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Chelsea: Three things to look for against the ghost of Arsenal

By Travis Tyler

Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner reacts after having his penalty saved during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / 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 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner reacts after having his penalty saved during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / 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 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Ngolo Kante and Kai Havertz of Chelsea battle for the ball with Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Ngolo Kante and Kai Havertz of Chelsea battle for the ball with Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

It is pretty outstanding that out of the three London clubs in the “big six”, Chelsea and Tottenham sacked their managers while Mikel Arteta remains. Chelsea is always ruthless in managerial sackings, but Frank Lampard is Lampard even if it was right in hindsight. Jose Mourinho may have burnt everything down around him, but they clearly had no other plan than using Super League monopoly money to pay off his contract. And then there is Arsenal, riding or dying with a player that isn’t really a club legend, has no pedigree, and has no real hope of changing things at the club.

Of course, all of this stuff was more or less true when Arsenal spanked Chelsea on Boxing Day, so the Blues have to be aware that even the ghost of Arsenal can be haunting against them. What should Chelsea look for as they seek their first three points of the six they need to guarantee top four?

1. Chelsea’s weakness is having something to lose

There is a trope in super hero stories, anime, etc. where the hero can’t fight the bad guy at full strength because they have something to protect. Having something to lose causes the hero to be distracted and, even if they are stronger than the villain, it levels the playing field or may even give them a disadvantage.

Arsenal having nothing to lose. For the first time in decades, they will not be in European competition. No, not even the brand new European Conference League created explicitly to give falling giants like Arsenal one more safety net. And former manager Unai Emery (because the universe has an ironic sense of humor) saw to it that the Europa League would be out of their reach.

Chelsea, meanwhile, do have something to lose. They are very much masters of their own destiny, needing six points from the remaining nine to guarantee top four. Results from other fixtures before all three match days are sure to shorten than number as well. And even then, the Blues still have the Champions League final as an outlet. All that being said, Chelsea won’t want to find their way into Champions League for a third season running because of the failures of those around them. They’ll want to build on the great form under Thomas Tuchel and do it proper.

So, the Blues will be the one with something to protect. That might make them more cautious in their approach whereas Arsenal can play free from the burden of expectation. It has been in those moments where Mikel Arteta has tended to get his side to show up, so that should be the main concern for Tuchel (if there are any at all that is).

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