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Looking at the midfield options we currently have, I think we have a very interesting group of players locked in.

Moises Caicedo.
Romeo Lavia.
Jordan Henderson.
Valentin Barco.

Looking at these names, I see a good mixture of defensive ability, ball progression, experience and technical quality.

Caicedo gives us that defensive security and ability to cover huge areas. Lavia can help us control possession and progress the ball from deeper positions. Henderson brings experience, leadership and game management, while Barco offers another technical option and versatility.

My focus is not necessarily quality, my focus is on the consistent availability of these players. If Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson and Barco can stay fit and avoid injuries throughout the season, then I think we don’t have any midfield problem but football can be very swift in changing direction. Injuries, suspensions, form and tactical demands can change everything very quickly and I honestly pray it doesn’t happen this way for us this season.

As a true Chelsea fan, if all these our four midfielders stay fit are you confident in our midfield setup this season?

Who would be your first choice midfield pairing or three?

For me my choice is Caicedo and Lavia.

Would Xabi Alonso finally give us the long awaited win we need over Arsenal on Sunday?

It’s been 5 years since we last won Arsenal can there be a breakthrough for us now?

We have started the season well, we are scoring goals and there is a lot to be excited about but let’s be honest, Arsenal is a different test.

They look more settled as a team, especially defensively. Meanwhile we have already shown that we can score plenty of goals but also we give our opponents too many chances and giving a team like Arsenal those kind of chances would cost us a lot and that is where I’m really concerned.

My thought is can our attack hurt Arsenal enough to outweigh our defensive problems? If our front line clicks, Arsenal could have a very uncomfortable game but if we defend like we did against Brighton then there would be chaos.

WHO ARE YOU BACKING ON SUNDAY?

Arsenal, Chelsea or a Draw?

Don’t just pick your team because you are a Blue.

I’m going with Arsenal 2–2 Chelsea. Though I won’t be shocked if we go there and walk away with 3 points as well.

My take on Enzo Fernandez’s move to Manchester City.

Let’s forget about the money for a moment, I think we are losing a very good midfielder.

Enzo had his critics but last season he showed exactly why Chelsea invested so heavily in him. He finished the 2025/26 season with 15 goals and 7 assists and he became an important player for both club and country.

Xabi Alonso has to replace a midfielder who can contribute defensively, progress the ball, create chances and arrive in the box. For me getting £125m is one thing, replacing Enzo Fernandez before the window closes is another.

Personally I think this is a transfer Chelsea can only justify if the money is used properly and a genuine midfield replacement comes in. Otherwise we may look back at this deal and ask this question.

Did we sell one of their best midfielders at the wrong time?

What do you think Chelsea fans?

Was selling Enzo Fernandez for £125m the right decision or should we have done everything possible to keep him?

I think it’s high time Xabi Alonso look into this before it becomes an issue to the team.

One thing that has really frustrated me with our team lately is how often some of our players seem to hold onto the ball when a simple pass could create a much better situation.

Sometimes it feels like everyone wants to be the one to make something happen individually but football doesn’t work that way. There were moments today where a quicker pass, an earlier release or simply looking up for a teammate could have made a huge difference.

I love players who are confident and willing to take responsibility but there is a fine line between confidence and being selfish with the ball.

I think Xabi Alonso needs to address this before it becomes a bigger problem for us. Against stronger opposition those extra touches and missed passing opportunities can come back to punish us.

Maybe to some one reading this, I’m being too critical but I genuinely think this is something we need to improve on.

I have noticed this selfishness in our game against Fulham, Luton Town and now Brighton. I feel it’s becoming a trend. If it’s not checked, it could cost us.

Do you think our players are becoming too selfish with the ball? Or is it simply part of the attacking freedom Alonso is giving them?

The biggest thing I took from this game is that we are becoming much more dangerous going forward but we are still far too vulnerable defensively.

We scored four goals and deserved the win but the 4:3 scoreline tells you something important. This Chelsea team can hurt opponents but we have not yet learned how to control games properly.

1. OUR ATTACKING FOOTBALL IS BECOMING VERY EXCITING.

Our front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer are beginning to look like a serious problem for defenders. Joao Pedro scored and was heavily involved in our attacking play, while Rogers provided the assist for Pedro Neto’s goal. Palmer then added our fourth goal with a long range finish. And I particularly like the way Joao Pedro is becoming more than just a striker. He is dropping, combining, carrying the ball and creating situations for others. Jorrel Hato’s assist for his goal was another example of Chelsea finding ways to get players into dangerous areas. It is clear there is genuine chemistry developing there.

2. WE ARE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE.

Lavia’s fourth minute goal immediately set the tone and Neto’s goal in the 14th minute showed how quickly we can punish teams. Joao Pedro then made it 3:0 before Brighton pulled one back. This is something I want to see more of from our boys. Don’t spend 20 minutes trying to feel your way into a match, when the opportunity is there, attack.

