Pochettino to make just one change for Arsenal – Talk Chelsea

Chelsea’s last Premier League game already feels like some time ago, but it also happens to be our best and most impressive result of the season so far.

We thrashed a team, we scored four goals, our attackers were scoring, and in the second half at least, we played some very good football.

So really, and I am writing this from Pochettino’s point of view and what I think he will be thinking, I only see injuries or fatigue forcing changes, other than up top.

For me it is Malo Gusto who comes in and starts at right back and I am not risking Reece James from the start, nor do I think Poch will. But I actually do think Poch might stick with Marc Cucurella at right back just because he’s played there for a few games and we have won every game.

I think a lot of people go with the argument of why change a winning formula? And I do see the big benefit of that. But for me, as I explained yesterday, I’d rather a natural right-side full back play there.

The only change I think Poch will make though is up top. Armando Broja returned early from international duty as a precaution so Chelsea could make sure he has his best chance of being fit for Arsenal, but even if that didn’t happen, I am pretty sure that Nicolas Jackson starting over him would have been, and will be the only change from our starting Xl vs Burnley.

Jackson had a small operation on his wrist but I have heard it’s unlikely that will keep him out of the Arsenal game – so we have to hope for the best there. He has already been playing with strapping on, so I’d just expect that to continue.

Many will want Mykhailo Mudryk to be starting this game purely because of the Arsenal situation. But I just can’t see that happening. Who will he start over? Raheem Sterling who was absolute fire last game for us and hasn’t been out playing on international duty? Or Cole Palmer who for me is a must-start regardless, if fully fit?

The only two scenarios I see Mudryk starting in is if Palmer is deemed not in full condition after his dead leg last week for the England U21s. But again, that shouldn’t be enough to keep him out of this game. And then the second scenario is if Palmer played centrally instead of one of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, or Conor Gallagher, and Mudryk played wide. But that would only happen if one of the aforementioned three come back from international duty fatigued or injured, so lets hope that does not happen.

Obviously some slight question marks still over Axel Disasi’s injury, but I am hopeful on him being OK to play and latest reports suggest just that. The rest form me just pick themselves. So as long as everyone is fit and not fatigued, I can see it being the same lineup that beat Burnley 4-1 last weekend.