Chelsea: Three key clashes against a terrible Arsenal on Boxing Day

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: David Luiz of Arsenal battles for possession with Olivier Giroud of Chelsea during the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea embraces Carlo Ancelotti, Manager of Everton after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on March 08, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Chelsea has the honor/luxury/somber duty(?) of facing a very bad Arsenal on Boxing Day. What key clashes will determine the fixture?

The Blues got back to winning ways against a West Ham side that always gives them trouble. Now they need to continue that momentum against an Arsenal side that has also given them trouble in recent seasons but that is truly awful at the moment. What key clashes might determine this festive fixture?

1. Chelsea’s own bad habits versus expectations of the moment

Almost no matter the Blues’ own form, if they are playing a team in truly terrible form they will struggle and vice versa. Everton had struggled for months before beating Chelsea. Wolves too. West Ham, meanwhile, had been doing very well before Chelsea put down the hammer against them.

That lackadaisical nature might be dangerous against Arsenal. The Gunners are not quite where Chelsea was in 2015/2016 but they are getting closer rather than further from that record. Mikel Arteta remains because, well, who else would be crazy enough to take that job right now?

For a normal club, those would be reasons to expect a victory. But Chelsea has a bad habit of making Davids into Goliaths as soon as they roll in. That cannot be allowed against Arsenal, especially not on Boxing Day. The Blues have to get over their own bad habits and put the Gunners to the sword.

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