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ROMELU LUKAKU is in line to make his second Chelsea debut on Sunday, one week short of a decade after his first game in a Blues shirt.
To pay £97.5million for the Belgian, who spent the majority of his initial three years out on loan and made 14 appearances without scoring before being sold for £28m, may not appear to be the most financially astute piece of business this summer.
But if you take his former Chelsea ties out of the equation, the arrival of Lukaku is one of the summer’s statement signings on the back of his leading role in Inter Milan’s first Serie A title for 11 years.
There were comparisons with Didier Drogba upon Lukaku’s first arrival at Stamford Bridge but they feel more relevant now, seeing how he can provide a cutting edge to a side whose strikers largely misfired last season. Indeed Lukaku sought out Drogba’s advice before committing to a return.
Given the way Chelsea blew Crystal Palace away 3-0 in their opening game, the addition of Lukaku and the possible return of N’Golo Kante – who missed that game with ankle pain – shows just how formidable Thomas Tuchel’s European champions now look.
Whereas Chelsea are adding to their squad from a position of strength, there is more than a hint of desperation about the Gunners’ transfer dealings.
They failed to land striker Tammy Abraham from Chelsea but this week appear to be closing in on deals for Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale, to add to earlier swoops for Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Given the impact Odegaard made on loan from Real Madrid in the second half of last season, his arrival cannot come soon enough.
In the absence of the unwell Alexandre Lacazette and PierreEmerick Aubameyang, who remain doubts this weekend, the Gunners’ awful 2-0 opening-night defeat at Brentford was a huge wake-up call.
Only Emile Smith Rowe, who recently signed a six-year contract, and Bukayo Saka looked capable of providing the spark they needed.
It was the former’s winner at Stamford Bridge in May which saw Arsenal complete a league double over the Blues last term, to add to their 2020 FA Cup win at Wembley.