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Chelsea star vows to 'protect' Blues teammate in strong warning to Arsenal

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Wesley Fofana has vowed to ‘protect’ Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian ahead of this weekend’s key showdown with Arsenal . The Blues welcome Mikel Arteta ’s side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon for what could be a potentially decisive clash.

Ahead of kick-off, the Gunners lead the way in the Premier League , with Manchester City four points behind. Chelsea sit third but could cut Arsenal’s advantage to just three points with a victory.

A driving force behind the Blues’ impressive run under Enzo Maresca has been Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian . The teenager already has five goals for the London side following a big-money move from Palmeiras.

Speaking about his excellent early-season form, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana said: “He is amazing, and we see him every day in training, so we know. For the fans, for people outside, it’s a little bit new, but as team-mates we know his quality.

“He's very young, and we will try to protect him because he’s a little bit like the little brother of the team, but he’s top, very good.

“We are trying to help him progress, and don't know where he can go [because he is 18 years old], but [his performances] are very good for him and for the team as well.”

Asked what Estevao needs to do to continue his eye-catching development, Fofana added: “I think the most important thing for Estevao is just to stay focused on football, continue to work, and look after his body because it's very important – I know! He needs to stay like this and enjoy playing football.”

After finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, Chelsea have established themselves as genuine contenders for the title - a standing that will only be reaffirmed by beating Arsenal.

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Fofana claims that nobody is getting ahead of themselves, albeit he has not ruled out a potential title tilt. He said: “Everything is possible. We have the quality and, while we're a young group, we are progressing well.

“I think compared to last season, we are a bit more mature. We have a lot of good players with quality. We will progress, try to win the most games possible, and we will see where we finish at the end of the season.”

Following this weekend’s clash with Arsenal, Chelsea will then turn their attentions to a midweek showdown with struggling Leeds United at Elland Road.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Premier LeagueChelseaArsenalManchester CityEstevao WillianWesley FofanaMikel ArtetaLate Winner