Chelsea's upcoming meeting with Arsenal looks huge for Graham Potter's team after results last weekend saw the gap between the two teams grow to 10 points.
Potter suffered his first defeat as Blues boss, falling to a 4-1 defeat against former club Brighton, though the Blues rebounded in midweek with a Champions League victory against Dinamo Zagreb. Arsenal, meanwhile, remain top of the league after breezing past struggling Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.
Raheem Sterling was on target on Wednesday, but questions surround the England star as he prepares to take on Mikel Arteta's team. Here are the latest news lines from west London, including a prediction for Sunday's clash.
Wright baffled by Sterling use
Former Arsenal and England star Ian Wright has admitted to being confused by Chelsea's use of Raheem Sterling. The 27-year-old forward has seen his task change since joining the Blues from Manchester City in a £50m summer move, and has scored just five times for his new club.
"It’s one of the confusing things what Graham Potter is doing at the moment. I can’t get my head around it," the pundit said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show.
"There’s no way he [Sterling] can be happy playing that role, especially when you look at what he’s done at City, and the team he was playing in, everything was really concentrated on offence for him. It must be really strange and tough for him to go to a new club and have to play in a position like that. I hope they can sort that out soon for him."
Arsenal dominate combined XI
Arsenal have started the season strongly, sitting 10 points and five places ahead of Chelsea ahead of the upcoming meeting. Their form has impressed former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who has suggested Thiago Silva and Reece James would be the only Chelsea players in a combined XI of players from the London rivals.
How many Chelsea players would make your combined XI? Have your say in the comments section
"You can’t say [Kai] Havertz because for me [Gabriel] Jesus is way better," O'Hara told talkSPORT. Out of Mason Mount and Gabriel Martinelli, at the moment I’m taking Martinelli, Bukayo Saka over Raheem Sterling.
“Martin Odegaard, who gets in ahead of him? He’s fantastic. Cesar Azpilicueta has been a fantastic player over the years but I think Ben White is ahead of him right now.”
Evra's prediction for London derby
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra doesn't expect Chelsea to deliver an immediate turnaround in the league. Arsenal have won 10 of their 12 Premier League games this term, and the Frenchman expects them to make it 11 from 13.
"I don’t know what’s happened with Chelsea," Evra told Betfair.. "You see they have made some progress, they’ve got a great manager, but I still feel like they don’t quite know yet. With the players they have they should be doing better than they are doing right now.
"It’s a London derby and Arsenal are back winning with style and they are scoring lots of goals. Arsenal are much more prepared than Chelsea for this one and I can see them continuing their good run."
