Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca spoke to BBC Sport after Chelsea's draw against Arsenal: "I enjoyed it, absolutely. The performance was good. We know them quite well and we competed pretty well. The performance is very important for us in this moment and it was good. We can rest now and go again.

"The performance from Pedro [Neto] was very good, all of them, complete. We played in the way we wanted to, brave, and try and play from the back always."

On Moises Caicedo: "He has been a top professional ever since I arrived and he's playing fantastic."

On the late Arsenal chance: "The linesman had the flag up so it was offside. Defensively we were very good, apart from the goal we conceded, but the rest we were good."

On challenging/matching Arsenal: "It is the way we want to do the things. We try and play face to face against every team. We are Chelsea, so it is important to send this message. There are managers that have been clubs for five and nine years so we are behind them."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea will end a day in the top three places of the Premier League table for the first time since the final day of the 2021-22 season, when they finished in third position behind Manchester City and Liverpool.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance, external

What did you make of Arsenal's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Leicester (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra)

• Tottenham v Ipswich (listen on BBC Sport website and app)

• Chelsea v Arsenal - 16:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC).

Sutton's prediction: 2-1 if Cole Palmer is in the Chelsea team; 1-1 if he isn't (final prediction will be made when the line-ups are announced before kick-off)

I don't do this very often but my prediction here rests on whether one player is fit or not.

Arsenal have a doubt over Declan Rice, which is a worry for them, and Martin Odegaard will be rusty after returning from his lay-off with a brief appearance against Inter Milan in midweek, but it is Palmer who holds the key.

You are asking me to make a prediction and I don't know which gun I've got - a bazooka or a water pistol.

Palmer has missed training this week after getting injured against Manchester United last weekend and Chelsea need him if they are going to win this.

Even if Palmer is absent, I don't think Arsenal will win. What worries me about them is what they do in the opposition box. They played well against Inter but they came up short in front of goal, and they certainly aren't clicking in the final third.

Mylee's prediction: 3-2

This is going to be a close game with lots of goals... and Chelsea will win!

Tate's prediction: 0-2

Chelsea have been much better this season so it might be a tight game. We have been missing Odegaard, who makes a massive difference, but fingers crossed we can do it. London is red!

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Do Arsenal fold under pressure? Do Chelsea need a statement win?

Blues fan Charlie Patrick and Gunners supporter Tanvi Shah go head to head on the latest episode of The Football News Show before the sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday.

Watch the full episode of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

With just goal difference separating the sides in the Premier League, it is all to play for in the London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

While they go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

Each fan got to ask three questions to each other before the big game...

Ross Mooring
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Here is what our Chelsea fan writer Ross Mooring had to say in response to questions from our Arsenal contributor Oli Price-Bates.

Excluding Cole Palmer, who do you see as your biggest attacking threat in this game?

Naming a deeper-lying central midfielder as second behind Palmer might seem counter-intuitive, but at the moment Moises Caicedo is a constant threat with and without the ball, breaking up the play and releasing Chelsea’s attacking players with accurate passing. It is somewhat reminiscent of Claude Makelele in his pomp.

Unlike Makelele, Caicedo is also capable of playing in the strikers, such as he did for Nicolas Jackson in the win at West Ham - as well as connecting sweetly with shots from long range when the opportunity arises. Given Jackson is in good form himself, he will be hoping to capitalise.

Which Arsenal player are you most worried about facing?

If he is fit enough to start, I am always wary of Martin Odegaard's ability to dictate play. While he might directly come up against one of Chelsea's players of the season so far in Caicedo, this Arsenal team seems to enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge and Odegaard has often been at the heart of that.

If the Norway playmaker is only available off the bench, or does not play at all, then Bukayo Saka is of course a worry. I do not think much needs be said about Saka's qualities, especially with Chelsea struggling defensively.

What weaknesses can Arsenal exploit in this Chelsea team?

As mentioned, the Blues are failing to keep the opposition out with any regularity (no clean sheets in the league since September). While Robert Sanchez is a good shot-stopper, the Spaniard lacks conviction with the ball at his feet and is prone to errors of judgement.

