Caicedo absence could reshape Chelsea’s XI for Arsenal test
Xabi Alonso faces his toughest test yet as Chelsea head to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and the Caicedo injury doubt could force his hand on two key changes.
Alonso ponders changes after Brighton win
Chelsea travel across London on Sunday afternoon to face the reigning champions at the Emirates Stadium, and it’s fair to call this Alonso’s toughest challenge since taking the job. He’ll be going up against a manager he’s known since childhood in Mikel Arteta, and the two have had all week to plot for what should be a fascinating tactical battle.
The Blues arrive full of confidence after that wild 4-3 win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Alonso has leaned on a 3-4-3 shape in his first two Premier League matches, though the Carabao Cup win over Luton Town saw a more conventional back four. Don’t expect wholesale changes here, but the size of the occasion – and the identity of the opponent – could well tempt a reshuffle. Our recent look at Alonso’s lineup preferences is worth revisiting for context on how he’s rotated so far.
The projected reshuffle
Josh Acheampong has been impressive whenever called upon this season, and he could come in for Wesley Fofana alongside Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill. Malo Gusto, who played centre midfield against Brighton, might switch to right wing-back instead, while Jorrel Hato could keep his place on the left after a strong showing at the weekend.
In the middle, Reece James – who started from the bench against Brighton – could come back in alongside Romeo Lavia. That would give Chelsea a projected XI of Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Gusto, James, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro in a 3-4-3. It’s worth stressing this is a projection, not confirmed team news, but it fits with everything we’ve seen of Alonso’s tactical setup so far this season.
Caicedo doubt looms large
The elephant in the room is Moises Caicedo. Chelsea were due to give an injury update at Alonso’s 1:30pm press conference, and the Ecuadorian was noticeably absent from the club’s training pictures released earlier in the week. That’s left plenty of supporters doubtful he’ll even be involved in north London, which only adds weight to the midfield reshuffle question – see our earlier piece on the wider midfield picture at Stamford Bridge for more on why this matters.
Emiliano Martinez, meanwhile, is a certainty in goal after his debut against Brighton. These are exactly the games Chelsea signed him from Aston Villa for.
In other news…
Read more on Xabi Alonso’s tactical blueprint at Chelsea.
Catch up on Alonso’s lineup calls from earlier in the season.
Follow the latest on Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea future.
