Blues must be wary of old boys as they seek capital gains

RINSE and repeat Manchester City headed down to London for a tough game before the international break and things didn't go so well.

-  SIMON BAJKOWSKI

They lost at Arsenal to raise questions about their strength this season amid the glaring problem of how to cope without Rodri in the team.

Just over a month later, Pep Guardiola will have to make do without John Stones for the trip to Chelsea as the Blues go into one of their toughest aways of the season aiming to make a different ending and head off to their national teams sitting top of the Premier League.

Arsenal look to be a better team than Chelsea, who seem to have somehow emerged from inflicting Tottenham's first defeat of the season by thumping them 4-1 with less credit than they had before. However, Mauricio Pochettino has inflicted some important defeats on this City side and will be motivated to chalk up another win.