Chelsea and Arsenal lock horns once again at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, with both sides desperate for win for different reasons. Which players could guide their team to victory, or even hand the points to the opposition?
It’s the big one, the London derby. As big as London derbies are, this one might just be the biggest of recent history. It’s the start of a new era for both clubs, particularly Arsenal. This will be the first time many Chelsea fans watch their side professionally take on an Arsenal side which isn’t managed by Arsene Wenger.
The result can go either way, and it’s important we don’t dwell on external factors. Arsenal lost to Manchester City on opening day? Doesn’t matter. Chelsea stars are still recovering from the World Cup? Again, doesn’t matter. The only thing which matters on London derby day is which side wants it more, and that’s something we’ll soon be reminded of.
Without further ado, which players should we pay attention to in this match?
1. Kepa Arrizabalaga
Making his debut against Huddersfield Town on opening day, the young Spaniard picked up his first clean sheet. While Huddersfield isn’t the most prolific attacking team in the world, he will have picked up a lot of confidence from this.
His first real test is against Arsenal, though. With the strike partnership of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, he’s in for a real battle. If he can keep his cool and see out the potency of Arsenal’s attack, then he will soon turn into a real fan favourite at Chelsea.
He is a very versatile goalkeeper, and he has a lot of time to adapt as a player. Under the coaching of Maurizio Sarri, many are expecting big things from Arrizabalaga, myself included. There’s a reason why he’s the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, and he’ll look to show the world why that is on Saturday.