Enzo Maresca: Unclear if Chelsea are in title fight with Arsenal

The meeting of the league's leading duo arrives with both clubs buoyed by impressive European results that have injected further intrigue into an already high-stakes encounter.

Chelsea, currently trailing Arsenal, have the chance to trim the deficit at the summit to just three points. Their confidence has been boosted by a commanding 3-0 victory over Barcelona in midweek, a result that significantly improved their prospects of advancing from their Champions League group.

Arsenal, meanwhile, delivered an equally emphatic performance of their own, dispatching Bayern Munich 3-1 to seize top spot in their section.

For Maresca, the situation carries a familiar feel. It was around this stage last season that he first faced questions about Chelsea's title ambitions, queries he repeatedly played down despite the club sitting second at Christmas.

His caution ultimately proved well-founded, as a slump in form over the winter months derailed their challenge and left the Blues battling merely to secure Champions League qualification in the campaign's closing weeks.

As attention turns to Sunday, Maresca remains steadfast in his measured approach. While acknowledging the significance of the occasion, he is refusing to be drawn into premature declarations about Chelsea's long-term prospects. Instead, he has stressed the importance of consistency and maintaining focus during a demanding stretch of fixtures.

"It's too early in any case if we win or don't win [against Arsenal]," said Maresca of his side's title credentials. "It's November, there's five or six months to go.

"It's important where we are [in the table] in February and March and we'll see if we can achieve something important."