The Blues Corner

🗣Paul Scholes:

"It’s obviously Chelsea were desperate for a goalkeeper but couldn’t Aston Villa get £20m for Emi Martinez?"

"Even that would have been cheap but they’ve got a top-class keeper for £7.5m."

🗣Jorrel Hato:

"Arsenal is a good test, but I think it was against Fulham and Brighton as well. They are both great teams and we won those games, so we are looking forward to the next one now."

A Chelsea XI made up of players out on loan.

Chelsea’s PL Squad List. 🔵

🚨🔵 Alonso is particularly protective of team news and against doing the opposition any favours by giving an early indication as to who is and isn’t available.

Sources suggest they have noticed an increase in secrecy compared to previous managers, with Chelsea rocked by a mole who was leaking their line-ups last season under Liam Rosenior.

It coincides with heightened security measures having been implemented at Cobham, since Confidential revealed last week how Alonso’s colleague Willie Isa was unhappy when two unknowns managed to walk past what was supposed to be a closed training session.

At least once this season, Alonso has only named his starting XI on the day of the game, and this desire to protect information may have been influenced by his time as manager of Real Madrid, where leaks were a problem. He tried, and often failed, to instil confidentiality into that club.

🔗 Kieran Gill - Daily Mail

🚨 Chelsea fans want to know if Moises Caicedo is fit, but Xabi Alonso does not want you to know, because if you know, then Mikel Arteta and Arsenal know. Sources suggest they have noticed an increase in secrecy compared to previous managers.

🔗 Kieran Gill - Daily Mail

👀

London derby. 🔜

🚨 Kendry Paez has struggled to fulfil his potential. The focus is on integrating him and working on improving his standards.

🔗 The Athletic

🚨🔵 Reece James is seen as the player to fill the spot vacated by Enzo Fernandez.

🔗 The Athletic