Chelsea star Moises Caicedo fires Arsenal warning as Cole Palmer message issued

Two years ago, Moises Caicedo tried to push through a £70million switch to Arsenal - now he is plotting their downfall with Chelsea.

The tough-tackling Ecuadorian maestro, who later sealed a £115m British-record transfer to Stamford Bridge after Brighton dug their heels into the ground, insists Enzo Maresca's Blues can still leapfrog the Gunners in the Premier League table as he bids to avenge last season's embarrassing 5-0 capitulation at the Emirates.

Caicedo said when asked if Chelsea can still catch Mikel Arteta's faltering title challengers: "Yes, it's possible for sure and that's what we want. We are working hard for that, that's it. We know it's going to be a tough game but we want to play well and we're going to go for it because we want to play in the Champions League."

The 23-year-old midfield lynchpin currently has nine top-flight yellow cards to his name meaning Caicedo is just one caution away from an additional two-game suspension if he is booked in one of Chelsea's next four league matches.

Still, he is relishing the chance to lock horns with Declan Rice, another big-money mover in the summer of 2023, in the middle of the park and he won't adapt his aggressive style just because he's walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Caicedo continued: "He's a great player, everyone knows him and for sure, I'm going to do my best. I know I have too many yellow cards but it doesn't matter, in the middle of the pitch you always have to fight.

"I'm going to fight for my team and for the badge. It doesn't matter about the cards, I'm just focused on playing football and helping my team. I want to make tackles and I'm still going to do it."

Caicedo insists he has erased all memory of last season's wretched horror show at Arsenal given the club are now playing under a new boss in Maresca.

Before the forgettable one-sided five-goal drubbing last April, Mauricio Pochettino had challenged Chelsea to prove they were not Cole Palmer FC.

They duly failed, though arguably, the Argentine's rallying cry still rings true given Palmer has now gone 10 matches in all competitions, 13-and-a-half hours of football without registering a goal or an assist.

His form is not a concern for Chelsea, however, according to Caicedo, who explained: "I don't think about that game anymore, I'm just looking forward. Now there is a new manager, it's going to be a new game and Cole knows we trust him.

"Everyone knows Cole Palmer is a great player for us, he's helped us a lot, we are still happy with him and we'll support him in any way we can. Every manager is different, this manager wants to play from the goalkeeper which is good.

"It was good with Pochettino too but now we are in a good position, the team is together if we lose, draw or win, the morale is good and that's the important thing."