Chelsea has been on a comeback trail with three consecutive victories, setting the stage for a highly anticipated London derby against Arsenal.

 

The post-Roman Abramovich era doesn’t seem to be fixed by an influx of money. New chairman Todd Boehly has been generous in granting Chelsea’s managers the financial freedom to acquire whatever they desire. Despite the lavish spending, Chelsea is still grappling with a lack of spirit and a string of disappointing results.

 

After 8 rounds, Chelsea finds itself in 12th place in the standings. The only silver lining for Chelsea’s fans is that Manchester United is also struggling and frequently losing matches. However, this only alleviates the pressure on Pochettino’s squad rather than masking the harsh reality.

 

Coach Pochettino is still wrestling with his tactical choices. While Chelsea has made progress in their style of play, they remain uncertain in defense and inefficient in attack, especially during crucial moments.

In the 9th round of the Premier League, Chelsea is bracing for a crucial London derby against Arsenal. This is a challenging time to face the Gunners, who, under the adept guidance of coach Mikel Arteta, are resembling a lower-tier version of Manchester City.

 

But is Arsenal’s current form sufficient to secure victories against multiple Premier League opponents before they visit Stamford Bridge? Coach Arteta received some good news with Trossard, Saliba, and Bukayo Saka all returning from injury. They had the luxury of not participating in the FIFA Days matches in October 2023.

 

Arsenal is entering the fixture with confidence and no compelling reason to change their successful 4-3-3 tactical system. The midfield, anchored by Declan Rice, exhibits impressive steel. The English midfielder excels in cleanup duties, while Odegaard plays with poise.

Considering that Thomas Partey and Jorginho are dealing with their own issues, starting Fabio Viera appears to be a sound choice. Arsenal will field two “ball suppliers” in Viera and Odegaard. Against a Chelsea side still struggling to find cohesion, Arsenal’s chances of securing a win are notably higher.

 

Even Coach Pochettino can only shake his head when he looks at the medical room. The injured list includes Carney Chukwuemeka, Fofana, Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell, and Christopher Nkunku. Disasi is the most likely to make a return. Chelsea desperately needs this center-back to counter the dangerous attacking threats posed by Arsenal, including Martinelli, Saka, and Jesus.

Prediction: Chelsea 0-3 Arsenal.

Expected Lineups:

Chelsea: Robert Sanchez, Colwill, Thiago Silva, Disasi, James, Gallagher, Caicedo, Sterling, Enzo, Mudrik, Jackson

Arsenal: David Raya, Ben White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko, Declan Rice, Fabio Viera, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus