The Gunners' normally impenetrable defence was breached inside two minutes by the Blues, but they roared back for a 2-1 win to maintain a 100 percent start.

The friendship between Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso will add a fascinating layer to an already intriguing London derby, with Arsenal and Chelsea both putting perfect Premier League starts on the line at the Emirates on Sunday.

Chelsea have opted for an unconventional method to prepare for their mouthwatering Premier League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Fernandez also highlighted City’s long association with Argentine players

In total, Chelsea have paid Villa £163.5m for players since 2022, while Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players, including Axel Disasi's loan fee.

Xabi Alonso said Chelsea are still a work in progress after a thrilling 4-3 win against Brighton on Sunday extended his perfect start as Blues boss.

Free-scoring Chelsea extended Xabi Alonso's perfect start as manager with an eye-catching 4-3 win against Brighton on Sunday.

Xabi Alonso said he wants players that "feel a desire" to play for Chelsea after Enzo Fernandez was left out of Thursday's League Cup win over Luton.

Martinez is expected to sign a two-year deal with an option for another season

The front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers caught the eye in a 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday to open the Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea with victory.

The Chelsea supporters happily dusted off their Cole Palmer song – something that was not heard much during that last campaign as he struggled with injury.

Xabi Alonso won his first game as Chelsea boss thanks to Morgan Rogers's debut goal and Joao Pedro's strike after just 31 seconds of a pulsating 3-2 victory against Fulham on Monday.

Regular football followers may feel a little estranged from the game this season. Fans, admirers and even rivals are bound to miss one familiar figure from the dugouts of the past two decades -- Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso refused to reveal if Enzo Fernandez wants to remain at Stamford Bridge after the Argentina midfielder was strongly linked with Manchester City.

Enzo Fernandez was jeered by Chelsea supporters after coming on as a substitute during a 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The reason was Chelsea.

Manager Xabi Alonso hailed Mykhailo Mudryk's "emotional" return from a doping ban as the winger played for Chelsea for the first time in nearly two years in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

The Premier League has never been afraid of change. Players come and go, fortunes rise and fall, owners rewrite club identities almost overnight. Yet for nearly four decades there was always a familiar figure standing in one of English football's biggest technical areas.

The 36-year-old won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool. He left Anfield for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq in 2023, moving to Ajax six months later.

Chelsea have signed experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson on a two-year contract following his departure from Brentford, the Premier League club said on Monday.