Chelsea are set to host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in what is considered one of the biggest London derbies of the season.
The Blues come into the game on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 Champions League win against Barcelona in midweek – a game where Estevao made the headlines.
The Brazilian sensation scored a fantastic goal on either side of an own goal from Jules Kounde and a late effort from Liam Delap to help Chelsea collect maximum points.
However, the Blues must now switch their attention to another massive game on Sunday.
Chelsea were not expected to compete for the Premier League title this season, but a win against Arsenal will close the gap to just three points.
However, Chelsea will have to get the better of their capital rivals for the first time since August 2021 for that to happen.
Since that 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea have failed to win any of their subsequent seven Premier League meetings with Arsenal (D2, L5).
Their home form against the Gunners has also been nothing short of disappointing. You have to go all the way back to August 2018 for the last time Chelsea beat Arsenal at Stamford Bridge (D3, L3).
However, the Blues will be keen to prove they have what it takes to challenge for the title, and their chances of beating Arsenal have been boosted by the timely return of talisman Cole Palmer.
How Chelsea could line up
Manager Enzo Maresca has made it a habit of rotating his starting line-up to keep his players fresh throughout the season, but he will be wary of ripping apart the team that dominated Barca in midweek.
He could make just one change from that team, which means Robert Sanchez should keep his place in goal.
The Spaniard has kept a clean sheet in his last three Premier League outings. A back four of Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Malo Gusto should also remain unchanged.
Andrey Santos will be itching to partner Moises Caicedo in midfield after a string of impressive performances, but Reece James should get the nod.
Alejandro Garnacho was withdrawn on the hour mark in midweek, so he should be fresh enough to reprise his role alongside Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto.
While Cole Palmer is available to start, Maresca will likely prefer to break him in gently to avoid another relapse, so he could get his first game time since September in the second half.
Delap could replace Estevao. Maresca has been clear about managing the ‘special‘ player carefully to maximise his fitness.
Predicted Chelsea starting XI
(4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Delap.
