When Premier League action resumed following the international break, there was genuine debate as to whether this evening's contest between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge would be crucial in the battle to finish third behind title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool.
Yet two weeks is an awfully long time in football – and so it has proved once more. Chelsea head into the game confident mood having booked their place in the FA Cup final on Sunday and not come under threat from those chasing them in the top-flight table. Arsenal, meanwhile, have lost their previous two league matches to Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion. The momentum built up by Mikel Arteta's side has been well and truly halted.
A win for Tuchel's side tonight would leave them eleven points ahead of the Gunners with just seven games to play. So Chelsea's players will not be lacking motivation. "It seems like things are pretty safe, but they can turn so, so quickly with our schedule," Tuchel said.
