Chelsea failed to increase their lead over Manchester United or decrease the gap to Leicester City over the weekend, but at least those teams lost so everything stayed the same. Here are four things to look for as the Blues try to embed themselves in the top four while denying Arsenal the top half of the table.
Chelsea have not lost to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge since 2011, and they only drew once in that span. Arsenal have won only one of their last seven Premier League games as they come to Stamford Bridge. Of course, the Blues’ more recent trend at home does not offer much comfort, so let’s dive into what we can look for.
1. Competing schools of pressing
Arsenal played more of the style Mikel Arteta wanted them to play against Manchester United, and played United off the park. Manchester United did not know how to handle it. Seeing as how Frank Lampard’s style is closer to Jurgen Klopp’s than to Pep Guardiola’s, Lampard and his boys should be in a better position to stifle Arsenal.
Much of this game will be decided by the team that shows more relentless pressing. Chelsea denied Liverpool and, to some extent, Manchester City space to play expansively. The Liverpool game in Istanbul was more impressive precisely because Chelsea “out-pressed” Liverpool.
If Chelsea can show that level of pressing to restrict Arsenal’s movement, they not only stand a chance to win the game, but to win very comfortably.
2. Arsenal’s developing approach under Mikel Arteta
Arteta is less than 10 games into being Arsenal’s head coach. It is safe to say that he is trying to change the way they play, and that means sticking to a playing style in many games.
Arsenal will not try to play a defensive game against Chelsea, because they cannot. They do not have enough defensive discipline to try to play defensively. Add to that the fact that Arteta may behave the way Pep does: Not changing how he plays for anyone.
This style of play could benefit Chelsea as there will be space to run in behind the Arsenal defense.
Arsenal will know that Chelsea has been shaky at the back, and they also know that Kepa Arrizabalaga is very generous with goals. This will give them confidence to try Arrizabalaga as much as they get the opportunity to.
Should Arsenal decide to play defensively, it should not give Chelsea problems because Arsenal cannot defend anyway. But playing defensively has more to do with discipline than defensive abilities. If Arsenal can show Sheffield United-type discipline, it could cause Chelsea problems as they find it difficult breaking teams down. Don’t expect Arsenal to sit back, though.
3. Defensive communication
Yes, again. Arsenal have a front four full of individual quality. Nicolas Pepe may not have set the world alight with his performances so far, but what he needs now is for Chelsea to underestimate him. He can do things with his left foot that generally cause problems for Chelsea. Remember Hakim Ziyech?
Gabriel Martinelli’s intelligent off-the-ball movement is what you’d normally see on someone several years older. His positioning will be crucial to Arsenal getting something out of this game.
This means Chelsea will have to communicate well to keep up with Arsenal’s offensive threat.
There are questions around Mesut Ozil’s performances, but Chelsea should know that Ozil doesn’t need to be brilliant for the whole game, just one moment. A moment of magic from Ozil could decide the game.
4. Marcos Alonso
Frank Lampard seems to have confirmed that Marcos Alonso is fit and will be in the match squad.
Alonso could be a wildcard going into the Arsenal game. He may not start, but he doesn’t have to. Alonso’s skill set offers Chelsea something different whenever he’s brought into the game. His ability to stretch play and whip in accurate crosses for whoever is willing to get on the end of it is something Chelsea has been lacking.
His sense of position means he can get into goal scoring positions and move the opposition around because they’d be unable to ignore him.
Emerson has been given cameos in the first team and he has been way below par. Inter Milan is said to be interested in Alonso, and justifiably so.
This is a game for Alonso to either show Antonio Conte that he is right to go after him or show Frank Lampard that he should be doing everything to keep him at Stamford Bridge.