Arsene Wenger thinks Chelsea will be serious title contenders again this season
Chelsea take on Arsenal on Sunday in the Community Shield at Wembley (2pm) before kicking off their Premier League title defence a week later at home to Burnley.
The Blues have strengthened considerably this summer, adding Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero to their squad.
And Arsene Wenger has admitted he is expecting a tough test in the season curtain-raiser and also expects the Blues to be challenging for the title come the end of the campaign.
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Arsene Wenger has been impressed by Chelsea's new signings
Arsene Wenger WOWS with INCREDIBLE kick-ups
"I would say that Chelsea look like they have kept the basis of 95 per cent of their squad," Wenger said.
"They have added Bakayoko who is a very strong player, strong ball-winner, similar to Matic.
"[He] may be less of a distance runner, more of an impact player but certainly they will fight for the championship again."
And Wenger admitted he has also been impressed by Morata and Michy Batshuayi in pre-season who stuck two past the Gunners at the Birds Nest Stadium in China.
"They have replaced [Diego] Costa with Morata. Morata is maybe less of a goalscorer than Costa, but he can score and provide as well," he added.
"Against us in Asia, Batshuayi played very well. He is a young striker who is promising as well, so I expect them to fight again for the championship."
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