When Arsenal host Chelsea this weekend, it could be argued we will be seeing the Premier League’s best attack taking on its best midfield.While much of the talk this week was around how the reigning champions failed to add to their attacking line-up in the transfer market, less was made of how adding Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United has created a formidable set of options for Mikel Arteta.Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly have started Arsenal’s first two league games and hardly put a foot wrong.Odegaard was more influential against Coventry. Rice’s ability to cover ground both offensively with the ball and defensively without it helped Arsenal shift gears in both games, while Lewis-Skelly’s composure on the ball stood out against Coventry, when he made 19 passes into the final third, before he produced a more ‘grown-up’ defensive performance at Villa Park.Arteta could then call upon Guimaraes, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi. Two World and European champions with Spain and a former Newcastle captain, who also impressed at the World Cup with four assists for Brazil.Merino glided away from challenges to keep Arsenal in control. Zubimendi was much more combative than he was in the second half of last season, crunching into tackles. Guimaraes was a mix of the two, with an added willingness to pass forward.When Arteta moved Lewis-Skelly into midfield in May of last season, the Arsenal manager joked about the number of possible line-ups he’d drafted on his iPad. One can only imagine what that iPad has looked like in the past few days.Arteta’s selection dilemma in midfield is particularly intriguing not just because his options are fit, but because they all offer something different — luxuries Arteta did not have much of last season, when Odegaard and Merino were injured at various points, and he did not start Eberechi Eze in a league game between matchday 17 and 25.Arteta spoke of not having the opportunity to utilise the different profile of centre-forwards he had in the first half of the campaign, but the same could be said for his midfield.Lewis-Skelly kept his place in midfield from last season initially due to World Cup players being on holiday, but he has since done so on the merit of his performances. The 19-year-old’s ability to receive the ball on the half-turn and evade pressure, and drive with the ball, make him a unique player.He started the Community Shield alongside Guimaraes, who may have started Arsenal’s first two league games over Rice had he not suffered a minor injury. The balance of Lewis-Skelly and Guimaraes rotating alongside Odegaard worked against City, but Rice is not a player to drop or rest against Chelsea at home. Should Guimaraes be deemed ready after his cameo at Villa Park, a new midfield configuration could be afoot this weekend.Arteta summed up what the Brazil international would offer this pre-season when he said: “(Guimaraes) has tremendous timing and intuition to win the ball back and progress plays very fast. He’s comfortable putting people through, moving between the lines, moving in behind. And then he’s a goal threat.”That skill set could be useful from the start this weekend considering Chelsea’s approach to the first two league matches, and their current midfield limitations.Alonso’s side have been reminiscent of Arsenal in the 2022-23 season, blowing teams away early on but lacking real control over the course of 90 minutes — seen in their average of 32.4 per cent possession and five goals conceded. That was compounded by the failed deadline-day move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, Enzo Fernandez’s departure to Manchester City and Moises Caicedo’s injury against Brighton & Hove Albion.Their 3-4-2-1 structure only requires two central midfielders, so they are happy to concede possession and focus play out wide, which makes Arteta’s dilemma twofold.If Chelsea are happy for Arsenal to have the ball, who are the best options to play incisive forward passes and then who has the awareness and physical capacity to cover the wide areas from central midfield?Both Lewis-Skelly and Guimaraes have shown that willingness to break lines with their passing. It is how Lewis-Skelly assisted Riccardo Calafiori against City, while Guimaraes has found Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka with quick passes in behind from deeper in each of his cameos. The Brazil international was Newcastle’s most progressive passer last season, and made six line-breaking passes in the 19 minutes he played at Villa Park.A player who may have been misinterpreted by neutrals/Arsenal fans while at Newcastle because of their playing style in head-to-head meet-ups, Guimaraes looks like he could add a different dimension to Arsenal’s midfield when regular starts come, akin to Michael Essien helping Chelsea win back-to-back league titles after signing in 2005.It helps that Rice has been more front-footed in possession too. The 27-year-old could have benefited from being eased into the fray this season, but a driving run against Coventry led to Arsenal’s second goal, and another in the second against Villa resulted in a Saka penalty shout that helped swing momentum the visitors’ way.He was also more punchy with his forward passes to create openings in the final third, which could be another step in his personal development, as seen below.Rice hasn’t missed a step defensively either, covering wide areas with ease. Lewis-Skelly has shown an aptitude for more 360-degree defending and dropping to protect his centre-backs and goalkeeper. If Guimaraes is fit enough to start, however, this may be the perfect game for him to display the full extent of his qualities both with and without the ball, considering how combative he could be when facing Arsenal for Newcastle.Then there is Merino and Zubimendi. Merino played just 20 minutes at Villa Park, but his three take-ons completed ranked joint-second across the Premier League for matchday two. He has previously been used (and scored twice) as a centre-forward against Chelsea, and depending on the game state, another cameo could be welcomed.Arsenal and Chelsea rarely disappoint when they meet. It’s a London derby and Arteta vs Alonso. Morgan Rogers is facing the side who were interested in him but chose not to reach Villa’s asking price. It is the latest meeting between Kai Havertz and his former club. And of course, the league’s best attack faces its best midfield.