Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: 3 things Potter got wrong in derby

Graham Potter’s Team selection

Let’s begin with the defence, which kind of selects itself at present because of a plethora of injuries. Well that’s not strictly true with Kalidou Koulibaly now returning to the substitute’s bench. Nevertheless, options are now ridiculously thin and the Senegalese has only just returned from a problem.

Let’s hope the boss actually has more of a selection headache after the international tournament. Partly due to the fact that depletion means I cannot yet advocate for the currently out of his depth Marc Cucurella to be dropped.

I don’t think Jorginho was ever going to be omitted as midfield anchor, with N’Golo Kante remaining sidelined. Yet I believe Denis Zakaria earned a chance to start in the English top-flight; if not for playing Arsenal, maybe the Swiss would have been in.

Meanwhile, in the No.8 role, Mateo Kovacic is nursing an ongoing knee issue so he can’t start every clash, especially with the World Cup on the horizon. I don’t think Ruben Loftus-Cheek has done much at all to justify being in the lineup. But the deployment of RLC instead of, say, a further forward dwelling and roving Conor Gallagher is self-explanatory.

Elsewhere, Mason Mount is unlikely to be left out: his value is clear, in spite of certain ignorant detractors. Aubameyang is still the main man up front, and you can understand that with his status. Although it won’t be long until striker Armando Broja is knocking on the door – or kicking it in!

Though rationalising the continued inclusion of Kai Havertz and, to a lesser extent, Raheem Sterling, is not easy. Despite a couple of good finishes, the Germany National player is absolutely vacant at times. Those occasions are typically, unfortunately, crucial games. Havertz is also known to disappear versus bottom half division sides, too. Christian Pulisic awaits his undoubtedly deserved run as a starter as well. I assume that the enigmatic Hakim Ziyech is not favoured by Potter.