Xabi Alonso takes Chelsea across London to face Arsenal on Sunday knowing the Premier League champions have offered opponents almost nothing during the opening weeks of their title defence.
Arsenal have won both league matches without conceding and allowed only one shot on target across those two games, highlighting the level of control Mikel Arteta’s side have established.
Chelsea nevertheless arrive with seven Premier League goals and a very different attacking profile.
They do not necessarily need to dominate possession at the Emirates. Their best opportunity may come from attacking the few moments when Arsenal’s structure breaks.
Here are three ways Alonso’s side can hurt the champions.
Chelsea have created more big chances than Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United COMBINED so far this season… ✅ pic.twitter.com/yEJQN13jzy
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) September 4, 2026
1. Attack the space Arsenal leave during their rotations
Arsenal’s build-up is designed to create numerical superiority centrally.
Their full-backs can step inside, advance into midfield or occupy higher positions depending on the phase of possession. Riccardo Calafiori in particular has increasingly been used in adventurous central areas by Arteta.
That control comes with a potential opportunity.
When possession changes hands, Chelsea need to attack before Arsenal can restore their shape.
Pedro Neto is particularly suited to that situation.
His pace provides Alonso with an immediate vertical outlet, while Morgan Rogers can carry the ball aggressively through the inside channels rather than waiting for Chelsea to construct a slower positional attack.
That approach has already worked.
Chelsea recorded only 26 per cent possession against Brighton, but still produced 17 of the game’s 32 attempts and scored four times.
ReadChelsea has already highlighted how Rogers’ direct running could become particularly important against the club that wanted to sign him this summer.
Arsenal want control.
Chelsea should try to make the game uncomfortable whenever that control disappears.
2. Don’t turn the match into a pressing contest
Trying to press Arsenal relentlessly from David Raya’s six-yard box would carry considerable risk.
Arteta has spent years constructing a side capable of playing through pressure.
Chelsea have also shown that their own pressing remains a work in progress.
After the opening victory over Fulham, Alonso admitted Chelsea did not always choose the correct moments to press.
A more compact midfield block could therefore make greater sense at the Emirates.
Chelsea can allow Arsenal’s centre-backs early possession before becoming aggressive when the ball moves into areas where passing options become restricted.
The objective should be to prevent Martin Ødegaard and Arsenal’s other midfielders receiving comfortably between Chelsea’s lines.
Who performs that job remains one of Alonso’s major decisions.
Moisés Caicedo is still a fitness doubt, with Chelsea delaying a final decision on the midfielder until after Saturday’s assessment.
If Caicedo cannot start, Reece James and Romeo Lavia provide the obvious alternative.
Alonso has already revealed that he expects James to receive significant minutes centrally, with the Chelsea boss even backing his captain to develop into one of the world’s leading midfielders.
That physicality could prove invaluable against Arsenal.
3. Survive Arsenal’s set pieces and counter from them
Chelsea’s preparations this week have made one concern particularly obvious.
Arsenal’s set pieces.
Alonso’s players were pictured using rugby-style tackle shields at Cobham, apparently recreating the physical contact Chelsea expect from Arsenal’s blocking and movement around dead-ball situations.
That work could prove crucial.
Allowing Arsenal repeated corners would undermine everything Chelsea are trying to achieve defensively, particularly with Gabriel Magalhães providing such an imposing aerial presence.
But Arsenal attacking set pieces can also create one of Chelsea’s rare opportunities to attack an open pitch.
Alonso needs an outlet.
Whether that is Cole Palmer, Rogers or Neto, keeping one dangerous transition player higher can make Arsenal think twice about committing virtually everyone around the Chelsea penalty area.
One clearance suddenly becomes a counterattack.
And Chelsea possess exactly the type of forwards capable of exploiting it.
Chelsea do not need to beat Arsenal at their own game
That may ultimately be the most important tactical point.
Chelsea should not travel to the Emirates believing they need more possession than Arsenal.
The Guardian’s analysis of Alonso and Arteta describes the contrast between Arsenal’s established control and a Chelsea side currently far more comfortable embracing unpredictable games.
Alonso’s side have already demonstrated how dangerous they can be without dominating the ball.
Their challenge is doing so without reproducing the defensive chaos that allowed Brighton back into a match Chelsea had led 3-0.
ReadChelsea highlighted that lack of control immediately after the 4-3 victory.
Arsenal have won their last four home Premier League matches without conceding and have not lost to Chelsea in nine league meetings.
Sunday therefore demands something different.
Stay compact.
Choose the right moments to press.
And when Arsenal finally leave space, attack it immediately.
That could give Chelsea their best chance of producing an early statement victory under Alonso.
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