There is never a shortage of drama at Chelsea, and while there will undoubtedly be plenty more by the end of the season, why wait until then?
September traditionally marks the transition into the autumn months, the countdown to Christmas and, most importantly for football managers, the closure of the transfer window.
Chelsea have played a major role in this summer’s transfer market, with Morgan Rogers emerging as one of the club’s headline additions and Emi Martínez arriving to provide greater competition and address some of the concerns surrounding Robert Sánchez.
At the time of writing, Enzo Fernández remains a Chelsea player, but his future is still uncertain. Whether he will be wearing blue or joining Manchester City may not be confirmed until the transfer window finally closes on September 2.
Away from the transfer drama, the games will come thick and fast throughout September, with Chelsea facing a busy schedule of Premier League fixtures alongside an EFL Cup tie as Xabi Alonso looks to build momentum during his first season in charge.
Xabi Alono's starting XI becomes clear
With the transfer window now closed, attention can turn to the players who are likely to form the core of Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad. The Chelsea head coach can now begin moulding his preferred starting XI, with the arrival of a new midfielder potentially required to fill the void left by Enzo Fernández.
The defence already looks well-stocked and should only improve as the players build fitness and develop greater understanding. Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill look set to form the back three, with regular minutes together likely to strengthen the unit as the season progresses.
The wing-back positions remain the most hotly debated areas of the team. Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto are competing for the right side, while Marco Palestra will enter the equation once he returns to full fitness. On the left, Palestra could also provide competition for Jorrel Hato and Pep Chavarría, giving Alonso plenty of options across both flanks.
In midfield, Reece James and Moisés Caicedo look set to form the starting partnership, with the new arrival and Romeo Lavia providing further depth and competition. Further forward, the front three almost picks itself based on what we have already seen, with Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and João Pedro showing plenty of fluidity, creativity and attacking quality.
Heated London derby
Both sides have two wins from two as the title challengers and defenders face off. These games are often heated and this will be no different, as it will be likely one of the league’s best attacks (Chelsea) coming up against the best defence (Arsenal).
For the neutral, it promises to be a fascinating contest. For Chelsea supporters, however, it could be a very different experience, with fans kicking every ball from behind the sofa, or nervously pacing the room. Expect the temperature to rise throughout the match, with the referee’s pocket likely to see plenty of action. My prediction is for multiple yellow cards and at least one red before the final whistle. Who receives it? Your guess is as good as mine.
Cup progress
Chelsea face Leeds United in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge after comfortably seeing off Luton Town in the previous round. The difficulty will be raised against Premier League opposition, but Xabi Alonso’s side should have enough quality to progress with a comfortable victory in the second week of September.
International recognition
Performances will not go unnoticed, with several Chelsea players expected to receive international call-ups following their previous World Cup exclusions. João Pedro and Cole Palmer could be among those to benefit, while Pedro Neto is also expected to return to the Portugal squad under their new manager.
The extended international break will give Chelsea’s squad a chance to recover, and supporters will be hoping the majority of those involved return to Cobham fresh, fit and ready to hit the ground running when club football resumes.
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