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      Chelsea are still on a different level to Arsenal… Gunners have achieved NOTHING yet, says Blues legend Joe Cole

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      ARSENAL may be getting grand ideas of what they can do under Mikel Arteta this season, but Chelsea great Joe Cole has told the Gunners they’re still in the Blues’ shadow ahead of tomorrow’s derby.Cole offered a reminder of what Chelsea have managed to do while Arsenal were floundering over the past decade or so.
      Arsenal are flying high at the top of the Premier League tableCredit: GETTY
      But they face one of their toughest tests yet against ChelseaCredit: Getty
      And Chelsea legend Joe Cole says the Gunners have a long way to go to usurp their London rivalsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Since Arsenal last won the title in 2004, the west Londoners have won 19 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
      The Blues are rebuilding under new owner Todd Boehly and manager Graham Potter, while Arsenal are riding high at the top of the Premier League.
      But despite Arteta’s recent success, Cole is confident the Blues will be back on top in no time.
      He told SunSport: “We have to be very mindful of what’s happening at Arsenal because nothing has paid off as of yet.

      “Arsenal have set high standards for themselves.
      “I do like what they’re doing. I enjoy watching Arsenal play, which I haven’t said for a long time. I like Mikel Arteta and what he does, how he sets up the team and I like the young players.
      “Nothing significant has been achieved at Arsenal as of yet with their high standards, but they’re on the right path.
      “Chelsea have battled at a different level over the last 20 years. We have to say that.
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      “Chelsea are the most successful team in the country over the last 20 years.
      “I still feel Chelsea can more than compete and go above Arsenal very soon.”
      Chelsea may be looking at getting one over Arsenal this weekend, but the long-term target for Boehly and the rest of the ownership group is to overhaul the Manchester City juggernaut.
      The American’s plan for doing so is to move away from Roman Abramovich’s hire and fire model and plan for the long term.
      Boehly quickly moved to sack Thomas Tuchel when it became clear they did not share the same ideas about reaching the top – and promised Potter he would get the time he needed when leaving Brighton for Stamford Bridge.
      Abramovich’s model may have delivered unprecedented success, but Boehly wants to carefully plot his way to the top and has also overhauled the club behind the scenes with the same idea in mind.
      And while Cole played for and worked at Chelsea as a coach during Abramovich’s era, he is encouraged by the change in approach.
      The ex-England international said: “I like it, I think it’s very smart from the new owners.
      “Because what’s happened is, I have to take my hat off to Man City, I believe they’ll win the league this year.
      “I think that’s five league titles out of six, that’s getting into an era of domination we never thought we’d see in the Premier League because of the levels of competition. But they’ve made so many smart decisions.
      “Chelsea have stepped back and looked at the situation, thinking it is going to need to be a long-term project, taking the right steps along the way to match Man City off the pitch and on it.
      Joe Cole is encouraged by Todd Boehly’s approach at Stamford BridgeCredit: Alamy
      “Everything has to be done with such precision, Man City are a well-oiled machine at the moment. You have got to respect that.
      “Chelsea are in a position of respecting what they have done, but the competitive nature is that we want to be back on top of the tree in English football.
      “It has to be a long-term project, there have to be foundations and I think it is a smart move.”
      Planning for the long term is all well and good but Chelsea fans will still want results in games like a London derby against the Gunners, and losing both Reece James and Ben Chilwell is a huge blow to Potter.
      James suffered a knee injury in Milan last month while, in a dead rubber against Dinamo Zagreb this week Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury that has ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup.
      But Cole has defended Potter’s decision to play Chilwell against the Croatian side.
      Cole said: “I’ve seen that argument, and I don’t like it.
      “When you play at the level Chelsea play at it is very easy to criticise the manager picking a player at any time.
      “There is so much in-depth behind the scenes, we don’t know what the situation was.
      “He could have benefited from the game.” Regardless of that decision, it is a huge loss to Chelsea and England.
      He added: “The best football Chelsea have played over the last 18 months is Chilwell and James are at wing-back, flying and giving real penetration.
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      “Chilwell against [Luke] Shaw would have been great competition for the left back spot [for England].
      “It’s unfortunate. You want to see the best players at the World Cup, I feel for Ben and for Gareth [Southgate].” More

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      Three ways Graham Potter’s Chelsea can stifle Arsenal’s early title charge and close gap on league leaders

