Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has issued a bold statement ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League showdown against Arsenal, insisting that the Blues are still in contention to overtake the Gunners in the league table.
Caicedo’s Premier League Ambition: “It’s Possible to Catch Arsenal”
The Ecuadorian midfield enforcer, who made a record-breaking £115m move from Brighton to Chelsea after initially pushing for a transfer to Arsenal, is determined to make his mark at the Emirates.
When asked if Chelsea can still surpass Arsenal, Caicedo responded confidently:
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 13: Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Chelsea FC and F.C. Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge on March 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
“Yes, it’s possible for sure and that’s what we want. We are working hard for that, that’s it. We know it’s going to be a tough game but we want to play well and we’re going to go for it because we want to play in the Champions League.”
A win against Mikel Arteta’s side would move Chelsea within three points of their London rivals, keeping their top-four ambitions alive.
Declan Rice vs. Moises Caicedo: A Midfield Battle to Watch
Sunday’s clash will see Caicedo go head-to-head with Arsenal’s Declan Rice in what promises to be a thrilling midfield duel. Both players arrived at their respective clubs for hefty transfer fees in the summer of 2023, and their performances have been crucial to their teams’ success this season.
Caicedo, however, is walking a disciplinary tightrope with nine yellow cards to his name. Another booking in any of Chelsea’s next four league matches will see him serve a two-game suspension.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Declan Rice of Arsenal under pressure from from Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on November 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Despite this, the 23-year-old insists he won’t hold back:
“He’s a great player, everyone knows him and for sure, I’m going to do my best. I know I have too many yellow cards but it doesn’t matter. In the middle of the pitch, you always have to fight. I’m going to fight for my team and for the badge. It doesn’t matter about the cards, I’m just focused on playing football and helping my team. I want to make tackles and I’m still going to do it.”
Chelsea Seeking Redemption After 5-0 Humiliation at the Emirates
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 3: Pedro Neto of Chelsea goal celebration with Malo Gusto & Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea after scoring to make the score 2-1 during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United FC at Stamford Bridge on February 3, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Last season’s visit to the Emirates was a nightmare for Chelsea, as they suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. At the time, Mauricio Pochettino challenged his players to prove they weren’t overly reliant on Cole Palmer—only for the team to fall flat.
Now, under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea are looking to erase that painful memory. Caicedo believes that with a new manager and a renewed team spirit, they can turn the tables:
“I don’t think about that game anymore, I’m just looking forward. Now there is a new manager, it’s going to be a new game.”
Cole Palmer’s Goal Drought: No Concern for Chelsea
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 08: Cole Palmer (centre) celebrates scoring his second goal for Chelsea with Moises Caicedo (left) and Jadon Sancho during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Cole Palmer, who has been Chelsea’s standout performer this season, is currently on a 10-game goal and assist drought across all competitions—more than 13.5 hours of football without a direct contribution.
Despite this dry spell, Caicedo and the Chelsea squad have full faith in their attacking star:
“Everyone knows Cole Palmer is a great player for us, he’s helped us a lot. We are still happy with him and we’ll support him in any way we can.”
Maresca has placed significant trust in Palmer as a key attacking outlet, and Chelsea fans will hope that the former Manchester City starlet can regain his form in this crucial derby.
Chelsea’s Tactical Evolution Under Maresca
Caicedo also highlighted the shift in Chelsea’s tactical approach under Enzo Maresca, emphasizing the importance of playing out from the back:
COBHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Head Coach Enzo Maresca and Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on February 21, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“Every manager is different. This manager wants to play from the goalkeeper, which is good. It was good with Pochettino too, but now we are in a good position. The team is together, whether we lose, draw or win. The morale is good and that’s the important thing.”
Chelsea’s Top-Four Hopes Hang in the Balance
A win at the Emirates could be a defining moment in Chelsea’s season. Not only would it bring them closer to Arsenal in the league table, but it would also be a huge confidence boost in their push for Champions League qualification.
Key Match Stats:
Arsenal vs Chelsea Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings): Arsenal 3 Wins | Chelsea 1 Win | 1 Draw
Chelsea’s Last Win at the Emirates: August 2021 (2-0)
Current Form: Arsenal – WLWWD | Chelsea – WWDWL
Cole Palmer’s Last Goal Contribution: 10 games ago
Chelsea’s Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella celebrates after scoring his team fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on February 25, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Final Thoughts
Chelsea have a golden opportunity to disrupt Arsenal’s title hopes while strengthening their own case for a top-four finish. With Caicedo fired up for the midfield battle, Palmer looking to end his goal drought, and Maresca’s tactics evolving, the Blues will be aiming to leave the Emirates with all three points.