Under Alonso, there appears to be a willingness to commit players forward and attack spaces much earlier but here is where I think the the problem lies, we made the game unnecessarily difficult. Going 3:0 up should give you control instead Brighton got themselves back into the game. They scored before half time and then we conceded again in the second half through an own goal before Palmer restored the two goal advantage. Brighton still managed another late goal to make it 4:3.

This is the biggest area where I think Alonso needs to address.

We need to learn how to kill games. Not necessarily by scoring five or six. Sometimes you need to slow the match down, keep possession and move Brighton around. Take the sting out of their attacks. Make them chase the ball.

Instead, we allowed the game to become chaotic again. I thank God we survived this but against a better side, that could become a serious problem for us.

3. OUR DEFENSIVE CONCENTRATION NEEDS TO IMPROVE.

There were periods where we looked very comfortable but once Brighton gained momentum we became vulnerable. The issue isn’t simply that we conceded three. For me, it’s how easily the momentum changed. A team with title ambitions cannot continually turn comfortable positions into nervy finishes. And that is especially important because Brighton are not a team that simply sits back and accepts pressure. They are capable of keeping possession and manipulating space. We need to become much better at recognising when to attack and when to control.

4. LAVIA WAS IMPORTANT.

Romeo Lavia scoring the opener was obviously significant but his influence wasn’t only about the goal. His presence gave us an important connection between the defensive line and the attacking players. I would personally rate his performance highly in this match.

That midfield balance matters enormously to this system.

When we lose control in midfield, our defence gets exposed. When the midfield controls the game, our attacking players get the freedom to hurt teams.

5. JOAO PEDRO IS BECOMING A VERY INTERESTING PLAYER FOR US.

I think this might actually be one of the biggest positives from our opening games. He is not playing like someone simply trying to justify the No. 9 shirt, he is looking involved. He is combining with Palmer and Rogers dropping into spaces and creating problems between the lines.

Against Brighton he scored, assisted in creating dangerous situations and was involved in several of our best attacking moments.

6. CAICEDO SITUATION IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WATCH VERY CLOSELY.

We obviously need to wait for the medical assessment before saying anything about the severity. But honestly we cannot afford another midfield problem, particularly with the season only beginning. So where do we need to improve?

I would put it into four these areas.

1. Game management.
When we are 3:0 up, we need to make the opposition feel like the game is already gone.

2. Defensive concentration.
Too many moments of vulnerability after we lose control.

3. Midfield control.
We need to dictate the tempo for longer periods rather than allowing matches to become end to end.

4. Killing games.
We created enough chances to make this comfortable. We should not still be sweating in stoppage time at 4:2.

But overall, I’m encouraged. Two league games, two wins. Seven goals scored. And perhaps more importantly, I’m starting to see an attacking identity developing but I would not get carried away yet.

We look dangerous, we look exciting, we look capable of scoring goals. Now Alonso has to make us harder to beat and better at controlling games. Because if we can combine this attacking quality with defensive discipline and game management then we could have something very interesting on our hands.

WHICH OF THESE PERMANENT DEPARTURES HITS YOU THE MOST?

Chelsea have said goodbye to several players this summer and some of these exits are definitely harder to accept than others.

For me, there is always that one player whose departure hits differently.

Which of these permanent transfers hurts you the most?

For me, Chalobah.

MY TAKE ON CHELSEA’S WIN OVER LUTON.

Honestly, I watched this game feeling quite positive not because we beat Luton 2–0.

What I liked most was the way we controlled the game.

There wasn’t the same chaos we saw against Fulham. We had the ball, moved it around patiently and kept Luton pinned back for large periods. We didn’t look like a team desperate to force things and this is something I’m starting to notice with Alonso. It looks like he want us to control games rather than just play from one transition to another.

I also found the Reece James midfield experiment interesting. I’m still not completely sold on it especially because of the physical demands it could put on him but I understand what Alonso is trying to get from him. His passing and ability to switch play can be a real weapon from there.

Danny Welbeck also deserves credit.
He gave us something different and took his goal well. Sometimes you just need a striker who can occupy defenders, attack crosses and give you that physical presence in the box and defensively I think we looked much more comfortable than we did against Fulham.

A clean sheet is always a welcome development. Though I’m not going to pretend everything was perfect.

There were periods where we had plenty of possession but didn’t really threaten enough. Against Luton we could get away with that but against a good Premier League side, we might not.

This is probably the next thing I want to see from this Chelsea team. Can we dominate possession and consistently turn that control into clear chances? Because if Alonso can get that part right I think this team could become very interesting.

For me, the biggest positive from tonight wasn’t the 2–0. It was seeing Chelsea win a game without making it unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.

Two games, two wins. Still very early but I’m beginning to see what Alonso is trying to build.

What did you guys make of the performance? What impressed you most tonight?

LET’S TALK ABOUT CHELSEA’S GOALKEEPING SITUATION.

