Ex-England striker Peter Crouch has backed Chelsea to get the better of Arsenal and throw a ‘cat amongst the pigeons’ in the Premier League this weekend.

Arsenal got their title defence off to a flying start by sweeping aside newly promoted Coventry in their opening match of the campaign.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were the scorers in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Frank Lampard’s men, a result that came as a statement of intent to the rest of the division.

The Gunners followed this up with a gritty 1-0 win away to Aston Villa on Monday night, with Saka scoring his second of the season to ensure Mikel Arteta’s men emerged with maximum points.

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On Sunday afternoon, all eyes will be on the Emirates for what promises to be an intriguing London derby between the reigning champions and a resurgent Chelsea team.

Like Arsenal, Chelsea have taken six points from a possible six, with Xabi Alonso’s all-star attack of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers firing on all cylinders. at this embryonic stage of the season.

However, the Blues remain vulnerable at the back and have managed to concede five goals in their two opening top-flight contests versus Fulham and Brighton.

‘Great game! Two teams looking good as well,’ Crouch said on That Peter Crouch Podcast while previewing the clash.

‘Joao Pedro, for me, I love watching him play football. He’s a player that enjoys his football and he just looks like he enjoys his football.

‘I’ve been thinking this since the first game against Fulham, I think he’ll get goals this season. I just think he’ll score goals.

‘Pedro Neto looks sharp, creative. They’ve got some creative players in that team.’

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Chelsea have looked to bring some stability at the back by capturing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as a replacement for the error-prone Robert Sanchez.

But Crouch believes the Argentine’s arrival alone may not be enough to stop the Blues shipping goals against Arsenal.

‘The only problem here [for Chelsea] is defensively, I think Chelsea will concede,’ the former Liverpool and Tottenham forward added.

‘I love the Emiliano Martinez signing, I think it’s a brilliant signing. How you get a World Cup-winning, dominant leader for £7million in this climate… I think that’s unreal, that’s a great signing.

‘I think Chelsea will concede goals, Brighton scored three against them.

‘I think they’ll concede goals but I think there will be goals, it will be interesting to see.’

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When pressed for a prediction, Crouch replied: ‘I’m going to put the cat amongst the pigeons and I’m going to go for a 3-2 Chelsea win.

‘I think they’ve announced themselves as title contenders.’

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Chelsea and enter this weekend’s eagerly anticipated derby as the overwhelming bookmakers’ favourites to come out on top.

Last season, the Gunners held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge before defeating the Blues 2-1 at the Emirates.

Arteta’s men also got the better of their bitter rivals in the Carabao Cup, with ex-Chelsea man Havertz scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner to send his side through to the final.

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