Player-by-player analysis of the two London giants.
SEE ALSO: All the Premier League done deals so far.
With Arsenal and Chelsea surely set to be among the serious title contenders in the Premier League this season, CaughtOffside looks at how their best starting XIs are looking as the 2014/15 campaign approaches.
Chelsea have been busy as expected, continuing their policy of recruiting big-money signings and bringing in some truly world class performers to improve the key areas of their squad. Arsenal have been busy as well, however, as they finally look to compete with the big boys in the transfer market, and hopefully for them, on the pitch as well.
See below for a player-by-player analysis of which side is looking stronger in each part of the pitch.
Goalkeeper:
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny
Chelsea: Thibaut Courtois
Both sides have reasonably strong options in this area, particularly if Arsenal do finalise the signing of Colombian World Cup star David Ospina from Nice. Szczesny has also improved in recent times after starting out as somewhat rash and error-prone in his decision-making. Chelsea, meanwhile, truly have two world class options to choose from between the sticks, with Jose Mourinho set for a big decision over whether or not to drop the long-serving Petr Cech in favour of exciting Belgian youngster Courtois, who returns after a highly impressive three-year loan spell with Atletico Madrid. The youngster probably deserves his chance to shine after his outstanding performances in La Liga, and here’s our pick for the best goalkeeper here.
Vote: CourtoisRight-back:
Arsenal: Mathieu Debuchy
Chelsea: Branislav Ivanovic
Arsenal’s new signing Mathieu Debuchy looks a highly promising addition to this Gunners squad, coming in as a replacement for the departing Bacary Sagna. The former Newcastle United man has shown plenty of attacking quality from the back during his spell at St James’ Park and in France with his previous club Lille. Although Chelsea stalwart Ivanovic is a solid and reliable performer capable of providing the occasional important goal, Debuchy perhaps looks the more exiting player going forward, and his signing could really give Arsene Wenger’s side a new dimension in attack this season.
Vote: DebuchyLeft-back:
Arsenal: Kieran Gibbs
Chelsea: Filipe Luis
With a former great of both clubs, Ashley Cole, leaving Stamford Bridge and English football this summer on a free transfer to AS Roma, Chelsea have moved to sign the excellent Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian left-back looks a potentially world class addition in that area, having shown himself to be a rock-solid performer for Diego Simeone’s title-winning squad of last season. Arsenal have Kieran Gibbs as first choice on the left-hand side of their back four, and although he has been a consistent and reliable performer for the club, Luis looks a great signing with the potential to become one of the best defensive players in the Premier League.
Vote: LuisCentre-back:
Arsenal: Per Mertesacker
Chelsea: John Terry
Both among the best centre-backs in the Premier League, Per Mertesacker and John Terry are solid, old-fashioned, no-nonsense players who would get into most teams. Up against each other here, it is certainly a close call between the pair, with Terry perhaps just edging his German counterpart for his overall experience and proven ability to lead a side to trophies. Despite his age, he is still going strong, and for all his controversies, he remains, ability-wise, an all-time great in the Premier League.
Vote: TerryCentre-back:
Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny
Chelsea: Gary Cahill
The other halves of two fine defensive partnerships last season, it is another close call here to decide the better of these two central defenders. Gary Cahill certainly seemed to take his game to another level for Chelsea last season, and is one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League at the moment. Laurent Koscielny deserves plaudits as well for his intelligent play, but Cahill is perhaps the better all-round player, and slightly less prone to the occasional individual errors that get the Frenchman and his side into trouble.
Vote: Cahill
Midfield:
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta
Chelsea: Nemanja Matic
Although he has not been at Chelsea very long, Nemanja Matic has looked a superb signing for the Blues since re-joining the club from Benfica in January. The classy Serbian midfielder does a superb job in breaking up play in midfield, and has a great range of passing to get his team moving again in attack. Mikel Arteta was also great at this at his peak, but the ageing Spaniard is arguably a player that Arsenal could improve on now, and Arsene Wenger seems to agree with his pursuit of transfer targets such as Sami Khedira and William Carvalho. Matic certainly gets the nod for the defensive midfield role here.
Vote: MaticMidfield:
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey
Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas
An intriguing battle between Arsenal’s former captain and their current star Aaron Ramsey in midfield. Although Fabregas could potentially be an exciting signing for Chelsea if he regains his best form, he has been disappointing in recent times, which allowed for Barcelona to put him up for sale. Ramsey, meanwhile, was a true star of the Premier League last season and looks like potentially becoming a world class player for the Gunners. Injuries held him back last season, but he still shone brighter than any other player at the Emirates Stadium, and he will surely only continue to improve, while Fabregas is possibly past his best already.
Vote: RamseyAttacking midfield:
Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez
Chelsea: Andre Schurrle
One of the most exciting transfers of the summer, Alexis Sanchez has joined Arsenal from Barcelona for a deal worth around £35m. The Chilean forward, who can also play out wide, should give the Gunners real quality in attack next season. Although Chelsea have an equally promising player in Andre Schurrle on their right flank, it looks for the moment like Sanchez could be the stronger option in this position, though there are still other great players such as the injured Theo Walcott and Chelsea pair Willian and Mohamed Salah not even being taken into account here in a strong position for both clubs.
Vote: SanchezAttacking midfield:
Arsenal: Mesut Ozil
Chelsea: Oscar
In contention for the ‘number 10’ spot is Mesut Ozil for Arsenal and Oscar for Chelsea. Neither player perhaps hit their best form last season, but of course both are potentially world class on their day. Ozil still has to justify bis big transfer fee from last summer, but one feels that with a proper pre-season and a year to settle into life in England, as well as coming back full of confidence on the back of a World Cup win for Germany, that the former Real Madrid star is the more proven player and stronger contender here. Oscar has great potential as well, but still needs to improve a little to reach Ozil’s level.
Vote: OzilAttacking midfield:
Arsenal: Santi Cazorla
Chelsea: Eden Hazard
Although both players are sublime attackers and among the most entertaining players to watch on their day, it seems that Chelsea star Eden Hazard would be the clear winner here. Cazorla has his strengths, but is just short of that piece of magic that makes a player world class, and Hazard looks more and more like becoming a true great of the game with his superb solo performances. With great creativity and an eye for goal, the Belgian winger has everything you’d want from a player in that position, and gets the nod over his Spanish counterpart here.
Vote: HazardStriker:
Arsenal: Olivier Giroud
Chelsea: Diego Costa
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is by no means a bad player, but he is arguably one that could be improved on as Arsene Wenger’s side look to take their game to the next level. It remains to be seen if the Gunners will choose to bring in a new striker, but for the moment Chelsea have signed one of the best in Europe on recent form in Diego Costa. The Brazilian-born Spanish international looked absolutely unbeatable upfront for Atletico Madrid last season, showing all the strength and goalscoring quality of Didier Drogba at his peak, and he will now be seen as the long-term replacement for the Ivorian, who has also rejoined the Blues this summer.
Vote: Costa