The Stamford Bridge will witness yet another instalment of the usual London hostilities between two bitter rivals, as Chelsea and Arsenal trade tackles in the league.
After the one week international break, action returns to the English Premier League, and indeed the leagues across Europe with the battle for points entering the 9th week.
This is a game between two teams with contrasting fortunes. On the scale of recent form, it is easy to outrightly cede the rights of winning to Arsenal who narrowly missed out on winning the title last season.
The Gunners had led the league, staying on top for 10 months before a late collapse that opened the door for fellow challengers, Manchester City to coast home to the title -- their third in three consecutive seasons.
The Gunners, appearing to have learned that hard lesson have started the current season, determined to drop as little points as possible after winning 6 of their last 8 games, dropping just 4 points along the way.
Their morale-boosting win over Manchester City last weekend is expected to follow them to the Blues' lair on Saturday evening.
They will also be going to Stamford Bridge knowing that a win could help them open a 3-point gap over Tottenham Hotspur who currently share same number of points haul (20) with them on top of the table.
Added to this is the record of recent wins they have had over Chelsea. The Gunners beat their city neighbours twice in the league last season.
The Blues had fallen 1-0 to Arsenal in their first meeting in the league in November before being thoroughly beaten 3-1 in their second meeting at the Emirates Stadium on May 2, 2023.
These were periods of frequent managerial changes which saw the duo of Graham Potter and Frank Lampard tinkering the team at different times.
The Gunners had gone on finish second and qualify for the UEFA Champions League -- the first time in many years -- while Chelsea finished at a dismal 10th place.
But last season is last season. In football, things change quickly. Statistics may help in pontificating about a team's chances of winning or losing a match but no two circumstances are ever the same.
Chelsea, with a new manager in the highly experienced Mauricio Pochettino have been rebuilding the squad, deciding to put his faith in youth as the team gradually adapts.
They may still be languishing in the 11th position at the moment with only 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 loses in 8 games, but a win over Arsenal could mark the much desired turnaround in their fortunes as they seek to reclaim lost glory.
It could serve as the needed impetus to ignite a run that could see them overtake a few of their rivals currently sitting above them on the table.
The Blues have got huge games ahead against Brentford (October 28), Tottenham Hotspur (November 6), and Manchester City (November 12) and they will need all the inspiration they can get. But first, they must survive the bullets from the Gunners before hoping to ride on the confidence so derived to confront their equally formidable opponents in those crucial games ahead.
For the Gunners, not finding a way to break down teams with well organised defences and a recent weakness which sees them throwing games they should, ordinarily, have won, could prove their undoing with a team that parades a youthful team with fast attackers.
Besides, records show that the Gunners capitulated late against Fulham and Tottenham -- two London sides -- previously when they were comfortably in the lead, as those games went on to ended in draws.
Analysts say if that scenario plays out again on Saturday, then Chelsea could have the edge.
Interesting game to see.
ARSENAL'S NEXT 3 GAMES
? Arsenal vs Sheffield United (Oct. 28)
? Newcastle vs Arsenal (Nov. 4)
? Arsenal vs Burnley (Nov. 11)
CHELSEA'S NEXT 3 GAMES
? Chelsea vs Brentford (Oct 28)
? Tottenham vs Chelsea (Nov. 6)
? Chelsea vs Man City (Nov. 12)
WEEKEND'S PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES
? Liverpool vs Everton
? Bournemouth vs Wolves
? Brentford vs Burnley
? Man City vs Brighton
? Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
? Nottingham Forest vs Luton
? Chelsea vs Arsenal
? Sheffield United vs Man United
Sunday October 22,2023
? Aston Villa vs West Ham United
Monday, October 23, 2023
? Tottenham vs Fulham
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