The Arsenal and Chelsea Club Badges
Chelsea visit Arsenal in a potentially crucial Premier League clash (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have been dealt an injury blow ahead of a crucial period of the season which includes a Premier League clash against leaders Arsenal.
The Blues have aspirations of finishing in the top-four and going deep in the Champions League during the business end of the season.
Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League with 12 games remaining, one point below fourth-placed Manchester United, with the top-five likely to qualify for the Champions League.
Liam Rosenior, who was hired last month to replace Enzo Maresca, will soon prepare for the knockout stages of the Champions League, with Chelsea advancing straight to the last-16 after finishing sixth in the group stage.
Rosenior would also love to enjoy a deep and possibly even triumphant FA Cup run, having beaten his former club Hull City 4-0 in the fourth round on Friday night.
Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend against relegation-battlers Burnley, before a huge clash with London rivals and title favourites Arsenal on March 1.
The west Londoners face tricky games against Aston Villa and Newcastle United after their trip to Arsenal and Rosenior could be without Marc Cucurella for all of those fixtures.
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Arsenal v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella (Picture: Getty)
Cucurella was forced off at half-time during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Leeds United last week and Rosenior was coy over his return date.
BBC Sport claim Chelsea expect Cucurella to be out for up to a month after he underwent a scan on the hamstring injury.
Cucurella’s absence will be a significant blow to Chelsea as the Spain international has recovered from a shaky start to his Blues career to establish himself as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.
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Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, John Terry claimed Bukayo Saka ‘doesn’t like’ facing Cucurella.
‘We have some battles in the middle of the park,’ Terry said on his TikTok. ‘We have Saka against Cucurella that’s always a good battle.
‘With them two, I’m not sure Saka likes the aggression from Cucurella. But let me tell you, every Chelsea supporter does so hopefully he brings that same energy and same intensity like he does always.’
Cucurella’s development into a world star came as a surprise given the unconvincing start to his Chelsea career following a £60m move from Brighton.
A number of pundits questioned Chelsea’s transfer decision and the club even considered selling Cucurella, according to former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
‘Cucurella didn’t play from the beginning and the club wanted to sell, and then he became the best full-back in the Premier League,’ Pochettino said on The High Performance podcast.
While Chelsea are in a battle for the top-four, Arsenal are bidding to win their first Premier League title since 2004 under Mikel Arteta.
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