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      THIS Sunday, two titans of English football take to the field as Premier League leaders Arsenal make the short trip to Stamford Bridge to face off against bitter rivals Chelsea.Not notoriously a rivalry but the fixture gathered steam in the mid-noughties with the rise of Jose Mourinho’s Blues who went neck and neck with Arsène Wenger’s Gunners alongside a rather dormant Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
      Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to top of the table
      Graham Potter wants to put last weekend’s humiliation at Brighton behind him
      Numerous incidents added further fuel to the fire over the next few years including Ashley Cole’s switch to the Bridge, the infamous 2007 fiery League Cup final, Mourinho and Wenger’s touchline tussles and some classic league clashes.
      Normally, over the last decade, when the two English giants go to war, Arsenal hope to put a dent in Chelsea’s title charge while the Gunners aim for top-four simplicity each year.
      However, this time round, things are wholly different.
      Arsenal are the team to beat this season as Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to head into the mid-season World Cup break at the summit of the table.
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      Meanwhile, Chelsea suffered their first defeat under Graham Potter last Saturday when the coach’s former side Brighton mauled the lacklustre Blues 4-1 at the Amex.
      The West London club look a shadow of the team that won the Champions League just 18 months ago.
      Chelsea risk falling further behind the rest of the pack with a loss today, while Arsenal need to pick up another three points to fend off a hungry Manchester City who are breathing down their neck.
      We look at three areas where the game can be won and lost from a tactical perspective.
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      The Aubameyang debacle
      This weekend, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could face his former club in Arsenal.
      Having spent five seasons with the Gunners and appearing in 163 matches, the prolific Gabonese centre-forward scored a total of 92 goals across all official competitions.
      Right now, it seems that there is a fifty percent chance the experienced number ‘9’ starts at the Bridge against the side he once captained.

      Potter seems to have the same problem that Erik ten Hag is challenged with at Old Trafford.
      The two progressive coaches have wonderful goalscoring threats among their ranks that are in direct confrontation with the way the managers want their teams to play, especially defensively.
      Against Manchester United two weeks ago in what became a chess match between the esteemed tacticians, Potter went with Aubameyang leading the line in a 3-4-3.
      However, having Aubameyang in the starting eleven hinders the Blues’ ability to press their opponents high up the pitch in the same way that Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence in United’s forward line makes cohesive pressing extraordinarily difficult.
      Due to the presence of Aubameyang in the front three, Potter instructed his Chelsea players to drop off and consolidate in a compact block in the middle third.
      The Chelsea boss traded potency in the box for pressing which was a questionable decision given that the Red Devils are still not overly comfortable building out from the back just yet and are prone to dangerous errors.
      Overall, during the game, Chelsea ended with a Passes allowed Per Defensive Action rate of 10.54, which is a metric that measures how many passes a defending team allow the opposing side to make before intervening.
      Nonetheless, in the next league game, this lowered to 7.94 in the defeat at Brighton, meaning that Chelsea let the Seagulls have less of the ball than United were allowed during each attack.
      What changed? It’s very simple. Potter dropped Aubameyang to the bench in place of Kai Havertz, who was narrowly flanked by Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1.
      Graham Potter has yet to work out the best way to utilise Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
      Chelsea were far more coordinated in the final third when applying pressure and caused Brighton some trouble when Roberto De Zerbi’s side passed out from the back on the deck.
      One of the biggest decisions that Potter will be forced to make today, once again, is potency versus pressing.
      The 47-year-old must weigh up which will be more beneficial to the Blues against an Arsenal team that are adamant at playing out under Arteta.
      Will Aubameyang start, causing Chelsea to drop deeper down the pitch as a unit, or will the Gabon international take a backseat on the bench yet again as the Blues look to get in the face of the league leaders and suffocate them in their own box?
      Dealing with Jesus
      Gabriel Jesus is not a natural goalscorer.
      During his time with Manchester City, the Brazilian performed well in a number ‘9’ role in his overall play but would need a plethora of chances between each goal.
      At Arsenal, the same pattern has emerged.

      Jesus’ lack of output in the box has been overshadowed by his ability to link everything together as the apex of the system.
      Mikel Arteta prefers his strikers to play with their backs to goal as opposed to being forward-facing.
      This is one of the tactical reasons behind why Alexandre Lacazette was favoured by the club legend over Aubameyang, particularly last season.
      Having the centre-forward playing with his back to the goal allows teammates to play passes between the lines into the frontman’s feet. From there, he can hold off the opposition’s defenders and link up with others around him.
      Jesus receives the ball to feet from Thomas Partey. Having held off the Forest centre-back, the former City star lays it off to Odegaard who smashes the ball in off the bar to make it 5-0.
      Jesus may not be the largest number ‘9’ in terms of physical stature but his hold-up play is one of the best in England’s top-flight.
      Against Nottingham Forest last Sunday, as the visitors were already dizzy from a second half flurry of goals, the Brazil international played a hand in dealing the final blow by getting the assist for Martin Odegaard’s superb strike after some impressive link-up with the skipper.
      Chelsea need to deal with the threat that Jesus poses in and around the box.
      His role for Arteta greatly exceeds merely putting the ball in the back of the net.
      Jesus is the centre-piece on the Christmas Tree that complements the beautiful baubles and glistening tinsel. If you take the centre-piece off the top, the tree loses its attraction.
      How can Chelsea stop the free-scoring Gunners?
      Prior to last weekend’s humiliating defeat on the south coast, Chelsea had conceded merely four goals under Graham Potter, including just twice in the league.
      Arsenal often switch to a front five in attack, giving them a 4-1-5 formation at times
      The Blues have been sturdy defensively, with the exception of the Brighton drubbing, which is something that will be needed today against the second-highest goalscorers in the division right now.
      One area of Chelsea’s tactical setup that will be interesting to observe from the get-go is whether Potter will send his players out in a back four or a five.
      The relatively new head coach has primarily preferred to deploy a 3-4-3 since taking over from Thomas Tuchel, which becomes a 5-4-1 when Chelsea are sitting deeper on the pitch.
      This has caused major issues for the London giants in their last two matches.
      Against Manchester United, having been dominated for the opening half-hour, Potter replaced Marc Cucurella with Mateo Kovacic, switching the shape from a 3-4-3 to a 4-4-2 diamond as the Blues were being overrun in the middle of the park.
      Then, after being 3-0 down at half-time against Brighton, Potter changed from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-1-4-1, then to a 4-4-2 diamond, and later to a 4-3-3 in what was a hopeless afternoon for Chelsea.
      However, utilising a back five could actually be beneficial for the hosts during their clash against Arsenal.
      Going with a back five for Chelsea may allow the home side to go man-for-man against Arsenal’s forward line in a five versus five situation.
      Chelsea could opt for a back five against Arsenal
      When playing from the deeper areas of the pitch through to the final third, Arsenal play down the flanks, creating overloads and using runs in behind to try and break through their opponent’s defensive structure.
      A five-man defensive line would allow each defender to try and win their own battle while also still having coverage over the opposite side in case Arsenal attempt to switch the play.
      Moving the ball from one side to another is a key pattern used by the Gunners to get their wingers isolated against the defensive team’s fullbacks/wingbacks.
      Arsenal over-loaded the left side, before switching to the righ. Bukayo Saka attacked the full back before crossing to Gabriel Martinelli who headed home.
      Using three centre-backs would also allow one of the central defenders to step out of the defensive line and get touch-tight to Jesus when the nimble Brazilian drops deep to receive while also ensuring that there is enough cover left at the back with the remaining four.
      So what does this all mean?
      The onus is on Chelsea to get three points in this bout, being the home side.
      A draw, in hindsight, could be an excellent result for the visitors come the end of the campaign.
      However, having scraped a draw against Manchester United and then being on the receiving end of the hiding by his former club, Potter will be under pressure to get all the points in the bag at the Bridge after what was a relatively comfortable first few fixtures in the dugout.
      Read More on The Sun
      There is a lot at stake in this match even though it’s still early days.
      Both Potter and Arteta will be desperate to get their tactics right to continue pushing for their respective objectives.
      The Total Football Analysis World Cup Preview Magazine has everything you need to know tactically about every side in Qatar More

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      Barcelona and Juventus enter transfer race for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha to rival Chelsea and Arsenal

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      BARCELONA and Juventus have reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.The Ivory Coast ace, 29, is out of contract next summer.
      Barcelona and Juventus are keen on signing Wilfried ZahaCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea and Arsenal are both interested in a free transfer swoop.
      But foreign clubs have the advantage over Palace’s domestic rivals.
      That’s because they can open contract talks with Zaha as early as January.
      And the Standard claims Barcelona and Juventus are now considering swoops in the new year.
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      The cash-strapped duo are on the hunt for football’s hottest free agents.
      And experienced forward Zaha ticks all the right boxes after netting five goals in 11 games this term.
      He is keen to prove himself at a top club after flopping with Manchester United.
      And Palace’s hopes of tying Zaha down to a new deal are quickly fading.
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      The Eagles are prepared to make their star man the club’s best-paid player in history.
      Zaha already earns £130,000-a-week at Selhurst Park.
      But that figure would rise significantly should he commit to Patrick Vieira’s side.
      The Palace boss is certainly determined to keep hold of Zaha.
      Vieira said: “Wilfried knows what the club think about him, and we know what he thinks about the club.
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      “There will be discussions taking place, but for myself and for the club what’s important is for him to play at this level and be consistent.
      “We will see what will happen. If he has a good day, the team will have a good day. He’s an important player on and off the field.” More

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      Chelsea transfer blow as ‘Presnel Kimpembe opens talks with PSG over new contract with just 18 months to run on deal’

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      CHELSEA have been dealt a transfer blow with Presnel Kimpembe reportedly in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a new contract.The French defender, 27, is heading into the final 18 months of his current deal at the Parc des Princes.
      Presnel Kimpembe is in talks over a new contract at PSGCredit: Getty
      In the summer, he was linked with a transfer away from the Ligue 1 champions.
      He angered his club with comments in the summer hinting at a possible exit.
      Chelsea appeared at the front of the queue and hoped to secure a £38million deal ahead of Juventus – although PSG wanted £60m.
      Kimpembe then decided to stay put at the club he joined way back in 2005 aged ten.
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      And now L’Equipe report he plays to extend his spell with his boyhood club beyond 2024.
      Kimpembe, who missed six weeks this season due to a hamstring problem, has formed a strong relationship with new PSG boss Christophe Galtier.
      Galtier sees the centre-back as a key player in his defence – with Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos the other options.
      Contract talks resumed following his return from injury.
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      However, they are said to be less advanced than the negotiations for PSG team-mates Marquinhos and Marco Verratti and may not be signed until after the World Cup, where Kimpembe is hoping to represent defending champs France in Qatar.
      Chelsea lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in the summer but did sign Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana – while fellow new signing Marc Cucurella can play at left centre-back, too.
      Graham Potter also has Trevoh Chalobah, Cesar Azpilicueta and 38-year-old Thiago Silva at his disposal.
      The Blues also missed out on Jules Kounde before landing Fofana in a £75m deal and have been linked with Inter Milan ace Milan Skriniar, who becomes a free agent next summer. More

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      Arsenal fans turn on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after striker sends them taunting message ahead of Chelsea clash

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      ARSENAL fans have been left fuming by former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of the Gunners’ meeting with Chelsea.The table-topping Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday hoping to maintain their two-point gap over Manchester City.

      Aubameyang sent former side Arsenal a messageCredit: BT Sport
      He told fans ‘nothing personal’, as the striker will be sporting Blue on SundayCredit: BT Sport
      Aubameyang’s Arsenal career ended on a bitter noteCredit: BT Sport
      However, ex-striker Aubameyang, 33, who moved to Chelsea in the summer, will be hoping to halt Arsenal’s progress.
      Aubameyang’s time at the Emirates ended on a sour note, with the player being stripped of the captaincy by manager Mikel Arteta before being let go in January this year to join Barcelona.
      In a viral video, Aubameyang said on Arteta: “Big characters and big players…he [Arteta] can’t deal with it.
      “He needs some young players who don’t say anything. They listen.”
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      Six months in Catalonia saw Aubameyang hit 13 goals across all competitions but he was deemed surplus to requirements in the summer following Robert Lewandowski’s arrival.
      And so the Gabon forward returned to London to sign for Chelsea, who were managed by his former Borussia Dortmund manager, Thomas Tuchel, at the time.
      Aubameyang has three goals since his return to England and has wasted no time in taunting his side with a message ahead of Arsenal’s travels to Stamford Bridge.
      He said: “Arsenal, nothing personal. I’m back. I’m blue. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
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      One furious fan responded: “We have to win. The disrespect he’s shown the club after so many of us have supported him even after he left is insane.”
      Another said: “Aubameyang ‘it’s not personal’, bro just made it personal in my opinion.”
      A third tweeted: “Seeing his true colours.”
      Chelsea, however, are heading into the Battle at the Bridge off the back of a 4-1 defeat to Brighton.
      Arsenal, meanwhile, thumped rock-bottom Nottingham Forest 5-0. More

