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

2. Away day Blues

It was, perhaps, the beginning of the end for Frank Lampard. Chelsea was down three goals against an Arsenal side, which in the weeks and months before, had looked utterly dismal and completely lacking ideas. The Blues lost 3-1 that day, which was followed by a run of just one win in five. Changes arrive swiftly at Stamford Bridge, and less than a month later, there was a new man in the dugout.

Tuchel would himself be bested by Arteta and Arsenal later in the season, but the German wasn’t alone in that regard. Chelsea, surprisingly, has had some strange games against its London rival in the recent past, games in which it went in as the clear favorite and came out at the wrong end. In fact, the Blues have won just one of their previous five visits to the Emirates, lost both their league matches last season and even lost an FA Cup final against the Gunners in 2020.

As it happens, Chelsea will be considered the favorite again going into the weekend’s game against Arsenal. The Blues have polished their Champions League-winning side with the purchase of Lukaku; the Gunners, meanwhile, have struggled in the market and lost their opening match of the 2021/22 season against a newly-promoted Brentford. Furthermore, Arteta is expected to be without Alexandre Lacazette and numerous others. Martin Odegaard’s anticipated arrival is not expected to be completed in time for the match either.

A win against a fierce rival this early in the season will give Tuchel’s Chelsea the boost it needs to push for the title. These are early days, and talk of silverware is usually reserved until the latter stages of the season, but the Blues’ title credentials could well be determined in these next few weeks. They play Arsenal and Liverpool before the international break and face a new-look Aston Villa immediately after it. An away trip to Tottenham and a visit from Manchester City punctuates a nightmare two-month opening period for Chelsea.