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Can Chelsea prove they are the biggest threat to Arsenal's title challenge?
Life must seem pretty sweet for Arsenal fans right now. Six points clear at the top of the Premier League, this week has already seen them thrash their local rivals and inflict Bayern Munich with their first defeat of the season as they continue to march on in Europe, too.
So far, they've seen their pre-season rivals for the title fall away, with Manchester City still struggling for consistency and Liverpool imploding so much that there are genuine questions around the future of their manager, just months after winning the championship.
Those failings have seen a new threat emerge to the Gunners' first title win in two decades, with Chelsea quietly going about their business and now sitting in second place behind their London rivals in the league.
Now, the stage is perfectly set this weekend for the Blues to show if they are the real deal or not when they host Mikel Arteta's men on Sunday afternoon. But do the Chelsea really have it in them to be challengers?
DAZN News presents the case for and against...
Yes, Chelsea can challenge
That winning feeling
Those doubting Chelsea are in the running for trophies should remember, this is a team that has lifted silverware not once, but twice in 2025.
Some scoff at the Europa Conference League, while the FIFA Club World Cup had its critics, but both saw Chelsea victorious at the end of it and with two trophies in the bag.
True, those were both cup competitions, where on any given day knockouts can happen that see teams go all the way, and a league challenge is more about consistency over a sustained period.
However, it did show that the Blues can turn it on, and if they can harness that ability and carry on that winning feeling gained from their previous triumphs, it could be a successful formula.
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An unpredictable attack
The Blues have plenty of options at the top end of the pitch and it could be that variety that gets them through games when something needs to be changed.
If they want a focal point and someone to rough it up, they've got Liam Delap. The big forward, now fit again, is a throwback number nine, but with the technical ability to sniff out openings.
Alternatively, there's Joao Pedro, a hybrid of a 9 and 10, who can play either role and add different attributes to either position.
Then there's the plethora of wide attackers who can dovetail wings or play as a false 9 if needs be, with Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and who could be the jewel of all of them, Estveao, all available to Enzo Maresca.
And that's without mentioning a certain Cole Palmer, too.
The best DM in the Prem?
Chelsea also arguably have a player who's the best in his position in the Premier League right now in Moises Caicedo.
As a pure defensive midfielder role, it's hard to think of someone who is better than the Ecuadorian right now.
No Premier League player has made more interceptions this season than Caicedo and he ranks in the top five for tackles made.
In the same vein of having an N'Golo Kante, a Rodri or a Makelele, having a world-class DM in your side is essential to challenging for a league.
No, Chelsea won't challenge
Great goalies, win championships
Without wanting to throw shade on Chelsea's goalkeeping department, there isn't a name among them that ranks as one of the league's best.
Robert Sanchez is the current number one and may have starred in the summer, but he isn't in the same class as title-winning keepers such as Alisson, Cech and Seaman.
To challenge and win a Premier League title, you need to have an undisputed top-drawer keeper between the sticks. Sanchez may well be a steady hand, but we've already witnessed his inconsistency and an upgrade is required in that department.
The defence isn't settled
As well as the goalie, perhaps Chelsea's biggest weakness is the lack of a settled back four and, in particular, not having a preferred centre-back pairing.
With Reece James or Malo Gusto on one side and Marc Cucurella on the other, the Blues' full-backs are actually well-versed and some of the most credible in the league.
Yet in between them, it's a different story. With Levi Colwill out long-term, what remains is raw and inconsistent, with the manager clearly not knowing his first-choice pairing.
Compared to the tandem of Gabriel and William Saliba at Arsenal, it's a big area where Chelsea lack title-winning quality.
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The inexperience
Chelsea have assembled a squad that boasts a host of some of the best young talent in the league, but it's perhaps overloaded with 'stars of the future' and what it could do with is some names who are for the now.
You don't see the West Londoners spending money on established talent like Eberechi Eze, who's ready to go, or blending the young players they have with some experienced heads to get them over the line in games they need that little bit more.
Like having a Thiago Silva to draw on at the back or Donnarumma in goal, Chelsea don't have players with these profiles and experience.
There's no doubt that the talent they've recruited will be in that place in the future, but they need players for the now if they are to be part of a title race.
How to watch the Premier League in Canada
Soccer fans in Canada can watch every Premier League match during the 2025-26 season on DAZN.
With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League action as well as Serie A. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga and more.
For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.
