Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend as domestic football returns following the latest international break. The Gunners have had a successful start to the 2023/24 campaign, winning six and drawing two of their opening eight games with a victory against Manchester City coming last time out which will have given Mikel Arteta’s team a big boost of confidence ahead of this weekend.
During the latest international break, Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko has been with Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk with the pair both representing Ukraine on Tuesday night against Malta.
Ukraine ran out 3-1 winners in their UEFA European Qualifier with Mudryk scoring his first goal for his country and Oleksandr Zinchenko was full of praise for the winger after the match, despite also sending him a warning ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Oleksandr Zinchenko speaking on Mykhailo Mudryk after the match: “I told him, ‘If you do or attempt to do that on Saturday, I’ll rip your balls off’. But the most important thing for us was to take three points. I am very happy for him and for the national team, Mykhailo’s goal was important because he calmed down the game a little.”
The 22-year-old also scored his first goal for Chelsea earlier this month in the club’s 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League and he’ll be aiming to contribute again against the team he nearly joined on Saturday.
Arsenal were close to signing the Ukrainian winger in January, before Todd Boehly and Chelsea swooped in and stole him from under their noses. It’s fair to say Mudryk hasn’t exactly hit the ground running since moving to West London, however it seems he’s finally starting to find his feet under Mauricio Pochettino ahead of this weekend’s clash.
Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in every away game they have played so far this season and they’ll be looking to keep Mudryk and Chelsea quiet in order to keep that run going at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.