How Arsenal star can use past struggles to become talisman and down Chelsea

It is now more than five years since Arsenal were last beaten by Chelsea.That defeat came in August 2021, on an afternoon when more current Gunners players were in the matchday squad for the Blues than they were for Mikel Arteta's side.Kai Havertz started for the west Londoners, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was on the bench. Jorginho, who featured in midfield for Chelsea that day, has also been and gone at the Emirates Stadium in the period since.With Gabriel Martinelli leaving north London this week, there is just a sole survivor left from that match for the reigning Premier League champions.Changes have been significant across the pitch under Arteta but particularly at the back. Sole survivor: Bukayo SakaPAIf the current crop of defenders offer something close to an impregnable shield for David Raya's goal, the backline five years ago was more of an ageing shed door, the kind vulnerable to being swung open by a gust of wind.Arteta lined up with Rob Holding and Pablo Mari as his centre-backs, with Cedric Soares and Kieran Tierney at full-back.Chelsea, unsurprisingly, enjoyed plenty of joy but Sunday's clash will be a very different affair.Arsenal's defence is now their superpower. Two clean sheets from two at the start of the Premier League season have come with the added detail of Coventry and Aston Villa mustering a single shot on target between them.In Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, today’s visitors have one of the most potent attacks in the league. How that trio fare against the home side’s brick wall will be fascinating.It is further up the pitch, though, where the opportunity for an Arsenal player to stamp their authority on the derby feels most important.Bukayo Saka is the only one in the squad who has tasted defeat against Chelsea as an Arsenal player. In that 2021 match, he started on the left wing, an intriguing side note considering the discussion around Arsenal's options on that flank.Read MoreAfter a summer in which Arsenal targeted but failed to land a top-class forward, Saka could be forgiven for finding recent debates fairly irritating.Missed target: Vinicius JuniorGettyThe consensus has been that this is a side lacking in a genuine superstar in attack, one who can produce the consistent numbers in front of goal to ensure the defensive crutch is not always required.Asked on Friday whether his side had a world-class attacker, Arteta was not particularly convincing in suggesting he thought the answer was yes."I love my players, that's all I can say," he said."In that bracket, how you want to put them, I don't know."Saka will believe that is the category he belongs in. Thierry Henry certainly does, telling the winger on Monday night that he is waiting for him to deliver 15 goals and 15 assists in the same Premier League season.That was after Saka scored the only goal against Aston Villa, backing up his finish on the opening night win over Coventry.The 25-year-old has shaken off the Achilles injury that impacted him last season and over the summer at the World Cup.Interestingly, both goals came from him drifting into the six-yard box to meet crosses or loose balls. That poacher's instinct would be a welcome string to add to his bow should it become a consistent feature.Saka looks sharp and particularly motivated, keen to put those frustrations behind him. Arteta sensed as much from the first day of his pre-season."I noticed that straight away," Arteta said."This happens in your career and you need certain motivation, or a little pinch sometimes, to take it to a different level.Dynamic duo: Bukayo Saka and Ben WhiteGetty"And there are really good signs that Bukayo is giving to think that is going to be the case."Since that defeat to Chelsea in 2021, Saka has faced the Blues nine times and scored just once.However, he will fancy his chances against Xabi Alonso's side, who look potent up front but generous opponents at the back.Fulham scored two on the opening weekend, Brighton three a week later. The three-at-the-back system should offer space for Saka to exploit out wide, even if Jorrel Hato looks likely to start as a more defensive wing-back option.It is no surprise that Saka's strong form early in the season has come with familiar faces around him. Ben White, who he has an almost telepathic relationship with, has started every match behind him at right-back. Martin Odegaard has been bright and close to his best in those pockets inside Saka.Arsenal did not make a transformational attacking signing this summer and so the solutions must be internal ones.Saka is the obvious one, the player perhaps most capable of elevating his level from recent seasons. In the 2024-25 season, he scored six league goals. Last year, it was only one more than that. If he stays fit, those totals can be surpassed and significantly so. Sunday's match is a big one so early in the season and a chance for Saka to get one over his international team-mates Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who Arsenal were so keen to sign earlier in the summer.Asked this week what he thought of the new-look Chelsea side, Saka commented: "We'll see on Sunday."The eyes will also be on the No7, not just today, but in the weeks and months ahead. Arsenal need their starboy to become a talisman.