Many were tipping Chelsea to be Arsenal's primary challengers before a ball was kicked this season. Well, after Manchester United and Tottenham were beaten on Saturday, before neither Manchester City nor Liverpool were convincing on Sunday, the Blues' prospect have seemingly increased, without even commencing their own campaign just yet.
Xabi Alonso's first game in charge comes at Craven Cottage on Monday night, with his side facing West London rivals Fulham, now led by the other man to manage Real Madrid last season Álvaro Arbeloa. If the away side are to claim a convincing victory on the Banks of the River Thames, fans might just start getting carried away with what is possible this season.
However, as they prepare to make the very short 1.6 mile journey across the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Alonso will be without a starter due to a suspension most will have forgotten about.
Which Chelsea player will miss the clash with Fulham suspended?
On the final day of last season, as Calum McFarlane's team were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Wesley Fofana was sent off for two bookable offences. That was, amazingly, Chelsea's eighth red card of the campaign in the Premier League and tenth in all competitions.
Thus, the Frenchman will serve his one-game suspension at Craven Cottage on Monday. This is something of a blow, considering the 25 year old played a prominent role in pre-season. Fofana started three of the Blues' final four friendlies, these against Juventus, A.C. Milan and Real Sociedad, completing 90 minutes last weekend. The only exception during this sequence was the 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta'zim, in which Alonso played reserves and young players anyway.
Thus, it is clear that Fofana is, right now, in Alonso's best XI, but who will get the nod in his place?
Who is Xabi Alonso expected to start at centre-back vs Fulham?
Despite the fact he has used both systems during pre-season, most are forecasting that Alonso will favour a 3-4-2-1 formation. This is what he deployed during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, leading die Werkself to an unbeaten domestic double, claiming the club's first-ever Meisterschale.
Now at Chelsea, new recruit Maxence Lacroix will be the central centre-back, with fit again Levi Colwill at left-centre-back. The role on the right has been earmarked for Fofana, meaning it remains to be seen who will deputise.
Josh Acheampong is the most-likely candidate, having started there against Milan in Indonesia. The fact that Jorrel Hato is left-footed probably rules him out, while Tosin Adarabioyo would be a surprise inclusion against his former side, given the murmurings that he could leave the club.
Alonso could go left-field by utilising someone like Reece James at centre-back, we'll have to wait and see, but it is expected to be Acheampong, but just how much of a miss will Fofana be?
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