**Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes there is a massive amount of potential in Enzo Maresca’s side.**
The Blues played for 50+ minutes against the Gunners with ten men, and Petit claims it is just the latest example of them being able to compete with “top teams”:
“Chelsea and City are second and third on the table, the biggest opponents for Arsenal to win the Premier League. And here we are. I’ve seen Arsenal struggling against Chelsea, and they conceded the goal, playing 11 against 10.”
“When I look at Chelsea from what they’ve done so far last season, winning trophies, winning the Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. They’re able to win against top teams. They smashed Barcelona in midweek.”
“So this team has such a big margin in front of them to improve. But still, for me, they look impressive. Not getting three points could turn out to be a big blow for Arsenal.”
You do feel that things are slowly coming together for this squad of players. There were signs last season that the Blues could compete with the best before their form dipped after Christmas.
Their displays in the Club World Cup reinforced the belief that Maresca is creating a team capable of winning big trophies, and the results against Barcelona and Arsenal this campaign are more evidence that things are heading in the right direction.
Is a title challenge on the cards?
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Ahead of the Leeds fixture on Wednesday evening, there is plenty of optimism about the [**club’s title prospects**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-news-alan-shearer-paul-merson-title-prediction/), although Maresca was right to point out that discussing such things in December is a bit premature.
A lot could hinge on this team’s consistency over the festive period and their form early in the New Year. If they are still in striking distance of Arsenal in March, it will be something worth revisiting.
[**Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-first-team-squad/)