Xabi Alonso has announced his starting XI for the fixture against Arsenal, with two changes from the side that started the previous game, including one surprise.
Reece James comes in for Malo Gusto, a change that featured in many predicted XIs. However, the switch from Levi Colwill to Josh Acheampong has provided the biggest surprise among the fanbase.
Many expected Acheampong to replace Wesley Fofana on the right side of the three, but his inclusion for Colwill on the left is more unexpected, particularly given Colwill’s poor performances in Chelsea’s opening two games. It now seems likely that either Fofana or Maxence Lacroix will move across to the left, with Acheampong operating on the right.
The Blues have a perfect record so far this season, and the changes will hope to be effective in arguably their toughest test yet this afternoon, with a trip to the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal. See the full lineup below:
Your Chelsea XI.#CFC | #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/UkSmiUVgO3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 6, 2026
Colwill and Gusto take their places on the bench, while Moises Caicedo has been left out of the squad after presumably not taking part in the final training session to prove his fitness. There is still no update on Chelsea’s best midfielder or how long he will be out, with James and Lavia set to take his place in the middle.
The front three are as expected, with Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer lining up behind Joao Pedro in attack.
For Arsenal, Kai Havertz leads the line, while Ezri Konsa is the only change. He will come up against his former teammate Rogers, with another former Chelsea player, Noni Madueke, starting on the bench.
The line-ups
Chelsea: Martinez, Acheampong, Fofana, Lacroix, Neto, James (c), Lavia, Hato, Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro
Substitutes: Penders, Colwill, Chavarria, Gusto, Barco, Estevao, Gittens, Quenda, Welbeck
Arsenal: Raya, White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Saka, Odegaard (c), Tzolis, Havertz
Substitutes: Kepa, Hincapie, Dowman, Guimaraes, Merino, Zubimendi, Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres
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