Analysis: Are Chelsea better than people think?

Analysis: Are Chelsea better than people think?

There is a quiet confidence about Chelsea this season.

Not since now injured defender Levi Colwill suggested Chelsea could win either the Champions League or Premier League, after the Club World Cup, has anyone at Stamford Bridge publicly hyped their chances of major silverware this season.

However, despite players being publicly reluctant to talk about such success, it is understood that it is a topic behind the scenes in west London.

The entire point of the heavy investment in this squad - more than £1.5bn over three seasons, albeit offset by substantial player sales - is to win trophies.

The project, known as BlueCo, led by an American consortium featuring Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, has matured and now features young players capable of reaching world-class level.

There are signs that is happening, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez starring in midfield and Marc Cucurella among the best left-backs in the world.

Estevao is genuinely one of the most exciting young players in the game, and his five goals have helped Chelsea cope without Cole Palmer, who has been sidelined for more than two months.

A run of five wins and a draw since Chelsea's last defeat against Sunderland has built serious momentum going into Arsenal's visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday - a match pitting first against second in the Premier League, with six points separating the two clubs.

Arsenal may be favourites for the title, but on this form it will be fascinating to see whether Chelsea can put themselves back in the conversation.

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