Two right-backs in midfield - are Chelsea short despite £349m spent?
September 6, 2026 19:31
Chelsea lost 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates, a game in which manager Xabi Alonso finished with two players who started their careers as right-backs deployed in midfield. Reece James, operating as a midfielder this season, failed to pick up Martin Ødegaard for the decisive goal; Malo Gusto was introduced from the bench in place of Romeo Lavia in the second half.
The defeat highlighted a lack of spark from Chelsea’s substitutes and persistent defensive lapses. Alonso has publicly backed James’s conversion into a central role, saying he can develop into a top-class midfielder, but the selection choices prompted questions immediately after the match.
KEY CONTEXT
Chelsea spent £349m in the summer transfer window while also selling Enzo Fernández to Manchester City for a joint British-record fee of £125m on deadline day, without signing a direct replacement for Fernández. The club pursued several central midfield targets late in the transfer period: Monaco withdrew from a proposed £47m move for Lamine Camara at the eleventh hour, bids of up to £64m for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott were rejected, and a proposed signing of Manu Kone was blocked by Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Midfielder Moisés Caicedo — the Ecuador international — broke down after 11 minutes of a substitute appearance against Brighton and is out for an unspecified period; Alonso said the club is assessing the risk after bringing him back possibly too soon previously. Jordan Henderson also remains sidelined with a broken arm sustained when he fell over an advertising hoarding while an unused substitute at the World Cup. New signing Valentin Barco has not been used so far, with Gusto preferred in midfield in Chelsea’s matches.
WHY IT MATTERS
The selection of two converted right-backs in central midfield exposed concerns about Chelsea’s depth in that department despite heavy summer spending. Losing Caicedo and Henderson to injury reduces available natural midfield options, and the failure to complete late-window targets left the squad thinner than planned. That combination has forced Alonso into unconventional selections and may affect Chelsea’s ability to control possession and sustain creativity from the bench.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- The club’s assessment of Caicedo’s injury and the length of his absence.
- Whether Chelsea will alter their midfield personnel now that Caicedo and Henderson are both unavailable.
- If Valentin Barco will be integrated after being overlooked so far, and how Alonso manages midfield rotation without midweek European fixtures. Alonso has stated that if all midfield options are fit, the squad should be able to cope without European games.
KEY FACTS
- Chelsea spent £349m in the summer transfer window.
- Reece James and Malo Gusto, both former right-backs, featured in midfield during the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
- Moisés Caicedo went off 11 minutes into a substitute appearance against Brighton and is out for an unspecified period.
- Monaco cancelled a proposed £47m move for Lamine Camara; bids up to £64m for Alex Scott were rejected; Manu Kone’s move was blocked by Roma’s coach.
- Enzo Fernández was sold to Manchester City for a joint British-record £125m on deadline day.