Chelsea vs Arsenal: Three things to look for in important top four clash

3. Can Chelsea clinch top four?

One of the expectations put on the team after the record signing of Romelu Lukaku was to challenge for the Premier League title. It’s been an aim of the club for years and even though Lampard famously stated that Chelsea was still a few years from that discussion, few have listened to the former manager. Tuchel has preached consistency and improvement through it all, though it’s clear he also understands that he has a mountain to climb in order to catch the leaders, Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Blues were actually on pace to finish above the two forces that have dominated England for the last five years, but they hit a bump in the road in the winter months. Injuries caught up with them and they slipped down to third in the table. Chelsea has undoubtedly been in a class above the other 17 clubs in the English top flight this season, even if it hasn’t been as consistent as the Reds and Citizens. Tuchel’s men have sat in the top three for the entirety of the campaign. While this would have been a failure to a few fans if you had asked preseason, it’s fairly impressive considering the circumstances.

An important indicator of progress over the course of an entire campaign is, of course, points. The Blues have tailed Liverpool and Manchester City for the last four months—and been counted out of the title race in the process—yet, the gap is closing. Chelsea sits just 11 and 12 points back of its title foes respectively, with a game in-hand on each of them. If the Blues beat Arsenal on Wednesday, those numbers theoretically drop to eight and nine. For context, Chelsea finished an unacceptable 19 points behind the Citizens last season.

How does any of this relate to the match against the Gunners though?

If the Blues are able to capture all three points, they will not only pull themselves within single-digits of the league leaders (don’t worry, I won’t tease any title race talk, that’s a two-horse race), they’ll also continue to widen the gap on the trailing top four. Chelsea has found itself involved in heated races for the Champions League places for the last few years. Although the pressure has been put on at some points during this season, there has never really been a fear that the Blues would drop out completely. This speaks to the tremendous job Tuchel’s done thus far.

If Chelsea manages to beat Arsenal, it’ll all but confirm its return to Europe’s premier competition just a week after being bounced by the Spanish giant, Real Madrid. The Blues will open up an eight and 11-point gap respectively on Tottenham and Manchester United, with a game in-hand on both. Further, they’ll make it even more challenging for the Gunners to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17. Suffice it to say, a win on Wednesday goes a long way.

What are some of the things you’ll be looking out for in the London Derby? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!