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Premier League | Gameweek 9

Oct 21, 2023 at 5.30pm UK

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea
2 - 2
Arsenal

Palmer (15' pen.), Mudryk (48')
Palmer (8'), Silva (44'), Cucurella (71')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Rice (77'), Trossard (84')
Arteta (9'), Zinchenko (11'), Nketiah (89'), White (90+1')

Chelsea handed Reece James boost ahead of Arsenal game

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 19 October 2023

Chelsea are seemingly handed a Reece James fitness boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League showdown with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have seemingly been handed a significant boost with regards to a potential injury return for Reece James.

Over the summer, the right-back was handed the club captaincy by newly-appointed head coach Mauricio Pochettino and he subsequently led the side in the opening Premier League fixture of the season against Liverpool.

However, after he was substituted through what Pochettino described as fatigue after a shortened pre-season, James has not been seen since courtesy of a hamstring injury.

Ahead of the October international break, Pochettino hinted that the England international may have come into contention for the encounter with Burnley had he not been serving a one-match suspension.

Nevertheless, earlier this week, it was reported that the 23-year-old had sustained a fresh issue at the start of the enforced break, leading to his absence from team training.

Chelsea's Reece James passes the arm band to Ben Chilwell before being substituted on August 13, 2023 © Reuters

With Pochettino having Malo Gusto back from suspension to challenge recent incumbent Marc Cucurella for the right-back spot, no risks are likely to be taken on James this weekend.

That said, on Wednesday, James was pictured with the rest of the fit senior players in training in preparation for the upcoming London derby with Arsenal.

After the appearance on the training pitch, James took to Instagram to say "thanks to the people that were patient with me".

Furthermore, he went on X, formerly known as Twitter, to post an image of him in training three days before the Gunners clash.

against all odds 😛 pic.twitter.com/TBzJpVrZJs
— Reece James (@ReeceJames) October 18, 2023

According to football.london, no decision has been made on whether James will be considered for selection at the weekend.

Pochettino appears likely to use Cucurella in the same position that he has occupied for victories over Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and Burnley.

Cucurella was forced to deputise when Gusto received a straight red card and three-match ban for his sending off against Aston Villa on September 24.

On Wednesday afternoon, Chelsea revealed that Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka had both suffered recurrences of their respective thigh and knee injuries and had been ruled out for the foreseeable future.