Author name: guobe predictz

Chelsea can close Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table when they meet at Stamford Bridge – but Blues boss Enzo Maresca has key calls to make for derby showdown; Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm Chelsea host Arsenal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, as the Gunners’ nearest challengers in the early Premier League standings. This will be the Blues’ toughest examination yet – and there are intriguing questions for head coach Enzo Maresca to answer… How do you break down the Premier League’s best defence? Chelsea have scored 41 goals in 19 games this term – only Arsenal can better that total across all competitions among Premier League teams. Yet, how Maresca sets up his attack this weekend and who he selects to start feels like a crucial call, given the Gunners’ extraordinary defensive quality. Cole Palmer should be back available. But can he really be deployed from the start after only just returning from the groin injury – and subsequent broken toe – which has disrupted the start to his season? That could mean Joao Pedro is again No 10 but the frontline striker ahead of him has been an issue, with just one goal coming from Chelsea’s starting No 9 in the league this season – whether that is Liam Delap, Marc Guiu or Joao Pedro. Maresca used Pedro Neto as a false nine to good effect against Barcelona on Tuesday, although Delap’s first Champions League goal off the bench could give him the boost he needs before leading the line against Arsenal. The other attacking decision which will be on the minds of Chelsea supporters is whether Estevao starts.

Chelsea’s transfer policy under the new ownership has drawn a lot of criticism over the years. For understandable reasons as well. The club have spent north of a billion pounds on signing new players but they do not even seem to be a team that is locked-on to qualify for the Champions League, like Arsenal or Manchester City. If you spend that kind of money, you need to compete for the Premier League as well as the Champions League. Chelsea have not done that. It is not as easy to pull off as many might believe though. Just look at Liverpool this season Liverpool spent north of £400 million in the summer transfer window to sign players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and more. Most viewed this as the start of an era of dominance for the Reds. Instead, they are struggling right now and are another team that might miss out on a Champions League spot if they do not improve quickly. Even worse is that they are the Premier League holders. So, after spending so much, they have declined drastically. Coming back to Chelsea, there are some big-money signings that have worked out for them and could form the base of a successful team in the future. Moises Caicedo falls in that category for sure. Liverpool spent north of £400 million in the summer transfer window to sign players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and more. Most viewed this as the start of an era of dominance for the Reds. Instead, they are struggling right now and are another team that might miss out on a Champions League spot if they do not improve quickly. Even worse is that they are the Premier League holders. So, after spending so much, they have declined drastically. Coming back to Chelsea, there are some big-money signings that have worked out for them and could form the base of a successful team in the future. Moises Caicedo falls in that category for sure.

Former Chelsea captain John Terry hailed the performance of Alejandro Garnacho following Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves. Following a midweek Champions League setback, Enzo Maresca was desperate to get back to winning ways ahead of the international break. After a goalless first half, the Stamford Bridge faithful could have been forgiven for thinking they were in for another frustrating afternoon against a side they were heavily fancied to beat comfortably. Malo Gusto’s first goal for the club early in the second period broke the deadlock and from then on the result was never in question.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer is not expected to undergo surgery on the groin injury that has kept him unavailable for the last four matches and he should be out for ‘weeks and not months’. Palmer, 23, has been nursing the issue for some time and missed two games before the first international break after pulling out during the warm-up against West Ham.

Like Drogba, who made his professional breakthrough at Rennes’ Breton rivals Guingamp and went on to attain legend status at Stamford Bridge by scoring 164 goals in all competitions, Meite possesses an excellent nose for goal, is formidable in his physique and boasts great aerial ability. Chelsea, who will sign Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha next summer, see him as a centre-forward for the future, offering a similar type of target as Liam Delap, as well as a player who is still raw enough to be moulded into exactly the style Enzo Maresca wants.