“We hardly score goals without him and I’ve already apologize to him…And I’m ready to start him against Arsenal”: Enzo Maresca confirms ONE particular Chelsea player who always create chances for goals will return to starting XI against Arsenal
Sunday afternoon is enormous for both sides. But for different reasons.
In one corner, there is Arsenal. Fought with Manchester City for the Premier League title until the final day last season. Tipped by many to go one better this time around but have underachieved in recent weeks. Defeats at Newcastle United and Bournemouth in their last three Premier League matches see the Gunners head into the weekend in fifth-place in the top-flight table.
Mikel Arteta will be desperate for his Arsenal side to turn that around this weekend as we head into the final international break of the calendar year. However, in the other corner stands the Gunners’ opposition: Chelsea, who have – when context is considered – overachieved thus far this season.
Maresca, despite playing it down in his pre-match press conference, is desperate to lay down a marker with a statement victory as Chelsea head coach. The Blues have drawn with Manchester United and been beaten by Manchester City and Liverpool in games involving the so-called ‘big six’ this season. Sunday presents a perfect opportunity to put that right in front of the Stamford Bridge crowd that have become more expectant because of their side’s recent progress.
Ahead of the Chelsea head coach are some big decisions when it comes to his team selection on Sunday. As has been the case this season, those that featured on Thursday night in the 8-0 win against FC Noah in the UEFA Conference League are not expected to be involved against Arsenal – from the start, anyway. Those that were rested, and there were many of them, are set to be back in Maresca’s thinking.
The full-back situation is a bit of a conundrum for Maresca. In recent weeks, we have seen him start with Malo Gusto at right-back and Reece James playing on the left-hand side in a slightly different role from what we are used to seeing from the club captain.
Gusto has been on the right-hand side of a back-four but moving into the midfield and almost playing in one of the No.10 roles while Chelsea are in possession. Last weekend against Manchester United, though, that did not work. The Frenchman was too wasteful on the ball in what was a frustrating 45-minute cameo before he was taken off during the half-time break at Old Trafford.
Marc Cucurella entered the pitch for the second-half and impressed in Manchester; his performance lead to many calling for the Spaniard to come back into the XI for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal. That, in turn, would see James move back to the right-hand side of defence.
Some have called for James to play in the role Gusto has been but the physical demands of that position is probably swaying Maresca away from that decision. It is something we might see in the future but James, with all of his injury problems in recent seasons, is being eased back into action – and sensibly so – by the head coach.
Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill are expected to come back into the heart of the Chelsea back-line. Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile played against Noah but Maresca is set to go back to his trusted centre-back pairing with Arsenal presenting a much more difficult challenge for the Blues.
