3. Impact of the Weekend’s Arsenal Clash
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six home matches across all competitions, winning the last four. However, their away form has been far from convincing. Before their first-leg victory in Denmark, they were winless in seven matches in all competitions and had lost their last four.
After Thursday’s match, the Blues face a crucial London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League. In the same fixture last season, Chelsea suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat. Currently sitting in the top four, they risk dropping out with a loss, as several teams are in contention for a Champions League spot.
With such a big game looming, Enzo Maresca and his players will have to manage fatigue and potential injuries from the Conference League clash. It remains to be seen how much of an impact Thursday’s match will have on their preparations for Sunday’s showdown.