Chelsea's Midfield Issues Persist After Arsenal Loss

In Sunday's 2-1 loss to reigning champions Arsenal, Chelsea ended the match with two players who originally started as right-backs positioned together in midfield. This raised questions after the Blues invested £349 million in the summer transfer window.

Reece James, who began as a right-back, was caught out marking Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard when he scored the winning goal at Emirates Stadium. Despite this error, James had a decent game and spent nearly half of last season playing in midfield.

But the bigger issue is Chelsea’s shallow midfield options. When Malo Gusto, another player developed as a right-back, replaced midfielder Romeo Lavia in the second half, it highlighted the lack of creative depth on the bench. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s substitutes made the difference, helping secure victory for the hosts.

"Chelsea don’t have European football this season, so they’re playing fewer games and can focus on the Premier League. But you finish against the champions with two right-backs in midfield," said Ashley Young to BBC Sport. "Lavia was injured often last season. The frontline will strike fear into opponents, but behind them, the midfield is being filled by right-backs.""Opponents will see Chelsea sit back and pack men behind the ball, but spaces still appear between lines, which Arsenal exploited. Chelsea gave up possession and mostly played counter-attacking football. The only real counter chance was Pedro Neto down the right."

The Missing Link: Caicedo’s Injury

The main reason behind the midfield struggles is the absence of Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder sustained an injury just 11 minutes into a substitute appearance against Brighton last week and faces an uncertain recovery period. His consistent presence over the past three seasons has been crucial, making his injury a significant blow.

Manager Xabi Alonso admitted that Caicedo might have been rushed back too soon, stating, "It’s about assessing the risk. I don’t want to repeat last week’s mistake." Meanwhile, questions remain about Chelsea’s midfield recruitment strategy. Attempts to sign Monaco’s Lamine Camara for £47 million fell through last minute, causing frustration at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea also had offers rejected for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, valued at £64 million, and were blocked from signing France’s Manu Kone due to Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s refusal.

Despite selling Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for a British-record joint fee of £125 million without bringing in a direct replacement, Chelsea claimed satisfaction with their summer dealings and faith in their current squad.

With Caicedo sidelined, alongside Jordan Henderson recovering from a broken arm sustained at the World Cup, natural midfielder Valentin Barco has yet to feature, with Gusto preferred in midfield roles in all three league matches so far.

Possession stats: With Gusto in midfield, Chelsea held just 25.6% possession in their recent 4-3 win over Brighton—their lowest since 2003-04.

If all midfielders return fit, Alonso expects the five midfielders to manage the season without European fixtures complicating matters. So far, Chelsea’s attacking talents like Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro have carried much of the load.

Still, conceding seven goals in three matches worries Alonso, who insists, "We want to be tighter."

Alonso Stays Upbeat Despite Setbacks

There were positives amid the defeat. Record signing Morgan Rogers scored early, becoming the first Chelsea player since Eden Hazard in 2018-19 to score or assist in each of the club’s opening three Premier League matches.

This performance was arguably one of Chelsea’s better efforts against Arsenal during a stretch of 10 matches without a win over their London rivals. Nonetheless, there remains a wide 33-point gap after finishing 10th last season.

"We came to win. We knew we weren’t that far off, but it went their way," Alonso reflected post-match. "It hurts and we’re disappointed, but this is just the first loss. It won’t affect our mood or mindset."

Arsenal continue to set the standard Chelsea wants to reach. Even though Chelsea secured Rogers ahead of Arsenal, the gap between the clubs shows in midfield depth. Despite adding 10 first-team players in summer, failing to sign a replacement for Fernandez before the deadline may prove costly.

Alonso referred to this summer as “phase one.” If Caicedo’s return doesn’t solve midfield problems, the club might face scrutiny for not acting sooner and may need to revisit the market in January.