Chelsea injury updates and team news ahead of the Boxing Day clash against London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium as Frank Lampard assesses his squad
Chelsea have returned to winning ways following back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
However, Monday night’s victory over West Ham United came at a price with Frank Lampard’s full-back concerns piling up.
Reece James missed the game with a worrying knee injury, and in the early moments of the victory at Stamford Bridge, Ben Chilwell was forced off with an ankle complaint.
The Blues’ win 3-0 win over the Hammers pushed Lampard’s side into fifth place ahead of the Boxing Day clash at Arsenal, but after briefly savouring the three points his attention will swiftly turn to the fitness concerns hanging over his first-choice full-backs.
Here is the very latest Chelsea injury news ahead of facing the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
Ben Chilwell
The left-back’s 24th birthday did not quite go to plan, being forced off with an ankle injury inside 10 minutes on Monday night after colliding with Jarrod Bowen. “I expect he’s doubtful for Arsenal. He turned his ankle and it was too painful to continue,”
“We’ll have a scan tomorrow to see how bad the injury is and update after that”.
Hakim Ziyech
Moroccan international Ziyech was forced off during the 3-1 win over Leeds United almost a fortnight ago with a hamstring problem.
The midfield architect, who has made an encouraging start to life in the Premier League following his move from Dutch giants Ajax, was expected to be out action until Boxing Day.
Lampard, however, said there was a chance the summer signing could be involved in some capacity against Moyes’ side.
The boss confirmed Ziyech returned to training on Friday and he would be assessed over the weekend to see if he could feature.
Ultimately, he did not make the matchday squad, and Lampard will be hopeful his playmaker returns as soon as possible.
Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Like Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi is on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint, leaving Lampard short on options in the wide areas ahead of the busy Christmas period.
But, like Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi returned to train with the senior group on Friday and could be available to face the Hammers.
“It’s their first day back with the group, training at a decent level, so I’ll have to see how they are in the next few days if they are to make West Ham,” Lampard said (on Friday).
Reece James.
Chelsea are facing an anxious wait over the extent of a knee injury to defender Reece James.
The 21-year-old has established himself as the first-choice right-back this season, starting 11 of the Blues’ 13 Premier League games.
However, he missed the game against the Hammers, with The Athletic reporting that the England international has undergone a scan to determine the extent of a knee injury.
Furthermore, the report states that after playing with a knee injury in recent weeks, James has now gone for a scan ahead of the game, which means he is now seen as a big doubt to feature against the Gunners.
Meanwhile, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic were both taken off during the win over West Ham but neither are thought to have been carrying injuries.
