(Football news) The only thing keeping Mikel Arteta’s team above Tottenham Hotspur, whose former head coach Mauricio Pochettino is only now starting to establish himself in the blue half of West London, is a lower goals scored total.
Raheem Sterling, a winger for Chelsea, was left out of Gareth Southgate’s most recent England team for the second time in as many months, much to the dismay of the Blues supporters who saw the Three Lions qualify for Euro 2024 without him.
Though Sterling’s most recent exclusion lit a fire under the attacker’s belly, Chelsea supporters may have harbored a tiny amount of gratitude for the England manager when he led his team to a decisive comeback victory over Burnley, who had just been promoted, two weekends ago.
Wilson Odobert broke the deadlock, but the Clarets were thrashed 4-1 by the Blues, taking their winning streak in all competitions to three games. Ameen Al-Dakhil’s own goal, Cole Palmer’s penalty, Sterling’s shot across goal, and Nicolas Jackson’s much-needed goal sealed the victory.
Chelsea has also defeated Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham, and they have won three straight games for the first time since Graham Potter’s final few weeks in March 2023. Despite this, their Premier League ranking of 11th is not exactly pleasing to the eye.
Though they have lost both of their most recent home games in the top flight to Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest by a score of 1-0, which ironically proved enough for Arsenal to break the Manchester City curse, the lavishly assembled hosts could now extend their recent revival by winning three Premier League games in a row for the first time since October 2022.
Arsenal hadn’t defeated Pep Guardiola’s team in the Premier League since Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud’s days of teamwork, and some Gooners might have accepted another Citizens crushing when Bukayo Saka’s record-breaking run of Premier League appearances was broken.
A penny for Aaron Ramsdale’s thoughts as David Raya cut a very nervous figure in the opening exchanges. However, Man City, lacking the offensive creativity of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, soon ran out of ideas in attack and were doomed to a narrow defeat at the hands of Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected late winner.
Arsenal responded magnificently to a well-earned Champions League loss at the hands of Lens. Going into the international break, Arsenal was one of just two Premier League teams remaining unbeaten after eight games, level on points (20) and goal difference (+10) with Tottenham, although the Lilywhites were top of the standings due to their two-goal advantage.
Though Ange Postecoglou’s squad isn’t playing until Monday, Arsenal may conclude the weekend on top of the standings at Stamford Bridge with all three points, and they might theoretically start a Premier League season with four wins and four clean sheets away from home for the first time ever.
The Gunners are the only team in the division to have a perfect defensive record on away trips. Arsenal has won all three of their previous Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, and a 3-1 victory over the Emirates in May gave them six victories in their last seven meetings with their blue-and-white rivals.
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