Arsenal’s defensive armour will get its first major test of the season on Sunday when free-scoring Chelsea head across town being touted as potential Premier League title rivals.
Champions Arsenal have begun the campaign in exemplary fashion, winning both their games so far, not conceding a goal and in truth not even looking like doing so.
Goalkeeper David Raya has faced just one attempt on target in Arsenal’s victories over Coventry City and Aston Villa, with Mikel Arteta’s side giving every impression that they will be as difficult to prise open as last season.
As workmanlike as the 1-0 victory at Villa was, Arsenal
looked supremely comfortable with their defence quickly in the
routine of last season when it conceded 27 goals in 38 games.
The difference in approach between Arteta and Chelsea’s new
manager Xabi Alonso could not be more of a contrast.
Chelsea have scored seven goals in league wins against
Fulham and Brighton Hove Albion, conceding five.
While Arsenal seek to control possession and build from the
back with quick inter-changes in the final third, Chelsea’s
style under Alonso is more dynamic.
Against Brighton they had only 26% possession yet were
devastatingly effective on turnovers as they launched direct and
rapid attacks down the wings using the pace of Pedro Neto.
After the gloom of last season, Alonso has returned the joy
to a Chelsea side dripping with attacking flair in the
rejuvenated Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro and with record signing
Morgan Rogers already looking at home.
So much so that Chelsea have emerged as potential
challengers to Arsenal’s hopes of back-to-back titles, although
judgement perhaps should be delayed until Sunday evening.
They have not beaten Arsenal in the last 11 games in all
competitions, a run spanning five years, and the Gunners will be
favourites to maintain their hold over the west Londoners.
Only two other clubs have maintained perfect starts to the
campaign. That one of them is Manchester City is not a surprise,
but the other is newly promoted Hull City.
Manchester City, who capped a remarkable £458 million
($619.17 million) spending spree on deadline day by adding
midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a British
record-equalling £125 million and forward Iliman Ndiaye from
Everton to their revamped squad, host point-less Coventry City
on Saturday.
Hull, who could not have dreamed of a better start on their
return to the top flight, welcome an Aston Villa side still
without a point or a goal after a drastic squad reconstruction.
After two draws, Liverpool will be seeking to get their
first win on the board under new manager Andoni Iraola as they
begin the weekend’s action at Ipswich Town on Friday.
Manchester United head to Everton on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur, who like Villa have yet to earn a point
or score a goal, have had a busy summer in the transfer market
but so far that has meant no upturn in form after their last-day
survival from relegation in May.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side will try to get off the mark at
Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Source: Khaleej Times