The latest Chelsea team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their Premier League clash with Arsenal
Chelsea are gearing up for their biggest test under new manager Xabi Alonso so far, when they take on Premier League champions and London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this weekend. The Blues will head into the match brimming with confidence, having won their two opening Premier League games of the season.
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The Gunners have matched that record, of course, after cruising past Coventry City on the opening day of the season before grinding out an impressive 1-0 win away to Aston Villa. Arsenal will be looking to quash the Blues’ early season hopes of a title challenge, while Chelsea will sense the opportunity to take a huge scalp against a rival they haven’t beaten away in the league since 2021.
Heading into the match, Chelsea have a relatively clean bill of health. Star midfielder Moises Caicedo is even more important to the side now Enzo Fernandez has left the club with no replacement signed, but he remains a doubt ahead of Sunday after coming off with an injury against Brighton last weekend.
Jordan Henderson is still waiting to make his Chelsea debut after fracturing his wrist during the frenzied celebrations that followed England’s iconic win against Mexico at the Azteca during the 2026 World Cup, and won’t be back in time for Arsenal. Marco Palestra is also expected to miss out, as he continues to recover from an unspecified injury picked up in training last month.
Ahead of the Blues’ eagerly anticipated trip to take on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal up in north London, we’ve pulled together the most likely starting XI that Chelsea could field at the Emirates.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Arsenal: goalkeeper and defence
Chelsea opted to upgrade in the goalkeeper department by signing Argentina international Emi Martinezplaceholder image
Chelsea opted to upgrade in the goalkeeper department by signing Argentina international Emi Martinez | AFP via Getty Images
GK - Emi Martinez: After month of fans crying out for the club to replace Robert Sanchez, the Blues finally pulled the trigger after a typically calamitous display in their opening day 3-2 win over Fulham. Martinez came in, and while he may be wearing John Terry’s iconic number 26, he’s very much Chelsea’s new number one going forward.
RWB - Malo Gusto: The France international was heavily linked with a move to Man City during the summer transfer window, but he ultimately remained at Stamford Bridge - despite reports of the Blues proposing a bizarre swap deal involving Nico O’Reilly. Gusto played in midfield against Brighton, but we expect him to start at wing-back against Arsenal.
CB - Wesley Fofana: Gusto’s compatriot made his return to the side last weekend, after missing the Fulham game and Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win over Luton Town through suspension, after getting sent off in last season’s final day loss to Sunderland. He’ll likely keep his starting spot on the right side of the central trio, ahead of rising star Josh Acheampong.
CB - Maxence Lacroix: Chelsea’s back line was a raging barn fire last season, and new boy Lacroix hasn’t exactly met the brief of extinguishing that persistent defensive danger just yet. He looked decent against Fulham, but began to unravel against Brighton as the game became chaotic. He’s expected to start against Arsenal, in an unchanged back three.
CB - Levi Colwill: A future club captain, Colwill will be looking for a full season without serious injury after missing the majority of 2025/26 with a ruptured ACL. Like Lacroix, he looked far better against Fulham than he did at home to Brighton. Alonso will be hoping the shaky start at the back is merely a case of his new defence still gelling in the early season.
LWB - Jorrel Hato: Filling the Marc Cucurella void was always going to be a tall task, but Hato has looked impressive in the role so far. The highly versatile youngster is fighting off competition from Pep Chavarria, who came off the bench to replace Hato for the final twenty minutes against Brighton.
Will Moises Caicedo play against Arsenal?
Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are forming a formidable attacking midfield partnershipplaceholder image
Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are forming a formidable attacking midfield partnership | Getty Images
CM - Reece James: The Blues will be sweating after failing to capture a replacement for Fernandez, which means James could become a midfielder for the rest of the season. It’s a role he knows well, and it does place less physical strain on the Chelsea skipper, who has been dogged by injuries throughout much of his career.
CM - Romeo Lavia: With Moises Caicedo only managing to play an unlucky 13 minutes after coming off the bench against Brighton before having to be withdrawn through injury, Lavia looks set to keep his starting spot. Caicedo could well be on the bench against Arsenal, but Alonso won’t be willing to risk losing one of his best players to a long-term injury.
AMC - Cole Palmer: The ex-Man City star didn’t think much of the ‘JP Morgan’ name coined for Chelsea’s new attacking three, but there’s no denying that they’re looking like one of the most potent forward trios in the Premier League right now. Palmer’s 2025/26 form was ghastly, but if the start of the season is anything to go by, he’s now very much back to his best.
AMC - Morgan Rogers: Living up to a £117m price tag was never going to be easy, but ex-Aston Villa star Rogers has got his Stamford Bridge career off to a fine start, naturally linking up with his former teammate Palmer. Both players will have their eyes on a call-up for England later this month, ahead of the mega three-week international break.
ST - Joao Pedro: Leading the line once again, the Brazilian superstar in the making will be looking to add to the three goals he’s bagged already this season. With Chelsea not featuring in Europe, he’ll likely start most games for the club in the 2026/27 campaign, with the veteran Danny Welbeck filling in here and there when required.
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