Chelsea were back on the training ground today (Tuesday) to begin preparations for the big showdown against league-leaders Arsenal at the Emirates this weekend. Can we do better against them (and the refs) than Spurs? Let’s hope so!
It’s now ten (10!) straight without a win against the Gunners in all competitions, which would make Sunday’s game a most amusing time to break that streak. Arsenal’s lead has shrunk to just five points at the top of the table, and they have played one game more than almost every other team, including their closest (and only) challengers remaining, Manchester City. Obviously, I don’t want any team other than Chelsea ever winning the league, but the narrative of Arsenal letting it slip (again) would be rather enjoyable schadenfreude.
Now I don’t imagine Dário Essugo will have any possible impact on any of that, but our mystery midfielder was spotted back in training on the pictures provided by the Chelsea official website. Essugo was close a few weeks ago before suffering a setback, so hopefully no such fate befalls him this time. His return (as well as Roméo Lavia’s, who successfully completed a rehab start on Friday) could we well timed however given Moisés Caicedo’s card accumulation habits and our busy schedule coming up.
Unfortunately, Estêvão cannot be seen in any of the pictures posted, so he may be out a bit longer with the hamstring concern that kept him out last weekend as well.