Enzo Maresca wants his team to control the game and find space during the game

Enzo Maresca hopes Chelsea can stick to the team's principles and control possession against Arsenal. Because Arsenal also likes to have the ball, in the face of such a strong opponent, Enzo Maresca hopes the team will execute the strategy he has planned.  

"Our plan was like this," said coach Enzo Maresca. "Whether we win depends a lot on the opponent. If we sit back and wait for the game, then our forwards and wingers will have to do 20 60- or 70-meter sprints. But when you play in the opponent's field, there is no space for sprinting."  

“So our plan is to control the game, but they will try to press high and we will probably have more space behind the ball.”  

Enzo Maresca expects Nicola Jackson to play again after the international break, but until then, he must continue to come up with alternatives. Enzo Maresca said: "It's strange for us because they are both injured. Arsenal are trying to find a solution and we are doing the same thing.  

"Since we put Pedro Neto in this role, he has been doing very well. We will see in the next games whether we will keep Pedro Neto in this role or make some changes, so let's wait and see."  

"All teams are likely to face injuries during the season, so we just have to adapt and accept it and find a solution as soon as possible."  

Enzo Maresca also said: "There is a big gap between us and Arsenal now, and this is because they have worked with the same coach for five years, so this difference is very important. They have sent the same players to participate in some important games, but our first goal is to narrow the gap with them."  

"At the moment, we are six points behind in the standings, and with 10 games left, we need to close the gap as soon as possible. Therefore, we need to focus on the game and try to win more games, so that victory will not be too far away. We have to play one game at a time and see if we can get closer and closer to the goal."