Chelsea vs Arsenal: Three things to look for in important top four clash
2. Thomas Tuchel’s midfield
The day Tuchel decides on a consistent starting XI is the day pigs fly. The German manager has spent the season tweaking his line-up—be it personnel or shape—to best counter his opponents. The defense has undergone massive changes throughout the season, as has the front line. The midfield, on the other hand, has remained the same for all intents and purposes. Tuchel’s selected two of Jorginho, N’Golo Kante or Mateo Kovacic, depending on the opposition.
He could very well do this again on Wednesday with Jorginho and Kante taking their places in midfield. However, I think he’s got a trick or two up his sleeve. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean a surprise start for Ross Barkley or a new formation altogether. Kovacic is thought to have been the team’s best midfielder—if not overall player—during the current campaign. The Croatian is set to miss out on the derby due to an ankle injury he suffered at the weekend, so Tuchel now has a decision to make regarding his short-term successor.
Kante started on the bench in the FA Cup semifinal as the manager gave the Frenchman an opportunity to rest his legs. Furthermore, Jorginho was one of the poorest performers against the Eagles, according to many fans and pundits. The two veteran midfielders haven’t been as important to the team this season as they were in years past, so the decision isn’t as straightforward as many would imagine. Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s resurgence over the last three matches goes a step further in complicating this issue.
Could the Englishman play spoiler on Wednesday and see one of the top five Ballon d’Or finishers remain benched? It’s not a farfetched scenario. Loftus-Cheek has emerged as a versatile game changer for Chelsea in recent weeks. Tuchel tends to stick with players who are in form, as well. Loftus-Cheek brings an entirely different skillset to the Blues’ starting XI and he’s beginning to gain some momentum. He could be the difference between three points and none, expect his name to be one of the first on the teamsheet against Arsenal for that reason alone.