The bigger problem, however, is when Chelsea lose the ball in the attacking third as Enzo Maresca's inverted full-back, typically on the left, gets caught out of position and simply has too much ground to cover to successfully close down the opposition's winger.

As this is Bukayo Saka on Sunday, colour me concerned.

Find more from Ross Mooring at Chelsea Fancast, external

Oli Price-Bates
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Here is what our Arsenal fan writer Oli Price-Bates had to say in response to questions from our Chelsea contributor Ross Mooring.

Which unheralded player in this Arsenal team could make a difference in the game?

I'm going to say Gabriel Jesus. He might not start, but Gabriel Martinelli has been blowing hot and cold and Raheem Sterling will be ineligible, meaning Jesus is going to feature at some point and is a solid candidate to start on the left.

Arsenal's attack has not consistently clicked and the chaos factor Jesus brings could be pivotal in sparking something special. Arsenal need him back on form and this would be the perfect game for him to find his top gear.

Kai Havertz confounded Chelsea supporters throughout his time at the club - how do Arsenal fans view him?

Havertz was a divisive signing initially, but his form in 2024 has unified most Arsenal fans in believing he has been a great addition. He always gives 100% and has grown under Mikel Arteta. His ability to play several positions is of particular use to the boss.

In Martin Odegaard's recent injury absence, Havertz has stepped up as the Gunners' key central figure. Hopefully, for this game, Odegaard will be back. This would allow Havertz to play further forward again, as he has played his best football when the Norwegian is behind him.

Do you expect Arsenal to continue their good recent record at Stamford Bridge?

It is going to be tough. Chelsea look a more unified outfit now. It will be a different style of game to past meetings between the sides. Chelsea have settled into a possession-heavy game, while in the absence of key players, Arsenal have adapted their style to surrender the ball a bit more and instead look to benefit from duels and high turnovers in a traditional 4-4-2 shape.

Arsenal also have the challenge of facing Inter Milan at away in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Chelsea fully rotated their team for the European fixture. This gives Chelsea the edge in freshness and that, coupled with their improved form, will make it difficult for Arsenal to get all three points.

Find more from Oli Price-Bates at The Fresh Arsenal Podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have conceded at least once in each of their past six Premier League home games, last having a longer such run between December 2015 and August 2016 (13).

With five of those games coming in 2024-25, it is their longest run without a home clean sheet from the start of a league campaign since 2011-12 (six).

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca is not chasing a statement win but hopes Chelsea can give fans "a good day" when they host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

The two sides are currently level on 18 points but Maresca's Blues are one place higher in fourth courtesy of a better goal difference.

"For sure we like to win but since we started I analyse the result, but first the performance," the Italian said. "We didn’t deserve to lose to Liverpool or even to Manchester City.

"The Premier League it is difficult to win against any team. We are there and I can’t see a big difference when we play this kind of game. We will win this sort of game no doubt.

"In this moment the feeling from us is that we can compete and we can win against any team. But if you don’t take it seriously and do the right things then you can also lose against any teams.

"Hopefully on Sunday we will give our fans a good day."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is hopeful Cole Palmer will be available to play against Arsenal on Sunday.

The 22-year-old picked up a knee injury against Manchester United last weekend but was seen walking unaided at Chelsea's Conference League game against Noah on Thursday.

"He's getting better," said Maresca. "[Just because] he can walk and have dinner it doesn't mean he is completely fit, but we still have two days to prepare the game.

"Hopefully we can have him for the session at least Saturday and then we'll take a decision."

It will be the first time Maresca has faced Mikel Arteta in his managerial career after they have both worked as Pep Guardiola's number two at Manchester City.

"I learned many things from Pep," Maresca said. "If I'm here today, it's probably because of the amount I was lucky to learn next to him.

"Mikel also has his own ideas. Probably we both have to be thankful because we worked beside the one that I consider the best manager in the world. We've both been quite lucky to work with Pep."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has revealed the Blues' set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva has told the players that they need to be more clinical from free-kicks and corners.

