Chelsea moving on from Drogba era

The European champion travels to the Emirates Stadium for the first big test of its English Premier League title credentials this season.

And it will do so for the first time since Drogba quit the club this summer after eight years in which he terrorised its north London neighbour.

The striker scored 13 goals in 14 games against Arsenal, prompting Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to declare: "I don't know if Chelsea miss him, but we don't miss him."

Drogba became the ringleader as Chelsea repeatedly bullied Wenger's men after the  Cote d'Ivoire star's arrival at Stamford Bridge.

His departure has heralded a transformation in the way Chelsea plays - indeed, it bears more resemblance to Arsenal now than it does to the team Drogba inspired to Champions League glory last season.

Manager Di Matteo said: "Didier Drogba has been a fantastic player for this club for many years, but we have to move on from that.

"That's the past. We're looking to the future now."

Di Matteo denied Chelsea would adopt a radically different approach on Saturday to that in the past, adding: "It's always a football game. You try to beat them by playing football."

Technically, Di Matteo is correct, but there is more than one way to do that, some see teams praised and some condemned.

"I loved my side last season as well," Di Matteo said.

"I think everybody likes different aspects of football.

"We were very successful last season and played some good football. You always focus on a couple of games, but we played some good stuff."