England's First Division clubs to keep Chelsea in the top flight despite finishing the previous season in the relegation zone. In turn, Chelsea voted in support of Arsenal's successful bid to win promotion from the second tier even though the Gunners had ended the campaign behind the unmoved Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in fifth.
While this expert political manoeuvring fostered the febrile hatred between Arsenal and Tottenham - who were not given the same reprieve as the Blues - it should have forged a bond for the Gunners with Chelsea.
However, any goodwill that may have existed was firmly extinguished as a toxic rivalry was bred at the turn of the century.
Here's everything you need to know about the always anticipated meetings between Arsenal and Chelsea in the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Premier League dates for Arsenal v Chelsea in 2023/24
*times and dates are subject to change
Chelsea host Arsenal on Saturday 21 October 2023 in the first of three consecutive London derbies for the Blues. Across the subsequent fortnight, Chelsea will be up against west London neighbours Brentford shortly followed by a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of Spurs for 13 north London derbies against Arsenal, only losing three. However, a lot has changed since Pochettino left Tottenham; the Argentine coach's last trip to the Emirates Stadium was a 2-2 draw in which Christian Eriksen opened the scoring against an Arsenal defence containing David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Pochettino will be back in N7 for Chelsea's trip to Arsenal on Saturday 16 March 2024.
ALL THE KEY DATES FROM THE 2023/24 PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE RELEASE
Arsenal v Chelsea H2H record
Frank Lampard lamented that his Chelsea side "were nice to play against" after the Blues suffered a humbling 3-1 loss at the Emirates in May. The damning crystallisation of the feeble opposition which Chelsea posed for Arsenal across the 2022/23 season came in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The former Arsenal captain started both matches, completed a total of nine passes, managed just five touches in the attacking third and earned more yellow cards (one) than shots on target (zero).
Arsenal have won six of the last seven meetings between London's two most successful clubs. By the time the Gunners travel to south London in October, it will be more than five years since their previous defeat at Stamford Bridge - a 3-2 reverse orchestrated by Maurizio Sarri.
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On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss Ange Postecoglou's appointment at Spurs, Man Utd chasing Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Kane to Real Madrid, Lionel Messi & more!
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This article was originally published on 90min as When do Arsenal and Chelsea play each other in 2023/24?.
