Chelsea produced a coming-of-age performance to beat Barcelona 3–0 in the week, but only a similar all-encompassing display will help them past Arsenal on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca lauded his side’s showing on Tuesday, and the Italian is aiming to better another Pep Guardiola disciple in Mikel Arteta for the first time this weekend. Arteta’s Gunners lead the Premier League by six points and asserted themselves as Europe’s strongest unit by beating Bayern Munich 3–1 on Wednesday.
The Blues haven’t merely survived in Cole Palmer’s absence as of late, but thrived. Still, his return to training presents Maresca with a selection dilemma heading into Sunday’s game, with Palmer available to feature for the first time since September.
It’d be some game to throw him back into, and the Italian may not take the risk with a frantic December schedule on the horizon.
Here’s how Chelsea could line up for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash.
