Maurizio Sarri’s first competitive match at Stamford Bridge will see the intense rivalry of Chelsea versus Arsenal. What will the Gunners bring tactically?
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this Premier League season is that the first month will be completely unpredictable and that everything learned in August will likely not stay true after the first international break. The summer break for players across the league was short and many returned to new management. The first few weeks will be a battle of who is farther ahead in the learning curve and their fitness regimen.
When Chelsea faced Arsenal in preseason, they were ahead on both fronts. And though the Blues did quite well for the first half or so, they faded in the second half. Weeks later, new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri and new Arsenal manager Unai Emery are set to face off once again.
This will be Sarri’s first competitive match at Stamford Bridge and his first competitive London derby. As early as it is, it will be hard to predict or read too much into this match. But Emery is sure to show some of his usual tactical trends.
Emery is sure to set up in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation. He could throw a curveball and go to a more normal 4-3-3 with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, and Mesut Ozil up top but it could be too early for that. Injuries and fitness will largely dictate the remainder of the formation but the key part for Arsenal will be the pivot.
A 4-2-3-1 lives and dies by its pivot of two. They must be able to shield the defense while also aiding the attack (either through passing or runs). Emery is still unsure as to who his starting pivot will be. He experimented last time out with Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi which did not go particularly well but was a brave move nonetheless.
Defensively, Arsenal is about how they were last year. They will try to play out from the back and that is about the only defining feature of their defense. Arsenal was much more organized against Manchester City off the ball than they had been in years but all of this is still new to them. If Chelsea exert enough pressure on the right points (namely, when they are playing out from the back) then the Blues can find interesting opportunities.
Offensively, Arsenal looked much the same but with a slight twist. While they still rely on individual brilliance to open things up, they are doing so at a much faster pace. Their counters actually gave Manchester City problems and they are likely to take a similar route against Chelsea.
With counters as their outlet, expect Arsenal to have less of the ball than Chelsea. That will be a weird feeling for many as Arsenal have usually dominated possession for years against the Blues. It will not matter one way or the other unless the Blues can crack Arsenal open or Arsenal can finish off a counter.
The Blues will have plenty of weak spots to target along the way. The left side will be without a natural left back. Ozil will be easy to play against given his current form, especially if he is played wide. Petr Cech will fold under the slightest pressure from a striker and might just pass the ball into his own net for the Blues. And the pivot is sure to have one overly ambitious player who will be pulled from position or be an easy way to draw fouls.
This match is by no means decided but if Chelsea keep their cool and play with purpose, they can pick Arsenal apart. The Blues much watch how their overlapping fullbacks leave acres of space in behind because Arsenal will target that every counter. And Aubameyang is sure to keep an eye on ill timed offside trap triggers. The Blues are probably the favorites all things considered but only if they play smarter than Arsenal do.