I want to hear what Chelsea fans genuinely think about this one.

Robert Sanchez’s recent performances have brought the goalkeeper debate back again and now Emiliano Martinez is being seriously discussed as a possible option for Chelsea and honestly, I can understand why.

Martinez has experience, he has personality, he is comfortable under pressure and he is the kind of goalkeeper who is not afraid to take responsibility when things get difficult. But then I look at our situation and think to myself. Is Martínez really the answer?

Would we be better off giving Sanchez another chance to prove himself? Or should Chelsea start thinking about the future and give Mike Penders more opportunities to develop? Because bringing in Martinez could give us experience and stability right now but trusting what we already have could also be part of building something for the future.

So forget what the reports are saying for a moment.

If you were making the decision for Chelsea, what would you do?

1. Will you go all out for Emiliano Martinez?

2. Will you keep trusting Robert Sanchez?

3. Will you give Mike Penders a proper chance?

4. Will you forget Martinez and look for another goalkeeper?

I genuinely want to know where Chelsea fans stand on this one.

What is your choice and why?

I just don’t see this happening, at least not this summer. I feel Chelsea would turn down any deal Manchester City would offer.

I watched our game against Fulham and here is my take from it.

There is a lot we need to be excited about under Xabi Alonso but there is also a very obvious problem that could stop us from going to where we want.

Chelsea started Alonso’s Premier League era with a win at Craven Cottage with Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scoring.

1. Our front three could be special.

This was easily the most encouraging part of the game.

Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer looked dangerous because they weren’t playing like three isolated attackers. They were constantly interchanging, combining and attacking spaces. Joao Pedro’s goal after just 31 seconds was a perfect example. Palmer immediately recognised the space, produced the flick and Joao Pedro showed the composure to finish.

Then Rogers scored his debut goal before Palmer added the third. That means our three most important attacking players all got on the scoresheet in Alonso’s first Premier League game. For me this is a very serious positive.

2. Joao Pedro looks extremely comfortable as the No.9.

This is something I was particularly interested in after all the discussion about Chelsea’s No.9 shirt. He didn’t look like a player trying to adapt to the position rather he looked like a player who wants to be there. His movement caused Fulham problems, he linked well with Palmer and Rogers. He consistently threatened the space behind their defence. He even had another goal ruled out for offside late in the game.

Seeing these early signs from Joao is extremely encouraging about the No. 9.

3. Alonso’s Chelsea already looks different.

I don’t think we should expect a fully developed Alonso system after one competitive match but you could already see some differences, we looked more direct, aggressive and willing to attack space rather than simply controlling possession for the sake of it. Our transitions were particularly dangerous.

When we won the ball and immediately found Palmer, Rogers or Joao Pedro, Fulham looked vulnerable. This is potentially going to become one of the defining characteristics of this Chelsea side.

4. Palmer was the biggest individual positive.

For me Cole Palmer was the standout player. He had one goal, one assist and involvement in all three goals. Beyond the numbers he looked confident again. Last season was disrupted by injuries and inconsistency. So seeing Palmer looking sharp, aggressive and willing to take responsibility is huge one for us. If Alonso gets Palmer back to his best while surrounding him with Joao Pedro and Rogers, then we can have a frightening attacking platform.

5. Our defence was nowhere near good enough.

We cannot defend like this and seriously talk about winning the Premier League. We conceded two goals that were avoidable. The first involved a poor attempt from Robert Sanchez to deal with Josh King’s effort, while the second came after another Sanchez error allowed Fulham back into the game. And it wasn’t only Sanchez, there were moments when our defensive structure looked vulnerable and Fulham were able to attack Chelsea far too easily.

Honestly against Fulham, we survived but against teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, City or other top sides, those mistakes could become three points dropped rather than three points gained.

6. The goalkeeper situation is becoming impossible to ignore.

I’m not going to make the entire result about Sanchez because Alonso himself defended him and emphasised that defending is a collective responsibility but at the same time, we can’t pretend the goalkeeper situation is not a problem. If we genuinely have ambitions of challenging for the title, the goalkeeper position has to be sorted. A goalkeeper cannot repeatedly give opponents a way back into games.

7. One thing I really liked is that we survived.

This is important. We were not perfect, they were actually quite chaotic but after Fulham made it 2–3, we did not collapse. We had to manage the final stages of the match and eventually got over the line. This is something we have not always been able to say about us in recent seasons. You don’t win a title by playing beautiful football every week. Sometimes you have to win ugly and this was definitely an ugly win for us.

What I saw was a Chelsea side with enormous attacking potential but unfinished defensive work and this is actually quite exciting because defensive organisation can improve with coaching. You can’t coach the kind of natural attacking chemistry Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers showed. If Alonso can make this Chelsea more defensively reliable without taking away that attacking freedom, we could have a seriously good team and honestly after one game, my biggest question isn’t can we score enough goals? Rather it is can Alonso make us stop conceding stupid ones?