Chelsea will welcome fellow London rival Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in a highly anticipated clash between two of the capital’s best teams. They are separated by just eight points in the league table with this midweek clash ultimately deciding whether or not the Gunners can catch their in-form neighbors. Both Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel are missing a handful of key players, so in every factor other than form—which goes to the Blues—this is set to be a relatively even playing field. After all, anything can happen in a London Derby.
Tuchel’s men are winners of their last three. These wins included a 6-0 drubbing of Southampton, a spirited performance against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu and a victory in the FA Cup semifinal over Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Arsenal has dropped four of its last five Premier League games after creeping into the top four just a few weeks to go. The Gunners have been impacted heavily by injuries to key players like Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette. Nevertheless, Arteta’s men always seem to whip into shape on the short trip down to the Bridge. Chelsea cannot underestimate the Gunners, regardless of recent form.
There are a lot of interesting talking points in this contest, so let’s get right to it.
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Here are three things to look for as Chelsea welcomes Arsenal to Stamford Bridge:
1. Chelsea’s kryptonite
Every football club has its noted bogey teams. Chelsea’s struggled against clubs like Bournemouth, Burnley and Watford over the last few years, but it’s not just the Premier League’s bottom dwellers that have stumped the Blues. The reigning Champions of Europe have struggled with a few of their big six opponents, notably Arsenal and Manchester City.
The latter is understandable considering the massive domestic success the Citizens have had in England over the last decade. However, the poor string of results against the Gunners over the last few years is rather puzzling in the grand scheme of things. This is especially true when considering Arsenal has largely been in the midst of a transitional period in recent seasons. The Gunners have been trying to reinvent their identity after Arsene Wenger’s departure. Yet, Chelsea has continued to have fits against its noisy neighbors.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about the Blues’ losses to Arsenal over the last few years is the reality that they always seem to come into the contest as heavy favorites. That’s why Wednesday’s match-up is so scary for the Chelsea faithful. Tuchel’s side is favored once again given its league position, form and overall talent. The FIFA Club World Cup Champions have enjoyed a lot more success over the last decade than the Gunners. Yet, the Blues have only emerged victorious in four of the last 15 meetings between the two sides in all competitions.
Arsenal is Chelsea’s kryptonite and there isn’t a good explanation as to why this is the case. This is surely one of the biggest talking points heading into the latest installment of the historic London Derby on Wednesday. Can the Blues overcome their traditional demons and finally do the league double over the Gunners?
2. Thomas Tuchel’s midfield
The day Tuchel decides on a consistent starting XI is the day pigs fly. The German manager has spent the season tweaking his line-up—be it personnel or shape—to best counter his opponents. The defense has undergone massive changes throughout the season, as has the front line. The midfield, on the other hand, has remained the same for all intents and purposes. Tuchel’s selected two of Jorginho, N’Golo Kante or Mateo Kovacic, depending on the opposition.
He could very well do this again on Wednesday with Jorginho and Kante taking their places in midfield. However, I think he’s got a trick or two up his sleeve. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean a surprise start for Ross Barkley or a new formation altogether. Kovacic is thought to have been the team’s best midfielder—if not overall player—during the current campaign. The Croatian is set to miss out on the derby due to an ankle injury he suffered at the weekend, so Tuchel now has a decision to make regarding his short-term successor.
Kante started on the bench in the FA Cup semifinal as the manager gave the Frenchman an opportunity to rest his legs. Furthermore, Jorginho was one of the poorest performers against the Eagles, according to many fans and pundits. The two veteran midfielders haven’t been as important to the team this season as they were in years past, so the decision isn’t as straightforward as many would imagine. Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s resurgence over the last three matches goes a step further in complicating this issue.
Could the Englishman play spoiler on Wednesday and see one of the top five Ballon d’Or finishers remain benched? It’s not a farfetched scenario. Loftus-Cheek has emerged as a versatile game changer for Chelsea in recent weeks. Tuchel tends to stick with players who are in form, as well. Loftus-Cheek brings an entirely different skillset to the Blues’ starting XI and he’s beginning to gain some momentum. He could be the difference between three points and none, expect his name to be one of the first on the teamsheet against Arsenal for that reason alone.
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!