Revealed: The rare reason Arsenal are above Chelsea in the Premier League – despite being level on points, goal difference AND goals scored

Round 13 of the 2024-25 Premier League season ended with Liverpool nine points clear at the top of the table after a 2-0 win over Man City.

Their nearest challengers appear to be Arsenal and Chelsea – who sit second and third respectively.

The Gunners thrashed West Ham 5-2 on Saturday night before the Blues beat Aston Villa 3-0 a day later. 

Those results left Arsenal and Chelsea with seemingly identical records, including sharing the points in a 1-1 London derby draw before the international break. 

Both London clubs have now won seven games, drawn four and lost two in the Premier League this season. Both have scored 26 goals and conceded 12.

So why are Arsenal currently ahead of Chelsea in the table?

Arsenal had thrashed West Ham United 5-2 at the London Stadium less than 24 hours earlier

Those results left Arsenal and Chelsea with seemingly identical records in the league table

Many people will likely assume it is based on alphabetical order, with A coming ahead of C in the alphabet, however, that is not the case here.

The real reason Arsenal are currently ahead of Chelsea is because of what happened when the two sides drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge last month.

In terms of splitting teams level on points, the Premier League rules dictate that the first method to separate them should be goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by which team collected the most points during matches between the two sides.

If those first three methods cannot split them then the team that scored more away goals during their head-to-head matches is the fourth criteria.

Chelsea have not yet played away at Arsenal this season and have therefore not scored any away goals against the Gunners.

So, at present, the only thing between them in the table is Gabriel Martinelli’s 60th-minute strike at Stamford Bridge on November 10. 

However, the table will soon change as there are 19 games taking place this week.

Arsenal host Manchester United on Wednesday before visiting Fulham on Sunday. Meanwhile, Chelsea travel to Southampton on Wednesday before going to Tottenham on Sunday.

Arsenal are currently ahead of Chelsea because of a Gabriel Martinelli away goal in November

Both Arsenal and Chelsea are nine points behind Liverpool, who beat Man City 2-0 on Sunday

In the very unlikely scenario that Chelsea and Arsenal draw 1-1 at the Emirates later in the season and then end the campaign level on points, goal difference and goals scored… then the Premier League’s fifth tie-breaking method might need to be used.

This method – which would only be needed if the teams’ final league positions affected the destination of the title, or relegation, or perhaps European qualification – would see them play each other again in a one-off play-off at a neutral venue.

The Premier League’s handbook says the following on such play-offs: ‘C.17.3. if two Clubs cannot be separated by operation of Rule C.17.1 or C.17.2, a play-off on a neutral ground, the format, timing and venue of which shall be determined by the Board.’

There has not yet been the need for such a play-off since the Premier League was founded in 1992.