Wojciech Szczesny “expects a big performance” from his Arsenal team-mates as they visit Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge for the first time since last season’s ‘horrendous’ 6-0 defeat.
The Polish shot-stopper also thinks keeping the ‘Blues’s’ prolific goalscorer Diego Costa at bay is prime to their chances of becoming the first team to beat Chelsea this season.
If records are worth more than they often portends, Arsenal have a fragile chance in west London on Sunday, as a Jose Mourinho side has never lost to the men in red and white in 11 meetings (W:0, D:5, L:6)- a record complicated further by last season’s drubbing on manager Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th match in charge.
“We want to show character and huge determination to do well on Sunday,” said the 24-year-old. “That’s why I expect a big performance from my team.”
Both sides are unbeaten in the league this season but Chelsea have managed more points than the north Londoners with five wins and a draw at Manchester City.
The 4-time champions, who are favourite for a first title since 2010 this season, have improved their squad following a third-place finish in the previous campaign.
Costa has had a fine start to life as a Chelsea player having scored 8 goals in six matches and, at the moment, it look like there’s in no stopping the Brazilian-born Spaniard.
Szczesny added: “Costa is incredible. His partnership with Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard has been incredible and, at the moment, he’s looking as dangerous as any striker in the world
“We’ve got huge respect for him and we know how dangerous he is. I think he’s scored in most games so it’ll be a tough test.
“At the moment [Chelsea] are as good as you will get in Europe. They score goals and they’ve always defended very well so it’ll be a very tough test but it’s one that we’re looking forward to.
“Hopefully we can leave last season’s result behind us and show that we can get the result against them.”
Arsenal can change history to follow….
