New Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor faces her toughest challenge yet as she goes up against Women's Super League (WSL) title rivals Arsenal on Saturday.
After last weekend's fixture against Manchester United was postponed, it will be her first encounter with a traditional powerhouse and, coming after a thrilling 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League on Tuesday night, will offer a true assessment of where the team stand under her leadership.
With only a handful of league games played, Chelsea have yet to face a real test under their new boss.
Their opening 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the WSL was a tight, evenly contested match, and although they thrashed newly promoted Crystal Palace 7-0, neither team matches the calibre of five-time title holders Arsenal.
Perhaps the clearest sign of what lies ahead for the Blues this season came against Liga F side Real Madrid. Certainly, it is clear that things will not go as smoothly for them as they did under legendary former boss Emma Hayes. So what have we learned so far as Chelsea prepare to travel to Arsenal?
Bompastor is no stranger to the Champions League, having lifted the trophy both as a player and a manager with eight-time champions Lyon, but her previous experience was with a team rich in experience themselves.
The situation at Chelsea, who have never won the UWCL, is slightly different now, as reflected in their tense 3-2 victory on Tuesday night.
The biggest test of her managerial acumen came just minutes before kickoff when goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to withdraw from the starting XI due to illness, with Zecira Musovic stepping in. Bompastor's ability to stay composed during moments like this is a testament to her leadership, and for much of the evening, the Blues dominated and appeared in control as they took a 2-0 lead inside half an hour.
However, the game took a turn in the final 15 minutes when, having fallen 3-1 behind, Madrid ramped up the pressure and flooded the final third in the hope of snatching a draw.
Linda Caicedo's goal, to make it 3-2, turned out to be just a consolation for the visitors, but both goals Chelsea conceded were the result of sloppy, haphazard defending and it's not the first time the side have looked nervy in defence this season.
Despite keeping clean sheets against Villa and Palace, Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities were on display against Madrid and a better team could have capitalised and caused them problems.
While Arsenal have struggled in front of goal failing to convert any of their 21 shots against Everton last weekend Chelsea certainly can't be complacent when preparing to stop the Gunners' world-class attack.
On Tuesday, it was also evident that some members of Bompastor's squad were uncomfortable with the increased intensity though it should be noted that Chelsea were missing key players including Erin Cuthbert (injured), Catarina Macario (illness) and Kadeisha Buchanan (suspension). If they are to settle into the new manager's style of play then they will have to improve in this area.
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