Chelsea smashed Champions League opponents Qarabag 6-0 last night, sending a warning to Arsenal.
The Blues play host to the Gunners on Sunday, and as if the North-London side did have enough demons to contend with currently, they have now seen their weekend’s opponents in top form coming into the game.
London derbies rarely go according to form, but with the Premier League champions making five changes to their starting line-up in midweek, and still completely controlling their European opponents, there is huge cause for concern.
Antonio Conte hailed his side’s performance following the 6-0 demolition, and admits he will be concentrating on the weekend’s clash.
He said; “It was a good start, a perfect start for us.
“To play the first game (of the) Champions League, then to win with a good result, to score many goals, to finish the game with a clean sheet.
“I saw a lot of positive things tonight.
“Now we have to continue, we have to rest tomorrow and then to start to think about the next game, a strong game, a tough game against Arsenal (on Sunday).”
We have been warned, and even despite knowing what a tough task we have to come on Sunday, we can’t even prepare for it as of yet. We have the unfavourable timing of Thursday night’s Europa League group stage tie coming up this week, only three days before our trip to Stamford Bridge, and we cannot afford to get distracted from that.
FC Koln do not appear a huge threat on paper, but players can often be lifted by a big occasion and against a side who are expected to win, and we mustn’t get complacent.
Can Arsenal bring their own devastation to European opponents FC Koln as Chelsea did last night? Do we have to expect the worst from Sunday’s tie?
Pat J