Bukayo Saka sends message to Chelsea ahead of Arsenal clash

Bukayo Saka has warned Chelsea they are set for an acid test of their title credentials when they face the champions on Sunday.

Following another summer of seismic spending, the Blues have put together a formidable looking squad that appears to be on the right road under the management of Xabi Alonso.

A formidable front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who had the chance to join Arsenal in the summer, have struck up an immediate understanding and that trio has contirbuted five of Chelsea’s seven Premier League goals already this season.

Defensively, however, Alonso’s new-look side are still a work in progress, despite the addition of a new No.1 goalkeeper in Emiliano Martinez.

The Argentina international conceded three times on his debut against Brighton on Sunday and will no doubt face a stiff examination against his former side this weekend in the first summit meeting of the new campaign.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have picked up where they left off last term and made it two wins from two last night with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Aston Villa.

Saka’s goal, which arrived just before the hour mark, proved to be the difference between the two sides as the Gunners kept their sixth clean sheet in their last seven Premier League games.

A case of the immovable object meeting the irresistible force awaits on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium with both teams desperate to lay down an early marker.

Asked if he’d paid attention to the start Arsenal’s London rivals have made to the new campaign, Saka gave a wry smile before saying: ‘Yeah, I’ve seen them.’

Pressed on what he had made of the wins over Fulham and the Seagulls, he added: ‘We’ll see on Sunday.’

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, meanwhile, isn’t yet ready to buy into the Chelsea hype and hinted Manchester City should not be discounted from challenging for the title, despite the overhaul at the Etihad.

‘The two teams won both of their games and you want to see a bit of a clash of styles,’ Henry told Sky Sports.

‘At the moment with the way Chelsea is going about how they play you can see Chelsea maybe being able to hit Arsenal on the break.

‘But if they do defend as they did leaving an amount of space in midfield and on the side they will struggle against Arsenal. That remains to be seen.

‘I’m not sure about them yet when you play the big dogs, I’m talking about the top. Don’t forget about what Man City can do also on the ball.’