Top spot in the Premier League table could be Arsenal's for at least 48 hours this weekend, as the Gunners trek to Stamford Bridge to square off with London rivals Chelsea on Saturday evening.
Only an inferior goals scored tally is keeping Mikel Arteta's men behind Tottenham Hotspur, whose former head coach Mauricio Pochettino is belatedly finding his feet in the blue half of West London.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the second time in the space of as many months, Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling was overlooked for a place in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad - much to the bemusement of the Blues faithful as the Three Lions qualified for Euro 2024 without him.
However, Chelsea fans may have felt a small sense of gratitude towards the England manager, as Sterling's latest omission invoked a fire within the attacker's belly, and he inspired his side to an emphatic come-from-behind triumph against newly-promoted Burnley two weekends ago.
Despite breaking the deadlock through Wilson Odobert, the Clarets succumbed to an Ameen Al-Dakhil own goal, Cole Palmer's penalty, Sterling's effort across goal and a much-needed strike for Nicolas Jackson in a 4-1 romping, stretching the Blues' winning run across all tournaments to three matches.
With successes over Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham under their belts as well, Chelsea have prevailed in three consecutive fixtures for the first time since Graham Potter's final few weeks in March 2023, but their 11th-placed standing in the Premier League rankings is not a sight for sore eyes.
Nevertheless, the expensively-assembled hosts could now prolong their recent revival by winning three Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since October 2022, but they have lost both of their last top-flight home contests to Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest by a 1-0 scoreline, which coincidentally proved enough for Arsenal to lift their Manchester City curse.
© Reuters
Not since the days of Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud working in tandem had Arsenal got one over Pep Guardiola's team in the Premier League, and a few Gooners may have resigned themselves to another Citizens crushing when Bukayo Saka's record-breaking streak of Premier League appearances was broken.
A penny for Aaron Ramsdale's thoughts as David Raya cut an incredibly nervous figure in the early exchanges, but without midfield maestros Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, a tepid Man City crop soon ran out of ideas in attack and were condemned to a narrow defeat courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli's deflected late winner.
Responding to a deserved Champions League beating at the hands of Lens in exceptional fashion, Arsenal went into the international break as one of only two teams in the Premier League still unbeaten after eight fixtures, level on points (20) and goal difference (+10) with Tottenham, but the Lilywhites top the rankings by virtue of scoring two more goals.
However, with Ange Postecoglou's team not in action until Monday, Arsenal could finish the weekend atop the pile with all three points at Stamford Bridge, where they could potentially begin a Premier League campaign with four wins and four clean sheets away from home for the very first time.
The Gunners are the only team in the division to boast a perfect defensive record on their travels thus far, and Stamford Bridge has become a happy hunting ground for Arsenal - who have won each of their last three Premier League fixtures there - and a 3-1 Emirates success in May made it six wins from their last seven against their adversaries in blue.
Team News
© Reuters
Still being forced to work around an unholy amount of injuries, Chelsea are guaranteed to be without all of Armando Broja (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) for the visit of Arsenal, and Pochettino is also sweating over the fitness of several doubts.
There is hope that Nicolas Jackson (wrist) and captain Reece James - who has been pictured in training amid reports of a setback - will be in contention, but even if the latter is not deemed ready, Malo Gusto is back from a domestic ban to deputise on the right-hand side.
Marcus Bettinelli (knee), Axel Disasi (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (thigh) and Cole Palmer (thigh) are also on the touch-and-go list, while South American pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez must reacclimatise to English soil, but the duo's spots in a decimated team should not come under any threat.
While Arsenal's treatment room is not overflowing in a similar fashion, the Gunners saw three players pull out of international duty this month, with none of Saka (hamstring), Leandro Trossard (hamstring) and William Saliba (toe) donning their countries' colours.
© arsenal logo / image from Depositphotos
Saliba's chronic toe problem has not been too difficult for the Frenchman to manage, but Trossard was forced off at half time against Man City and is a fresh doubt, while there have been little updates on Saka's condition since he left the England camp mere hours after arriving.
A rare mid-season break would have done Saka the world of good, though, and Martinelli should also be deemed fit enough to come back into the XI at Trossard's expense, but ACL victim Jurrien Timber will watch on from the sidelines as ever.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
We say: Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal's admirable defensive record away from home is at risk of being broken against a reinvigorated Chelsea team, but the Blues' ongoing injury crisis could prevent them from picking up where they left off against Arteta's title-chasers.
Having struggled for results at Stamford Bridge for so long, Arsenal appear to have found a consistent formula for success on their hosts' territory, and a greater depth of talent in reserve may prove to be the difference in the second half as Arteta's side halt Chelsea's revival to go top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
