It sort of feels like Chelsea are playing Arsenal for the first time this season, but of course as Conte will tell anyone who'll listen (including the players hopefully), the 3-0 humiliation at the Emirates must not be forgotten.
On the other hand, this will be the last time we face Arsenal in the league this season, and one of the last times we'll be facing top six opposition. Realistically, if Chelsea are to be caught, Arsenal would have to pull off the upset victory, which is something they have only done once in their last seven visits to Stamford Bridge. Incidentally, since scoring five times in that game, they've only scored six goals total against Chelsea in the twelve games played between the two sides, and three of those came in that 3-0 watershed moment.
Chelsea of course scored six in just that one game three years ago.
But the past is the past and it's all about this lunchtime Saturday kick-off right now. Chelsea head into the weekend with a nine point lead at the top of the table and the fourth highest points total (56) in Premier League history after 23 games. That's a massive safety cushion, but there's no reason to start using it up now.
Date / Time: Saturday, February 4, 2017, 12:30 GMT; 7:30am EST; 6pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Martin Atkinson — it seems Martin Atkinson (or Mike Dean) is always the referee for this fixture. That's not actually true of course, but this will be Atkinson's fifth time. Chelsea have won all four previous, including the FA Cup semifinal in 2009 and the 2-0 at the Bridge early on in the 2014-15 season.
Forecast: Cold and possibly wet.
On TV: Sky Sports 1 (UK); NBCSN, NBC Universo (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); elsewhere
Streaming online: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live Extra; Telemundo Deportes En Vivo Extra (USA); Star Sports
Chelsea team news: Everyone's fit, everyone's ready. David Luiz and Eden Hazard are carrying minor knocks.
Arsenal team news: Lots of important players are injured or unavailable. Francis Coquelin is the only available first-team midfielder, with Granit Xhaka suspended, Aaron Ramsey injured, Santi Cazorla injured, and Mohamed Elneny away at the Africa Cup of Nations (and also injured). Was Kim Kallstrom not available to sign during January? Center forward Olivier Giroud may also be injured.
Usual Arsenal hilarities aside, they are quick, talented, and dangerous. Chelsea have dealt with speed better than size and strength this season, but the Gunners may be the fastest team in the league and they are unlikely to go 90 minutes without causing a problem or three.
We must pay great attention, as Conte's new favorite phrase goes. Work. Fight. Pay attention. Always improve.
View from the enemy: The Short Fuse
Previously: We win as a team. We lose as a team. This is where it all began.