Romelu Lukaku is set for his second debut for Chelsea while Trevoh Chalobah and N’Golo Kante miss out as Chelsea take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to the side that swatted away Crystal Palace in the season opener for the derby contest against Arsenal on Sunday evening.
The biggest news coming from the Blues camp is that club-record signing Romelu Lukaku has been thrust right into the thick of things after having completed the move earlier this month. The Belgian international replaces the misfiring Timo Werner in the No. 9 slot for Chelsea.
Lukaku starts for the Blues! ?
Here's how we line up at the Emirates…#ARSCHE | @ParimatchGlobal pic.twitter.com/mplkBpcHVG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 22, 2021
The second change in attack is an enforced one as Christian Pulisic was ruled out after testing positive for coronavirus. In his place, Kai Havertz gets the nod alongside Mason Mount in the two attacking midfield slots. There are no changes in the centre of the park, with Tuchel sticking with Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic despite N’Golo Kante returning to fitness, with the Frenchman being named on the bench.
Another surprise move comes in the backline where in-form Trevoh Chalobah has been relegated to the bench by Tuchel. In his stead, Reece James gets the nod, with the Englishman moving to the right wing-back slot, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to return to the right-sided centre-back role alongside Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. Edouard Mendy holds on to his spot in goal.
Chelsea Confirmed XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Lukaku, Havertz.
