Even a quality opponent and bitter rival like Arsenal is not worth risking Eden Hazard’s full recovery. Antonio Conte should use Hazard the minimum amount necessary to secure a Chelsea win.
North London teams bring out the best in Eden Hazard. Arsenal seems like the perfect opponent for him to make his full return to the XI. After barely 45 minutes of playing time in two appearances this season, Hazard and Chelsea fans may be justifiably impatient to see No. 10 work his magic.
Antonio Conte needs to be the voice of reason and put a damper on that enthusiasm. Whether Hazard starts or comes on as a substitute, Conte should only have him on the pitch long enough to let his fitness and confidence progress and ensure a Blues victory.
The Arsenal fixture is Chelsea’s third of seven matches in 21 days. While the two after Arsenal are Nottingham Forest and Stoke City, the final two of September are Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Chelsea have six Premier League points and three Champions League points in short order on the other side of Sunday’s derby. The Blues can take a major step towards securing their Champions league group with a win away to Atletico.
The Blues arguably need Hazard’s creativity and deftness more against Stoke than Arsenal. Hazard’s dribbling is one of the few things that can penetrate Stoke’s tightly-packed defence, whereas Chelsea’s wingers and wing-backs can slice through Arsenal’s defenders.
Must Read: Marcos Alonso, Davide Zappacosta ready for expanded role in 3-5-2
Although Chelsea certainly need Hazard, they have won four straight without him against a variety of opponents. The Tottenham game provides the best template for defeating Arsenal without Hazard. Chelsea allowed Tottenham two-thirds of the possession but denied them strong scoring opportunities. They did this with a makeshift lineup, as they were also without Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill. With the full complement of defenders and midfielders in hand, and an opponent on short rest, Conte should not need more than an hour from Eden Hazard to earn three points.
Eden Hazard looked more himself against Qarabag then he did against Leicester, and even more so in his Instagram video yesterday. He is clearly on the verge of a full recovery. The Blues have too much riding on September to risk setting him back when he is so close.
Next: Setbacks for Chelsea's PL loanees Kasey Palmer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Antonio Conte and the sports medicine staff should set hard limits on Hazard’s play on Sunday. His teammates will hopefully come through and ensure he gets the rest he needs, whether he starts on the bench or in the XI. That will give him plenty of opportunities to create 90 minutes of magic later this month, let alone the rest of the season.