Liam Rosenior got off to a flying start as Chelsea manager with a 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup's Third Round last weekend, but he is now preparing for his first real test against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Blues will host Mikel Arteta's Gunners in the EFL Cup semi-finals in the first of two legs on Wednesday evening. The two sides will battle it out in the hope of taking the advantage into the second leg, played at the Emirates, at the start of next month.
Chelsea may not come into Wednesday's matchup as the favourites, but Rosenior will fancy his side's chances after Arteta confirmed Arsenal will be without four first-team players with another two facing late tests.
Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal without several first team players ahead of Chelsea clash
Although Chelsea were without Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto and captain Reece James during last weekend's cup game away to Charlton, Rosenior is hopeful the trio will be in contention to feature against Arsenal mid-week. Arteta hasn't been afforded the same kind of injury luck, though.
The Arsenal manager has confirmed, via Arsenal's official website, during his pre-match press conference that the Gunners will be without Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori.
Confirming all four players' injury statuses, Arteta said:
"Those two [Hincapie and Calafiori] are not available yet. He’s [Calafiori] progressing, but we don’t know. I think it will be a matter of a few weeks, probably, but we don’t know exactly when.
[Max] is very similar to [Cristhian] Mosquera as well. Very similar injuries, very similar timeframes and both evolving really well. But they’re not training yet so they’re still a few weeks away."
It's bad news for the Gunners, who will be forced to rely on a defence without much depth. Although Gabriel is available and arguably the country's best centre-back on form, Arteta won't want to overplay him, but, given his lack of options, the Spaniard may have no choice but to start the Brazilian for a third time in a single week.
Leandro Trossard and William Saliba also doubts
It isn't just the aforementioned quartet who will be sidelined for Wednesday's EFL Cup clash against Chelsea, Arsenal could also be without Leandro Trossard and William Saliba.
Confirming the pair 'are doubts', Arteta will likely need to mix up his selection as the Gunners' mini-injury crisis appears to hand Rosenior a much-needed advantage as the 41-year-old looks to reach the final of the first piece of silverware on offer this season.
Should Chelsea reach the EFL Cup final, which is due to be played at Wembley Stadium on March 22, they will face either Manchester City or holders Newcastle United.