Arsenal will be under more pressure than Chelsea ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash, with former Blues defender Glen Johnson arguing it is a must-win game for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The two London sides are locked together on 18 points ahead of the derby, with Chelsea narrowly ahead on goal difference. Both are off the pace in the title race, though, sitting five points behind reigning champions Manchester City and seven adrift of league leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal and Chelsea arguably went into the campaign with different ambitions, after Arteta’s team finished 26 points ahead of their rivals last term. Arsenal started strongly as they looked to mount a title challenge, but injuries have taken their toll.

Club captain Martin Odegaard has given the Gunners a boost after returning from injury in the midweek defeat away to Inter Milan in the Champions League. However, the Norwegian is coming back into a team which can scarcely afford to drop more points.

“There’s probably more pressure on Arsenal because they’re supposed to be going for the title,” Johnson – who also had a spell at Liverpool – told 10Bet. “Chelsea right now will be over the moon where they are, considering last year and the season before.

“I’d say the pressure’s on Arsenal. I still think Arsenal are going to be bang in there, but you can’t be sitting sixth if you’re going for a title, or joint-fifth. If they want to win the title, I think they need to win.”

He also praised Chelsea’s consistency, saying: “Everyone was talking about [Aston] Villa being in the top four, Arsenal going for the title… Chelsea have won the same amount of games, drawn the same amount of games and have the same amount of defeats. If they’re rolling around in that circle for the majority of this season, then they’re going to be there or there abouts.”

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber expects a tough match on Sunday, but he and Gunners boss Arteta remain optimistic. Despite losing at the San Siro on Wednesday, the Gunners put in a solid performance only to fall foul of more VAR controversy.

Inter’s winner came from the spot, with Hakan Calhanoglu on target after Mikel Merino was penalised for handball. Arteta felt Arsenal should have had a penalty of their own, though, after Inter keeper Yann Sommer clattered into the Gunners midfielder.

“We should have scored a couple at least but the way the team played, that was us at least,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “Every decision in the box makes a difference. The way we played tonight, this team can go to Chelsea and win.

“I am very proud of my players, the level of domination we had. We were very harshly done by in the sense that is obvious. Both penalties.”

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