In Chelsea news, Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical approach against Arsenal is becoming clearer. Pochettino’s defensive strategies for the season are likely to persist as they prepare to face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, who have had a poor recent record against their London rivals, are heading into the match with a sense of optimism after securing three consecutive wins for the first time since March.
The international break presents both advantages and disadvantages for Pochettino’s team. It provides an opportunity for injured players to continue their recovery towards full fitness, but it also disrupts their momentum. Following the previous break, Chelsea started slowly with a goalless draw against Bournemouth, and they can ill afford a similar performance when Mikel Arteta’s side comes to visit.
Arsenal is coming off a significant 1-0 victory over title favorites Manchester City, achieved even without key players like Thomas Partey and Bukayo Saka. Chelsea will have little margin for error, and the absence of Saka from England’s squad due to fatigue and injury concerns means Arteta may not be cautious with his stars in the upcoming match.
In their win over Manchester City, Arsenal utilized a unique formation with four center-backs and even fielded John Stones in midfield to effectively have five defenders on the field. Despite this tactical approach, Pep Guardiola couldn’t stop Arsenal, which serves as a warning for Chelsea.
Bukayo Saka, at 22 years old, is considered the most significant threat in Arsenal’s lineup. He has maintained his strong form from last season, having already scored five goals and provided four assists in all competitions this term. Saka also has a favorable track record against Chelsea, winning his last three matches in this fixture and experiencing only one loss in the past seven encounters. This highlights Arteta’s success in these matchups.
Saka will be facing another promising young English talent, 20-year-old Levi Colwill, who recently made his senior debut for the national team. Colwill, who has been a standout performer this season, has adapted well to various positions in defense, even though they don’t fully utilize his wide skillset. As a natural center-back, Colwill’s one-on-one defensive abilities and positioning make him an all-round defender capable of handling pacey forwards and tracking runners effectively.
In the recent match against City, they did not need to focus on Saka, and they left Josko Gvardiol in the outside position. However, Tottenham, one of the two teams that managed to prevent Arsenal from winning this season, adopted a more conventional approach with Destiny Udogie. Udogie, an Italian player, is known for his attacking prowess and is a perfect fit for Ange Postecoglou’s style of play, although he faced a challenging matchup against Saka.
For Pochettino, it is evident what Colwill will bring to that area of the pitch. Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with Levi’s performance earlier this season, praising his character and the balance he provides to the team. Colwill, a graduate from Cobham, has made a strong impression on his new boss since his arrival and is considered an indispensable player. He signed a new long-term contract earlier this year, and Pochettino appreciates his versatility as he can excel in both full-back and center-back positions.
Pochettino emphasized Colwill’s qualities, saying, “He can play well as a full-back or as a center-back because he has the characteristics, capacity, and quality. It’s amazing to see what he’s accomplished since he joined Chelsea. We are delighted with his performance, professionalism, and maturity, despite his youth.”
In the North London Derby, Saka scored a goal and contributed with four key passes, six crosses, and two successful dribbles against his relatively inexperienced opponent. While Udogie improved as the game progressed, Saka ultimately won the personal battle. Pochettino will be eager to ensure that his player comes out on top in the individual battle while also securing a favorable team result.
On the international stage, Colwill’s experience at left-back has been expanding, and Gareth Southgate has expressed his support for including him in the position where he has become accustomed. Southgate emphasized Colwill’s versatility, stating, “We know he can play both positions, center-back and left-back, and we appreciate his abilities in both positions,” ahead of the game against Australia.