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Mikel Arteta's patient Arsenal rebuild could be the perfect model for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea... but as Saturday's derby kick-starts a daunting acid test of progress, will the Argentine get the time he needs?

The mood over the international break at Chelsea will have been positive for a change. For the first time since March last year, the Blues went into one off the back of a win.

Not just one win, but three on the bounce against Brighton, Fulham and Burnley which suggested a corner has been turned and the Mauricio Pochettino era has lift-off.

There have been plenty of encouraging signs of progress in that trio of victories but sceptics will swiftly point out Chelsea have enjoyed a relatively kind early-season fixture list.