Chelsea predicted XI for Arsenal: All hands on deck for the next month

N’Golo Kante, 7, Midfield, France

After any loss, Chelsea fans have a habit of scapegoating a player that had little to do with the loss. It has been happening for the better part of the last decade and it is not every fan, but it does happen. Kante was the latest to get some of that when he really was not the issue. Some would love nothing more than to move on from Chelsea’s only world class midfielder, but he still has more to give than any other option regardless of how he is utilized.

Jorginho, 5, Midfield, Italy

Jorginho did not start the match against Arsenal last time, but he did come on to tap the ball in for the equalizer. He is a better player this year, but it is hard to separate him from the overlap with Kante and Mateo Kovacic. All three have skill sets that are unique but they also have skill sets that are rendered redundant by the partner they are with. There is no easy answer. All Lampard can hope for is that the three midfielders he pick gel together on the day.

Mateo Kovacic, 17, Attacking Midfield, Croatia

Kovacic went from being unable to finish a match, to playing every single game to completion, to missing out on strange days. Lampard is surely thinking about the fitness of Kovacic (and others) when he makes these team selections but he does need Kovacic back. This midfield three is easily the most defensively minded and reactive midfield Lampard can field, but that may be just what is required against Arsenal.