Arsenal's Samir Nasri says Chelsea are weaker than last season
Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri says that fellow English Premier League giants Chelsea have weakened since their title-winning 2009-10 campaign.
Over the summer, the Stamford Bridge side lost Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Anderson Luis de Souza ('Deco') and Franco Di Santo, as well as several other players. Chelsea recruited just four players during the transfer window, including Yossi
Benayoun from Liverpool and Ramires Santos do Nascimento.
Meanwhile, several of Chelsea's key players are currently suffering from injury, including Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, John Terry and Frank Lampard, while Michael Essien is suspended for two more EPL games.
As a result, Nasri believes that the Blues are vulnerable and will drop more points after their 3-0 loss at the hands of Sunderland to allow the Gunners to move to the summit of the league table.
He told reporters that: "The absence of John Terry, Alex, Michael Essien as well, that made a big difference. Chelsea has lost Ballack, have lost Deco in the midfield, Ricardo Carvalho also and they haven't really replaced him. So much the better.
"Their first-choice XI is good but the group I think has lost a bit in terms of quantity and quality compared to last season. It was an ideal weekend with Chelsea's defeat, Manchester United's draw at Aston Villa and Manchester City's draw against Birmingham."
After the international break, Chelsea has a run of games which will see them take on Birmingham City, Newcastle United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, who will provide a stern test after performing well so far in their debut season in the
UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal, meanwhile will face a tougher run of games. They will face fierce rivals Spurs at the Emirates Stadium, Aston Villa away and Fulham at home before a difficult trip to title rivals Manchester United.
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