When last season came to an end, Arsenal were 8th in the Premier League with 13 losses. Interesting enough, none of those defeats came from the Champions League winners and London rivals, Chelsea. In fact, the Gunners were the only team in the league to win a double over the Blues and the last time they did was in 2003, when Ranieri and Wenger were managers. And while a 3-1 win in the first part of the season was achieved while Frank Lampard was at the helm, Mikel Arteta managed to defeat the current boss Thomas Tuchel in May, with a minimum win 1-0. It’s matchday – and this one is extra special! 🤩After 767,495 minutes, 12,791 hours, 533 days and 31 first-team games at Emirates Stadium… we’re back at full capacity 🙌Let’s make it a memorable return. Together, we’re stronger 🤝#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/oUaiWgMMYh— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 22, 2021 And while Chelsea eventually won the Champions League and kept the momentum going with an opening day win against Crystal Palace and a huge Romelu Lukaku transfer, the Gunners lost to newcomers Brentford and received worldwide critic for it. The team is already under pressure, and coach Arteta especially. In his pre-match speech, the Spaniard focused on three things: tried to make an excuse by avoiding comparision with Chelsea, criticized fans who don’t see what is he trying to do, and pleading to the fans to get right behind the team.“We can just see what they have done in the last 10 years. The amount of titles that they have won. We are in a different phase and at a different stage to them. What we want to do to the club is bring it back to where it was. The fans know what we are trying to do. They can see it. And if you can’t see it and don’t see it, it’s because you don’t want to and you want to see something different. But they really know what is coming, what we’re trying to do and they will be there for us. Because they know, as well, that our young players need them. Arsenal fans, when things are a little bit difficult, they are always behind the team. I can say that for sure as I felt it from when I was a player here” said Arteta.Lukaku aims to emulate his idol Drogba, starting with his Arsenal recordFor Chelsea’s old/new player Romelu Lukaku, winning is all that matters. The Belgian went back to his boyhood club, which he supported since he was 10 years old, and he want’s to succeed this time. He doesn’t need any more motivation before the Arsenal match.“I think this is the right time and the right place for me. Now, I just want to let my work do the talking on the pitch. I will try to achieve as much as possible throughout these years. I’ve never been a guy who talks about personal ambitions and things like that. I don’t talk about individual records and numbers because that’s not me. All I’m interested in talking about is winning. When you have supported a team since you were 10 years old and you get the opportunity to play for them, that was really it for me. There are people who like Real Madrid, people who like Barcelona, people who like Inter Milan. I like Chelsea. For me, that was it. That was the thing that I worked for. Now I am here, I am very happy” said Lukaku.ARSENAL – CHELSEA Last season, Chelsea’s only flaw was a proper striker, as German duo Werner-Harvertz misfired in critical times, and their misses were regulars on social media channels. But now, Lukaku’s arrival should be beneficial for them, according to Thomas Tuchel.“I truly believe that this can be a big upgrade for Werner. Having the attention on Romelu, who likes to be in the centre of the pitch and to fight physically with defenders, can create space for Timo. He can play a bit wider than he used to play for us last season. And to play around Romelu, who is like the reference as a No. 9 and in the attack, he hopefully gives Timo the freedom and the space to play around him and to feel that it’s easier to find more dangerous spaces and start scoring again” said the German tactician.As for team news, Christian Pulisic will miss out for Chelsea after testing positive for Covid-19. The USA forward is fully vaccinated and has not experienced any symptoms, but is in self-isolation. Midfielders Hakim Ziyech (shoulder) and N’Golo Kante (ankle) could return, and Lukaku debut is expected. As for the Gunners, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might be back for this one. Aubameyang missed the 2-0 loss at Brentford after returning a positive Covid-19 test, as did fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette, goalkeeper Alex Runarsson and winger Willian, who might also be back. Gabriel Magalhaes, Eddie Nketiah and Thomas Partey are all injured, while new signing Martin Odegaard is not available as he awaits a visa.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 2SaturdayLiverpool – Burnley 2-0 (1-0)/Jota 18, Mane 69/Aston Villa – Newcastle 2-0 (1-0) /Ings 45+3, El Ghazi 62 pen/Manchester City – Norwich City 5-0 (2-0)/Krul og 7, Grealish 22, Laporte 64, Sterling 71, Mahrez 84/Crystal Palace – Brentford 0-0Leeds – Everton 2-2 (1-1)/Klich 41, Raphinha 72 – Calvert-Lewin 27 pen, Gray 50/Sunday 16:00 (5.50) Southampton (3.80) Manchester United (1.65)16:00 (2.95) Wolverhampton (3.20) Tottenham (2.50)18:30 (4.50) Arsenal (3.45) Chelsea (1.85)Monday22:00 (2.65) West Ham (3.25) Leicester (2.70)