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      If Tottenham sign Chelsea outcast Hakim Ziyech, they can WIN the league, says ex-Spurs ace Rafael van der Vaart

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      TOTTENHAM can win the Premier League if they sign Chelsea outcast Hakim Ziyech, according to Rafael van der Vaart. Ziyech, 29, is out of favour at Stamford Bridge amid his struggles for form.
      Hakim Ziyech has been urged to leave Chelsea and link up with TottenhamCredit: Getty
      Rafael van der Vaart believes Tottenham can win the league with Ziyech in the sideCredit: Getty
      But despite this, former Spurs ace Van der Vaart revealed how highly he rates Ziyech with his bold assessment.
      While appearing on Ziggo Sport, he said: “Hakim Ziyech has to join Tottenham.
      “If Tottenham get Hakim Ziyech, they could win the Premier League. I am serious.”
      Antonio Conte’s side are currently sitting in third place in the Premier League with a three point cushion in the top four, although in terms of a title push they remain five points behind league leaders Arsenal.
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      However, after news that Son Heung-Min will undergo surgery, it means Spurs now have four major injuries to their squad – with Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Christian Romero already missing.
      Ziyech was previously linked with a transfer to Spurs over the summer.
      And the Moroccan thus far stayed put at Chelsea despite also being linked with Manchester United and even a move to AC Milan.
      Van der Vaart added: “Of course, he never really has a smiley face, but now you can see from everything that he is not having a good time.
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      “I hope he goes to a club where he can just play and not worry about anything else.
      “Ziyech is a boy that always has to play when you get him. When you get players, you buy them not only for their footballing qualities but also for how someone is.” More

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      Chelsea 2 Zagreb 1: Sterling gets first goal since September in big England boost as Potter forgets Brighton nightmare

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      GRAHAM POTTER turned to his ultimate Z-lister to end the Champions League group stage on a high note.Denis Zakaria was finally allowed out on pitch for a memorable debut in which he scored the winner to clinch Chelsea’s comeback.
      Raheem Sterling scored his first goal since SeptemberCredit: Getty
      Denis Zakaria also got himself a goal and impressed on debut in front of his new fansCredit: Reuters
      But Ben Chilwell suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injuryCredit: AFP
      However, Ben Chilwell’s World Cup dream may be over after pulling up with a hamstring injury at the end of the game.
      The England international was clearly in some pain and had to be carried off by medical staff after the game.
      Switzerland midfielder Zakaria was signed on loan from Juventus on deadline day in the summer and has sat on his hands ever since.
      But in last night’s final Champions League group game and with Chelsea already assured of top spot, the forgotten man of Stamford Bridge received a long-awaited call up.
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      It would be stretching a point to claim Zakaria turned in a matchwinning performance. But he popped up when needed to see off stubborn Zagreb with a scuffed goal after half an hour.
      The shot took a slight deflection off a defender on the way over the line but Chelsea boss Graham Potter won’t care.
      And it was the clear the goal meant a lot as he was mobbed by team-mates who ruffled his hair. 
      When he hobbled off with 19 minutes to go, Zakaria was treated to a standing ovation from fans in the Stamford Bridge West Stand, acutely aware of how frustrated the player must have been in recent weeks.
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      With a World Cup around the corner, any game time is precious to players now and Zakaria played his part in his side’s win last night.
      For a game with nothing to play for except pride and restoring confidence Potter went for it with his line up: A strong starting XI with the exception of forgotten man Zakaria.
      Clearly last night’s game was an exercise in running Saturday’s 4-1 pummelling at Brighton out of the system and yet another experiment with the formation from the new Tinkerman.
      A back four and a front two comprising Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, sandwiching a midfield diamond.
      And for a time it looked as if this latest reworking of the tactics was going to backfire like it did at the Amex Stadium at the weekend.
      Dinamo Zagreb took a shock lead in the eighth minute. The third time in the last four games Chelsea have gone behind.
      A right wing cross from right back Sadegh Moharrami dipped at the far post and cannoned back across the box off the back of Cesar Azpilicueta’s head.
      Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic was in the clear to power home a header from six yards. 
      Returning keeper Edouard Mendy had no hope of keeping it out and the defence which shipped four goals four days previously gifted the opposition another goal.
      Potter has never had such a quantity of quality players at his disposal in his managerial career. 
      Sterling looked far more impressive in his more advanced positionCredit: Getty
      Potter’s magic wand struck again with yet another new tactical look pulling offCredit: Alamy
      Bruno Petkovic headed in the opener for ZagrebCredit: Getty
      Chilwell was clearly in agony following his injuryCredit: Reuters
      He had to be carried off by medical staff at the end of the gameCredit: Reuters
      Maybe it is the embarrassment of riches that he finds confusing? Like a spoilt kid on Christmas Day who doesn’t know which expensive present to play with first.
      At least he is sort of getting the idea of where to put Sterling. 
      The decision to employ a rabbit-like winger who can twist and turn opponents inside out as a wingback proved the most glaring of recent glitches in the formation playbook.
      Partnering Aubameyang, Sterling was instantly more effective. Even before his equaliser on 18 minutes he latched onto a probing cross from Kai Havertz and lashed a shot wide from inside the box.
      Sterling’s form for Chelsea lately has been a big talking point. With England boss Gareth Southgate on a nationwide tour to check up on his stars ahead of this month’s World Cup, the lack of goals for one of our most explosive and dynamic players has been a concern.
      His leveller was his first goal since Potter’s first game as manager on September 14 – ten matches ago now. That’s some lean streak in the build up to his fifth major international tournament.
      Sticking one away last night, even in a pointless game like this, will boost Sterling’s self-confidence as the run-in to Qatar starts. 
      The manner in which he took the goal has added gravy to remind Southgate what a quality player he has on his hands.
      A piercing through ball by Jorginho from the centre circle found Aubameyang on the run into Zagreb’s box. Chelsea’s main frontman cheekily back-heeled the ball with Sterling following in close formation behind.
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      But there was still work to be done in shimmying past two defenders, before slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
      After the break, Aubameyang hit the crossbar and Mason Mount’s free kick was tipped over. Mendy made up for conceding earlier with a save on the line from Josep Misic. More

