Arsenal head into Sunday's derby against Chelsea unbeaten by their London rivals for more than five years, with the club's last defeat to the Blues dating back to August 2021. That match, played under Mikel Arteta, featured a very different squad on both sides. Only one player from Arsenal's starting XI that day remains at the club following Gabriel Martinelli's departure this week: Bukayo Saka.
The transformation in Arsenal's fortunes against Chelsea mirrors the broader evolution of the squad, particularly in defense. Back in 2021, Arteta fielded Rob Holding and Pablo Mari at centre-back, with Cedric Soares and Kieran Tierney occupying the full-back positions—a backline that struggled to contain Chelsea's attack. Today's Arsenal side boasts a far more formidable defensive unit, one that has yet to concede in two Premier League matches this season. Opponents Coventry and Aston Villa combined for just a single shot on target against the Gunners' rearguard.
That defensive solidity will be tested by a Chelsea front line featuring Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro, widely regarded as one of the league's most dangerous attacking trios. Yet it is at the other end of the pitch where Arsenal may need to find their answers, with Saka positioned as the player capable of tipping the balance.
Saka remains the only current Arsenal player to have experienced defeat to Chelsea while wearing the club's colors, having started on the left wing in that 2021 encounter—a detail that resonates given ongoing conversations about Arsenal's attacking options on that flank. Despite a summer transfer window in which Arsenal pursued but ultimately missed out on a marquee forward signing, including a reported interest in Vinicius Junior, Saka has responded with strong early-season form.
The 25-year-old winger has scored in both of Arsenal's opening Premier League fixtures this campaign, netting the decisive goal in a win over Aston Villa after also finding the net against Coventry on the opening day. Notably, both goals came from Saka making late runs into the six-yard box to meet crosses or loose balls, suggesting a new dimension to his attacking game that could prove valuable moving forward.
Arteta has noticed a shift in Saka's mentality since preseason began.