Disasi was on the scoresheet as Chelsea hammered Noah 8-0 in the Conference League on Thursday, his being one of two headers from Enzo Fernandez set-pieces, the other powered home by Tosin Adarabioyo heading home.

The Blues reportedly paid £850,000 to bring specialist Cueva in from Brentford in July but, until last weekend, had scored only one Premier League goal directly from a set-piece - Nicolas Jackson's header in a 6-2 win over Wolves in August.

"My goal [against Noah] is something we have worked a lot on in training with the set-piece coach," said Disasi.

"He told us we had to score because since the beginning of the season we haven't scored many set-piece goals. I'm sure he will be very happy with the two goals."

Chelsea's emphatic victory over Noah means they sit top of the Conference League table on nine points with a +13 goal difference.

"Before the competition began, the coach told us that every team will come here to play their game of the year," Disasi added.

"We are conscious of this and it's about playing our game and showing respect, but we also need to show our quality.

"We are pushing in the same way whether it's the Conference League or the Premier League."

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's huge squad has seen a situation where they can change their entire team - and still put out a high-quality starting line-up.

Enzo Maresca has changed his complete starting XI from the previous game for all of Chelsea's three Conference League games - and their two Carabao Cup matches.

Among the players brought in are £52m Christopher Nkunku, who scored twice against Noah to take his season tally to 10. He is Chelsea's top scorer despite only starting one Premier League game.

Joao Felix, who also scored two, is the competition's joint top scorer with four,- along with Nkunku and Jagiellonia's Afimico Pululu.

However, to get into the Premier League team they would have to get past players like Cole Palmer, England winger Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson, who has scored six goals himself.

Captain Enzo Fernandez, who started the season in the Premier League team but has been a substitute the past three games, started against Noah - and set up three goals.

He was replaced at the break with Maresca saying it was just a "technical decision".

Chelsea, who are fourth in the Premier League table, face London rivals Arsenal on Sunday. Could Fernandez be a rare name to keep his place?

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Chelsea's record Uefa Conference League win over Noah.

Here are some of your comments:

Fossie: No complaints whatsoever. Fantastic result and a good team display. OK, so it is a game we should win, and against a side with no European experience, but it was still a job that needed to be done, and it was, plus a clean sheet, hoorah! Can we do the same against Arsenal?

Matthew: Really good from us tonight. Great to see Tyrique George making his first start for us, he had a good game as well. It was also good to see Marc Guiu score . The whole team played really well. This competition is good to be in as it allows us to rest the starting team for the B team in the group stage matches. On to Sunday.

Donski: This young Chelsea side were well organised and skilful but surely this game was so one-sided it calls into question the validity of this tournament? The scoreline is great but once it reached 3-0 it was already game over and embarrassing because we all knew it could go to 10-0 plus. No contest sadly.

Mark: That is the best performance I have seen - great game.

Andy: Still look like we can concede on most attacks. Good to get a clean sheet. Should have scored more, some lazy finishes from players trying to get into the Premier League side.

Chelsea set a Conference League record as they crushed Armenian side FC Noah 8-0 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Why not relive those goals?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's huge squad has seen a situation where they can change their entire team - and still put out a high-quality XI.

Maresca has changed his entire starting 11 from the last game for all of Chelsea's three Conference League games - and their two Carabao Cup matches.

Among that XI are £52m Christopher Nkunku, who scored twice against Noah to take his season tally to 10. He is Chelsea's top scorer despite only starting one Premier League game.

Joao Felix, who also scored two, is the joint top scorer in the Conference League - along with Nkunku and Jagiellonia's Afimico Pululu.

But to get into the Premier League team they would have to get past players like Palmer, England winger Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson, who has scored six Premier League goals.

Captain Enzo Fernandez, who started the season in the Premier League team but has been a sub the last three games, started - and set up three goals.

He was replaced at the break with Maresca saying it was just a "technical decision".

Chelsea, who are fourth in the Premier League table, face title rivals Arsenal on Sunday - and could Fernandez set to be a rare name to keep his place?