Enzo Maresca’s team increasingly believe they can hurt Arsenal in an area that Mikel Arteta’s side have thrived for some time in Sunday’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge
Axel Disasi says Chelsea have been working extensively on attacking set-pieces ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
And while Mikel Arteta ’s Gunners have established a formidable reputation from dead-ball situations, the Blues’ thrashing of Noah in UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night points to their training ground drills translating into in-match success.
Arsenal, despite a difficult run of results that leaves them at risk of falling out of the Premier League title race, boast a side full of towering stars.
But Disasi, who headed in a corner kick in the midweek 8-0 rout against the Armenian minnows while fellow centre back Tosin Adarabioyo also converted from a dead ball delivery, said: “My goal (against Noah) is something we have worked a lot on in training with the set-piece coach.
“He told us we had to score tonight because since the beginning of the season we haven’t scored many set-piece goals. I’m sure he will be very happy with the two goals tonight.”
Chelsea are hopeful that star man Cole Palmer will be fit to return on Sunday afternoon having missed a couple of training sessions after being hurt by a late and high challenge by Manchester United ’s Lisandro Martinez last weekend.
And Arsenal are growing optimistic that midfielder Declan Rice can play through the pain too against his boyhood club having hurt a toe – an injury that meant he missed out on the Champions League loss away to Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Both sides begin the weekend eight points off leaders Liverpool and that could stretch to 11 if Arne Slot’s side defeat Aston Villa on Saturday night.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said of the challenge posed by Arsenal: “Mentally it will be very demanding because they are very good at set pieces.
“I watched their Champions League game against Inter Milan and from every corner I was ‘smelling’ a goal and we have to deal with that threat in the best way.”
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