Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has declared that Chelsea can officially be considered Premier League title challengers, but only if they secure a statement victory against leaders Arsenal this weekend.
The Title Contention Condition
Warnock insists that a win for Enzo Maresca's side in Sunday's London derby would catapult them into the championship conversation. The Blues currently trail the Gunners by six points in the league table but head into the clash at Stamford Bridge with significant momentum.
Chelsea's confidence is sky-high following a commanding 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona in midweek. This result extended their impressive unbeaten streak to six matches, with the team securing five wins during this period.
The Blues have already demonstrated their capability against top opposition this season, having previously defeated reigning champions Liverpool on their home turf.
Addressing the Consistency Question
Despite the optimism, Warnock acknowledges a significant hurdle Chelsea must overcome: their inconsistency. Speaking to football.london via WhichBookie, he highlighted the dual nature of the young squad.
"There's still maybe inconsistencies with Chelsea," Warnock stated. "A lot of things labelled at Chelsea is that they're a young team, they're going to be naïve, make mistakes but what they have got is quality."
He emphasised the challenge ahead, noting: "If they can beat Arsenal and play anywhere near like they did against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge then they're in for a tough game. But Arsenal look flawless in everything that they're doing."
Major Boost for Chelsea
In a significant development ahead of the crucial match, Chelsea received excellent news regarding key player Cole Palmer. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has been declared fit and available to start against Arsenal.
This comes as a relief after Palmer suffered a fractured toe last week, just as he was nearing full recovery from a groin injury sustained against Manchester United in September.
Manager Enzo Maresca expressed his delight at Palmer's return, telling reporters: "He is available to start. Everyone is happy, the team-mates are happy, we are all happy and the most important thing is Cole is happy because a footballer wants to play games and make the sessions every day."
Maresca was effusive in his praise, adding: "He is our best player, we are happy he is back. We need to give him time to be 100% fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future."
Chelsea's season so far has shown promise, with seven wins, two draws, and three losses from their opening 12 Premier League fixtures. However, Maresca recognises the formidable challenge posed by Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
The Italian manager highlighted Arsenal's defensive solidity and set-piece threat in his pre-match press conference, noting: "For sure, Arsenal defend fantastically. Any team against them struggles to score goals. Not only to score goals but to create chances."
He specifically pointed to their effectiveness from dead-ball situations: "They're not just [a threat from set-pieces] against one or two teams, they score goals from set-pieces against any team. Against Bayern Munich, they scored their first goal from a corner."
As Chelsea prepares for this pivotal encounter, all eyes will be on whether Maresca's men can overcome their inconsistency and deliver a performance that truly announces them as title contenders.
