By Korede James
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said his side must dictate the pace if they hope to get the better of Arsenal on Sunday.
The Blues will be guests of their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium as they continue their push for a top four finish in the English Premier League.
The Blues are fourth, six points behind second-placed Arsenal who they have not beaten since 2021.
In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge this season, a Pedro Neto goal earned Chelsea a 1-1 draw with Mikel Arteta’s men.
Chelsea will head into the derby on the back of a 1-0 win against Copenhagen in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday.
“The intention will be that (to control the ball). And if we are able or not depends a lot on the opponent,” Maresca said in his press conference on Friday.
“They just told me that Pedro Neto against Copenhagen did a sprint on 90 minutes. The reason why is that we were sitting back at the edge of our box.
“So if we plan the game against Arsenal sitting back and wait, sure our strikers and wingers are going to do 20 sprints for 60, 70 minutes.
“When you play most of your game in the opposite side, there is not space to do that kind of sprint.
“Our plan is to control the game but it’s a team that is going to press high and try to be aggressive, and probably we will have more space to attack in behind.”
Maresca also revealed that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is set to start against Arsenal after winning his place back for the win over Leicester.
The Spaniard had previously missed four successive league fixtures following a series of costly blunders.
But, after understudy Filip Jorgensen played against Copenhagen, Maresca has had a change of heart.
“I think Robert needed some days off or at least rest mentally,” said Maresca. “He’s back and hopefully we are not going to change until the end (of the season).”
