The Pride of London
Fansided

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

By Travis Tyler

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)
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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Willian (C) takes on Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) and Arsenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Willian (C) takes on Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) and Arsenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 29, 2019. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Former Blues with a point to prove versus current down Blues

Arsenal has decided if they cannot beat them, they should recruit their oldest players of the sketchiest contribution. David Luiz and Willian both had their moments for the Blues, but it was completely understandable from a Chelsea perspective why they bit Arsenal’s hand off at the site of a transfer offer. Luiz and Willian join an older team on the back end of their prime at best and very much on the down slope at worst and the Brazilians only add to that.

Those are the old Blues, squaring off against the new Blues that pushed them out directly or indirectly. Most have managed to justify that decision but the German duo could really do with a good day more than most. Timo Werner does everything right but finish and Kai Havertz is on the long road to recovery from Covid. Both still need to justify their acquisitions more than they have so far.

Related Story. Chelsea report cards for every summer signing: Mixed, incomplete bag. light

So this will be a battle between Blues who left thinking they were making the right decision against Blues that still need to show they are the right decision. It is not quite a one sided battle but it at least leans more towards the correct side of London than the wrong.

And just for some added flavor, it is less about Chelsea versus their old stars as it is Frank Lampard against old stars that got wooed to a rival by two separate managers now, neither of whom will outlast Lampard. Lampard played with both players and as manager was completely okay with letting Unai Emery and Arteta take two recent starters. This 3D chess game is ongoing.

Home/Premier League