Chelsea latest: Enzo Maresca raises Declan Rice point as star remains 'hurt' by exit

Chelsea are preparing for a clash with Arsenal in a huge game at the top of the Premier League on Sunday

Chelsea are gearing up for a huge showdown against Arsenal this weekend. The Blues are riding high on confidence following their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Barcelona and are setting their sights on another home victory against the Gunners.

Enzo Maresca's squad currently sit second in the Premier League table, trailing leaders Arsenal by six points. A victory at Stamford Bridge would see Chelsea cut that lead in half and firmly put themselves into the title contention.

Chelsea have won five of their last six league matches and will be aiming to halt Arsenal's impressive 16-match unbeaten streak. Mikel Arteta's team are also on a high after their midweek win over Bayern Munich, adding to the excitement surrounding Sunday's match.

Maresca will be looking to overturn Chelsea's less-than-stellar record against Arsenal, with the club having won just one of their last 12 encounters. Here, Football London takes a look at some of the latest headlines surrounding Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca gives Declan Rice verdict

One of the anticipated key battles in the match is expected to be between Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice in midfield. Rice, who was once part of Chelsea's youth academy but was let go as a teenager, later joined West Ham United before making a move to Arsenal in 2023.

When asked if Caicedo and Rice were the league's top midfielders, Maresca responded: "I think the Premier League is full of good players, very good midfielders. As you said, Moises, Declan, Rodri from City, [Elliot] Anderson from Nottingham Forest, [Bruno] Guimaraes from Newcastle. I think the Premier League is full of very good midfielders."

Despite the ongoing discussion about a potential showdown between Rice and Caicedo, Maresca offered a different perspective during his pre-match press conference. "It's a big part but it's not the only one," Maresca said about their midfield clash.

"I think it's 11v11, the ones that go on from the bench. The big picture is not just one part of the picture. It's a big game, first versus second."

Marc Cucurella 'hurt' by Barcelona exit

Marc Cucurella would have relished Chelsea's victory over Barcelona more than most, given his previous association with the Catalan club. He has expressed disappointment over the manner of his departure from Barcelona. The left-back, a product of the renowned La Masia academy, made only one appearance for the first team before being sold to Getafe in 2020.

"Not being given the opportunity hurts a little," Cucurella admitted to Sport when discussing his time at Barcelona. "I felt bad, but it helped me grow a lot.

"Everything I've achieved so far, perhaps, if the decision had been different, I wouldn't have achieved everything I have now."

Following his stint at Getafe, Cucurella made the move to Brighton before signing for Chelsea in 2022. The 27-year-old has since won the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League with the Blues, while also playing a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph.