Chelsea host Arsenal on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities, because the Gunners’ nearest challengers within the early Premier League standings. This would be the Blues’ hardest examination but – and there are intriguing questions for head coach Enzo Maresca to reply…
How do you break down the Premier League’s greatest defence?
Chelsea have scored 41 objectives in 19 video games this time period – solely Arsenal can higher that whole throughout all competitions amongst Premier League groups.
But, how Maresca units up his assault this weekend and who he selects to start out appears like an important name, given the Gunners’ extraordinary defensive high quality.
Cole Palmer needs to be again out there. However can he actually be deployed from the beginning after solely simply coming back from the groin damage – and subsequent damaged toe – which has disrupted the begin to his season?
That might imply Joao Pedro is once more No 10 however the frontline striker forward of him has been a difficulty, with only one aim coming from Chelsea’s beginning No 9 within the league this season – whether or not that’s Liam Delap, Marc Guiu or Joao Pedro.
Maresca used Pedro Neto as a false 9 to good impact towards Barcelona on Tuesday, though Delap’s first Champions League aim off the bench might give him the increase he wants earlier than main the road towards Arsenal.
The opposite attacking resolution which can be on the minds of Chelsea supporters is whether or not Estevao begins.
Estevao began towards Barcelona and starred, smashing in a surprising aim. However Maresca has been cautious with the 18-year-old’s sport time, selecting and selecting opponents. Estevao hasn’t been given back-to-back begins since August.
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South American soccer knowledgeable Tim Vickery believes Chelsea’s Estevao is essentially the most proficient Brazilian since Neymar.
Is now the time to belief the teenager to go once more?
Blues followers can be determined to see him from the off on the Bridge, which might require Neto switching to the left and Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens – who started there at Burnley – on the bench.
How do you cease fit-again Odegaard and Arsenal’s risk?
As famous above, Arsenal not solely have unimaginable defensive numbers, they’ve additionally scored extra objectives than another Premier League facet this season, too.
After Marc Cucurella shutdown Lamine Yamal his one-on-one battle with Bukayo Saka appears set to be one other field workplace hit. However Saka could possibly be supported by returning Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and that can give Chelsea followers undesirable flashbacks.
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Paul Merson reacts to Arsenal’s ‘assertion’ win towards Bayern Munich within the Champions League.
The Norwegian teed up each Arsenal objectives scored towards Chelsea final season, crossing for Gabriel Martinelli to attain on the Bridge and sending in a nook for Mikel Merino’s winner on the Emirates. He has seven aim involvements to his title towards Chelsea – his greatest return towards any Premier League opponent.
If the Arsenal skipper is not 100 per cent prepared to start out, the in-form Eberechi Eze will go once more, aiming to construct on his north London derby hat-trick and help towards Bayern Munich. The depth on the Gunners’ disposal is daunting.
Enzo Fernandez – set to maneuver again right into a deeper function, with captain Reece James going to right-back – can have a key process serving to out on that left facet. In the meantime, Fernandez’s midfield accomplice Moises Caicedo will do battle with Declan Rice.
Sunday thirtieth November 4:00pm
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With Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres pushing to finish their very own returns from damage in time for this derby, Arsenal’s risk could possibly be multifaceted and tough to comprise.
After 12 matches in a row with out naming the identical beginning centre-back pairing, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana could properly have the chance to point out they are often the first-choice duo on the coronary heart of Chelsea’s defence.
How do you cease the set-piece objectives?
No Gabriel? No downside. Arsenal’s free-kick and nook risk stays. Bayern Munich had been the newest facet to come back undone by Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, with Jurrien Timber breaking the impasse of their Champions League tie on Wednesday with a header from a nook.
In fact, Arsenal rating loads from open play too, however Maresca will certainly be plotting defensive set-ups for dead-ball conditions to repel one of many Gunners’ massive strengths.
He could spend a while his personal attacking routines – Chelsea rank fourth for scoring from set-pieces this season, having netted from a brief nook towards Barcelona themselves on Tuesday.
Are you able to ship (one other) assertion win?
Liam Delap scores Chelsea’s third aim towards Barcelona
Beating Barcelona 3-0 is an enormous consequence. So, is seeing off the defending Premier League champions 2-1. Add in a 3-0 victory over the European title holders within the Membership World Cup ultimate and Enzo Maresca would possibly surprise if he would not already deserve extra credit score for delivering in massive video games.
However each sport is an enormous one in the event you’re at Chelsea and have to be within the dialog for giant honours.
This additionally appears like an important sport by way of the momentum of the Premier League title race. Can Chelsea shut the hole on Arsenal – or will they be proven to not be on the stage of a severe contender?
Chelsea have gained simply considered one of their final 11 Premier League video games towards Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s facet are unbeaten on their final six journeys to Stamford Bridge.
If Maresca can discover a option to move the Arsenal check and ship a win for Chelsea it could shift the narrative – and expectations.
