Chelsea thrashed Arsenal 6-0 in this corresponding fixture last season as Jose Mourinho ruined Arsene Wenger's celebration of 1,000 games in charge of the north Londoners. The two rivals face off again on Sunday -- Mark Worrall (Chelsea) and John Cross (Arsenal) have their say ahead of the showdown at Stamford Bridge.
- Jolly: Wenger's forward focus
- McNicholas: The winning formula
- Team news: Costa boost for Chelsea
What shape are you in ahead of this one?
Mark Worrall: Unbeaten in all competitions this season, the mood in the Chelsea camp has never been higher since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.
Man-of-the-moment Diego Costa has been on fire since joining the club in the summer, while former Gunner Cesc Fabregas is widely regarded as being the catalyst for Costa's impressive start at Chelsea. Confidence breeds confidence, and ebullient Blues supporters will be hoping for a repeat of the performance that saw their team thrash Arsenal 6-0 in last term's corresponding fixture.
John Cross: Very confident mentally but fragile physically. The thrashing of Galatasaray in the Champions League will have helped Arsenal's belief, and in particular that of Danny Welbeck after his hat trick. They were able to rest Jack Wilshere, yet the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez all played well, and that will lift their confidence.
But Arsenal are carrying injuries, with Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey out. Laurent Koscielny is carrying an Achilles tendon problem. So physically they are not in great shape.
Jose Mourinho has never lost to Arsene Wenger in his career -- will this ever change?
MW: A rivalry has developed since Mourinho's introduction to English football in 2004, with verbal jibes from both sides. Mourinho has never shied away from confrontation, and fortunately for him when it comes to Arsenal, his players have never let him down.
As a unit, Mourinho's Blues always seem that little bit more motivated and better prepared than Wenger's Gunners when the two teams are in opposition. Right now, there is no evidence to suggest that anything has changed.
JC: I think it has to one day -- just not this weekend. I can't see anything but a Chelsea win as they are playing well, all their new signings have hit the ground running and they look full of confidence. After Arsenal lost at Stamford Bridge 6-0 last season, Chelsea will also have a huge psychological edge.
In the game at the Emirates, it finished goalless and Arsenal were probably the better team but Mourinho seems to have a hold over Wenger -- he certainly gets under his skin. As everyone likes to mention, Chelsea's 6-0 win was on Wenger's 1,000th game in charge and that was a bitter pill to swallow. They really don't like each other.
Where will this one be won and lost?
MW: Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian will be tasked with running at the Arsenal defence from the off. Last season, Arsenal were 2-0 down inside seven minutes, dazzled by Chelsea's high-tempo game -- on Sunday, Mourinho will ask for more of the same.
With Costa likely to have red shirts tracking him wherever he goes, Wenger's back line will have to remain disciplined. Lose their shape and Hazard will cut in behind them and wreak havoc.
Nemanja Matic and Fabregas will need to mix it with Arsenal's midfield and restrict opportunities being created by the likes of Ozil for Welbeck. The ex-Manchester United striker has made a confident start to his Arsenal career and will relish the chance of testing himself against Gary Cahill and John Terry.
JC: Midfield; it's as simple as that. Last season at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea overwhelmed Arsenal in midfield. Arsenal were wide open, the midfield didn't protect the back four and they were horribly exposed. The defeat left Arsenal fans praying for Wenger to sign a midfield general who would really dictate and boss that department. A modern-day Patrick Vieira or, dare I say it, Matic.
Incredibly, they didn't. Wenger kept faith with Arteta, and even he's out injured. Mathieu Flamini is not the player he was. Chelsea, with Matic and Cesc Fabregas, can overwhelm Arsenal in midfield.
What lessons do you hope to learn from Sunday?
MW: Along with Manchester City, Arsenal represent a key threat to Chelsea's title ambitions this season. A comfortable victory for the Blues will bolster the belief that Mourinho's men have what it takes to become champions.
Key to Chelsea's success is Fabregas. A hero in his Arsenal playing days, the Spaniard will be the focal point of the attention in the build-up to the game. It will be interesting to see whether he has the composure and maturity to deal with this pressure, along with the catcalls and jibes of the visiting fans who once revered him.
Costa's hamstrings are never far away from the headlines. Having played a full 90 minutes in he midweek Champions League tie with Sporting, will they stand up to the test of a full-throttle London derby?
JC: Wenger will be hoping that Arsenal can show they are a better team now than last season. Elsewhere, they will want to prove they have closed the gap on Chelsea and can get a result to show they are genuine contenders this season. I think a draw would be a good result for Arsenal.
Mourinho will have Chelsea so pumped up that it's hard to imagine that Arsenal will get anything from the game. But Arsenal could at least show us that, with Sanchez, Welbeck and Ozil, they are a better force going forward than last season.
Prediction
MW: Mourinho's psychological edge over Wenger and Chelsea's indomitable strength will once again prove too much for Arsenal. 2-0.
JC: I agree with Mark -- Chelsea will win the game 2-0; they look strong physically, mentally and in every other department. They and Manchester City, for me, look the best two teams in the Premier League. For the rest, like Arsenal, it will be a battle to get into the top four. Arsenal have made progress, but I still think Chelsea are ahead.