Chelsea will face Arsenal in the Beijing National Stadium to kick off their preseason tour. Expect new tactics and fresh faces to make an impact in the Far East.
Chelsea started their preseason action behind closed doors on July 15th. They thrashed London neighbours Fulham emphatically 8-2. It was indeed a good start to preseason for the boys in blue.
Next weekend sees Chelsea start their three match Asian tour by taking on Arsenal not so long after the FA Cup final loss. However, the atmosphere will be less tense this time due to it being a preseason friendly. Having said that, no match between Chelsea and Arsenal is ever a friendly, at least in a fan’s mind.
Chelsea fans will be desperate for a victory against one of their fiercest rivals. Especially on the back of that loss at Wembley Stadium to close out the last campaign. A win could boost the overall mood around the club particularly given the restlessness of the fans due to lack of major signings.
A squad of 25 have arrived in Beijing. Many of them including Andreas Christensen, Charly Musonda, Lewis Baker, Tomas Kalas, Jake Clarke-Salter, Kenedy, Loic Remy and Mario Pasalic will be vying to leave an impression on Antonio Conte.
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With players like Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Chalobah being sold while Kurt Zouma and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been sent on loan, there are openings for many of them in the first team.
Unlike other major teams, Chelsea will play in just three matches in their tour of Asia. As a result, more emphasis will be on the fitness and team tactics ahead of a busy season. Last year saw Conte trying different tactics and formations during preseason. With new players and new ideas, fans can expect the same from him this time around as well.
The absence of the injured Tiemoue Bakayoko and Eden Hazard will hamper the preparations. Fortunately, another new signing in Antonio Rudiger will be joining up with the team after the match against Arsenal. He was granted extra days to rest due to international team duties in the Confederations Cup. Alvaro Morata probably will join with the team once personal terms are agreed and medical is done.
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Results in the preseason matches do not count for much, though. The main objective of these matches is to get players back on full fitness. However, every fan prefers winning over any other result. Especially with games against high-profile sides, the Blues will be keen to make a statement.