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      Watch Chelsea transfer target Christopher Nkunku blow up BALLOON in bizarre goal celebration after pulling it from sock

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      CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU blew up a balloon to celebrate bursting Shakhtar Donetsk’s bubble –  in one of the strangest ever goal celebrations.The RB Leipzig attacker showed why Chelsea are ready to spend big on him with the opening goal in a 4-0 Champions League win on Wednesday night.
      Christopher Nkunku celebrated his goal with Leipzig team-mates then lingered in the corner to blow up a balloon for his own special momentCredit: Getty
      In-form attacker Nkunku has put Chelsea on red alert for a summer moveCredit: Getty
      Have you ever seen this?! 😂Christopher Nkunku celebrates his goal tonight by blowing up a balloon on the pitch! 🎈 pic.twitter.com/N9TK0fKIrs— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) November 2, 2022

      And to add to his silky footwork he had another trick in his boots – as he pulled out a red balloon from his sock.
      He inflated it as team-mates mobbed him by the corner flag, then held it in his teeth and put his arms out wide to complete the pose.
      Fans were baffled as well as amused by Nkunku’s antics.
      And surely the best explanation on social media to his behaviour was this: “He loves the movie IT and it being the first game since Halloween he decided to blow up a red balloon which is synonymous with the film.”
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      With Chelsea seemingly sure to sign Nkunku ahead of other admirers like Arsenal, one fan suggested: “When you’ve already passed your medical for your big transfer next summer.”
      And how about this: “In celebration that the mighty Arsenal are top of the league?”
      One politically-minded joker posted: “In Protest against inflation.”  
      The truth, though, was sweeter than fiction.
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      French journalist Fabrice Hawkins revealed Nkunku had promised his two-year-old son he would blow up a balloon to rejoice if he scored.
      Nkunku and Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol could both be drifting to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
      Their futures are certainly up in the air as Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly looks to continue spending big.
      But it seems a load of balloony if he thinks he can get England midfielder Jude Bellingham for the £87million the Blues are reportedly willing to pay.
      That’s because Borussia Dortmund are said to want close to £130m for the 19-year-old who is also being chased by Liverpool and Real Madrid. More