This is the 20th encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal across all competitions plus friendlies since the 2016/17 season, and the 204th competitive meeting since this became the top-flight’s first London derby in 1907.

It is also the Blues’ first appearance at Arsenal in August since the opening day of 1984/85, when John Neal’s freshly-promoted Chelsea side drew 1-1 at Highbury thanks to a Kerry Dixon finish in front of a packed Clock End, at which travelling fans exploded with joy.

The European champions have already won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium this month, albeit a pre-season charitable event, and started the season last weekend with an encouraging 3-0 victory against London opposition. Arsenal, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at Brentford. This already feels like a significant match.

In a broader context, Chelsea currently sit in third place on the all-time Premier League table with 2,067 points, five fewer than Arsenal despite winning one more match.

Team news

Thomas Tuchel will be determined to keep the positivity coming in this second derby of the season, but Arsenal were one of the few teams to get the better of his side so far, back in May, and our most recent competitive win there was in December 2019.

Since Saturday’s bright 3-0 opening he has added Romelu Lukaku to the Blues’ frontline, and the returning striker has been raring to go since joining team-mates new and old on Tuesday.

The Belgian has developed remarkably since his departure from the Bridge in 2013. He is able to open up teams however high or deeply they defend, either with pace and power or touch and guile. His chance creation, assists and goals have been consistent for years and he is totally focused on the team’s success, weighing in defensively too. He has loved the club his whole life and can now fulfil those boyhood dreams for real.

Lukaku’s arrival also increases the attacking options for his head coach, who will feel confident switching to two up top if required, and to play a more counter-attacking style if he sees fit.

Overall the squad is now close to full fitness across the board. A 13-0 friendly outing against Weymouth produced valuable minutes for those who had a late start to pre-season.

In central midfield, the Bavarian could have at his disposal two-thirds of UEFA’s newly-announced shortlist for Men's Player of the Year 2020/21: Jorginho, and N’Golo Kante, who returned to action at Cobham on Thursday.

Gunners misfired

Ten years ago this summer Arsene Wenger signed Mikel Arteta from Everton alongside Per Mertesacker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Thierry Henry, rejoining on loan.

In his more recent spell as the Gunners’ coach, Arteta oversaw their fall from European grace in eighth place, but has moved to improve things by recruiting Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, and Martin Odegaard, and is reportedly interested in signing Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United.

Absent at Brentford were key attacking resources Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddie Nketiah, and Alexandre Lacazette, and the fly-on-the-wall documentary being filmed around the Gunners this season started with a sting as the Bees ran out 2-0 victors last Friday.

Folarin Balogun was the spearhead between Nicolas Pepe and Gabriele Martinelli at Brentford, with Emile Smith Rowe behind, and arguably their most effective player. Bukayo Saka was Arteta’s first change and will most likely start against the Blues.

Thomas Partey was another absentee, and the central midfield in Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 consisted of Lokonga partnering rehabilitated skipper Granit Xhaka in central midfield.

Critics focused on the tough debut Ivan Toney inflicted on White, but the Bees’ targeted pressing caused problems right across the visitors’ defence. Arsenal had difficulties handling the hosts’ well-rehearsed corners and long throw-ins, and it was a slight surprise only one led to a goal. Over the whole of last season, Arsenal conceded only five from such situations, the fewest in the league.

The nature of the 2-0 defeat has set a challenging tone after the north Londoners’ spirited end to last season, and they have lost their first home league fixture in five of the past 10 seasons. However, the Gunners managed a league double against the Blues last season and will be hurting from the post-Bees criticism.

How to follow Arsenal vs Chelsea

This match will be covered live by Sky Sports in the UK. You can check for coverage where you are here.

As usual Chelsea TV’s build-up and teamsheet analysis will be on the 5th Stand app, Facebook Live, and the official YouTube channel.

London calling

This is the first time since August 1989 the Blues have started a league campaign by playing two successive London clubs. Back then, substitute Kevin Wilson earned a 1-0 victory at Wimbledon and, three days later, Tony Dorigo helped secure a 1-1 draw at home to QPR.

Among all 45 of Chelsea’s London derbies since 2016/17 (the season after we last beat them home and away) Arsenal have accounted for half our draws (three of six) and four of our 12 defeats.

The Gunners were the only side to achieve the league double against the Blues last season. It was their first since 2003/04 when Claudio Ranieri and Arsene Wenger were in the opposing dugouts at Highbury.

The west Londoners have emerged victorious from our last four top-flight derbies on the road; the last time we completed five in a row was in January 2006.

Blues hit the mark

Last weekend’s 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace contained several moments for the time capsule of Chelsea memories. With his wonderfully opportunistic strike from distance, 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah became the 24th Blue to find the net on his Premier League debut. The only other defender to have done so previously was Ben Chilwell last season – also against the Eagles at the Bridge.

Marcos Alonso’s goal also notched up a landmark: it was Chelsea’s 50th direct free-kick of the Premier League era (only Manchester United with 64 have recorded more). Alonso (with 4) is responsible for the fourth-most such strikes for the Blues behind Gianfranco Zola (12), Frank Lampard (11), and Didier Drogba (7). Only David Beckham, with 18, has scored more than the Italian magician for any club.

Crowd effects

From the immaculate silence in remembrance of fans lost to Covid-19, through the loud applause as the players took the knee, to the roaring abandon that told Academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah he had netted on his Premier League bow, it was fantastic to experience the dynamics of a packed house back at the Bridge.

Now many of our supporters are savouring their first away trip in the Premier League for 18 months but, despite their opening day setback, Arsenal’s fans will be equally heavily invested in backing their team at the start.

So as football returns to more normal settings, has home crowd advantage returned? Last season home clubs claimed 38 per cent of league victories, the visitors two per cent more, entirely against the norm.

In 2019/20 the figures were a far more typical 45/31 per cent in favour of host clubs, and across last weekend 70 per cent of games had local winners and 30 per cent were away successes. We will have to wait to see whether the return of the throng continues to have an effect.

Farewell, Tammy

Tammy Abraham’s Chelsea journey has ended – at least for now. The striker who won so many honours in his time at the Academy departed for Roma as a Champions League-winner.

No one in royal blue scored more goals across all senior competitions over the past two seasons than the Lambeth-born 23-year-old. He is one of five former Juniors to have top-scored for the Blues in two or more successive seasons, and the company he keeps is impressive: Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Tambling, Peter Osgood, and Tommy Langley.

Premier League fixtures

SaturdayLiverpool v Burnley 12.30pm (BT Sport)Aston Villa v Newcastle 3pmCrystal Palace v Brentford 3pmLeeds v Everton 3pmMan City v Norwich 3pmBrighton v Watford 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

SundaySouthampton v Man Utd 2pm (Sky Sports)Wolves v Tottenham 2pmArsenal v Chelsea 4.30pm (Sky Sports)

MondayWest Ham v Leicester 8pm (Sky Sports)