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Arsenal vs Chelsea: Three things to look for with the Blues

By Akshat Mehrish

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Chelsea Manager Thomas Tuckel gestures during the Pre Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on August 01, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Chelsea Manager Thomas Tuckel gestures during the Pre Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on August 01, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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JAKARTA, INDONESIA – JULY 25: Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea celebrates scoring a goal during the match between Chelsea and Indonesia All-Stars at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 25, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – JULY 25: Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea celebrates scoring a goal during the match between Chelsea and Indonesia All-Stars at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 25, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images) /

The first away day of the 2021/22 Premier League season is here, and Chelsea is facing a visit to the Emirates. Arsenal proved an unlikely thorn in the Blues’ side last season, with the Gunners completing a memorable double in the league—the only team to do so. However, as it happens, Thomas Tuchel has been presented with the perfect opportunity to avenge May’s defeat and make a league-wide statement early in the campaign.

From Romelu Lukaku’s return to Trevoh Chalobah’s continued inclusion, here are a few things to look out for when Chelsea plays Arsenal on Sunday afternoon:

1. Luk who’s back!

Much of the build-up to the Crystal Palace game—and subsequently, Arsenal—has revolved around Romelu Lukaku and rightly so. His signing was a statement of intent by Chelsea, a declaration of war on the incumbent champion Manchester City, and one which cost the Blues a hefty £97.5 million. The price itself will raise expectations of Lukaku, as will the fact that he was seen as the final piece of the jigsaw. Chelsea lacked a natural goalscorer last season, and as goalscorers go, Lukaku is as natural as they come.

If there’s one thing Lukaku has guaranteed at each of his senior clubs, it’s goals. None, however, proved to be as decisive as the ones he scored in the blue and black of Inter Milan, which helped bring back the Italian crown to the San Siro after a decade-long absence. In 95 appearances across two seasons, the Belgian scored 64 goals and provided 17 assists. His strikes helped the Nerazzurri win the domestic title in 2020/21 and crowned him Serie A’s MVP of the Season. That’s who Chelsea has paid the big bucks to bring into the club.

While Lukaku awaits his homecoming—his Stamford Bridge bow isn’t expected to take place until mid-September—he will get his first minutes in his new team at the Emirates. Whether Tuchel plays him from the start, or decides to bring him on later as an impact sub, is anybody’s guess at the moment. Nevertheless, just the mere sight of the forward running at a fragile Arsenal defense will bring unbridled joy to the Chelsea faithful—and hopefully, a couple of goals too!

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