Reece James has finally broken his silence amid rumors that he faked an injury out of fear of facing Arsenal. He emphatically denies being afraid of playing against a “small club” like Arsenal, emphasizing his determination to return to Chelsea’s training ahead of the Arsenal clash scheduled for the weekend. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s injury problems continue to mount as James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka have suffered fresh setbacks.
These setbacks pose a significant challenge for the Blues, who are set to face London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in their first Premier League game after the October international break. Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is already dealing with the absence of key players like Ben Chilwell, Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Marcus Bettinelli, who are all still unavailable.
Reece James, the team’s captain, had initially hoped to return to full-intensity training after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the opening game against Liverpool back in August. However, he is now a major doubt for the upcoming Arsenal clash due to a new setback. The defender has been withdrawn from group training sessions and is currently training alone. While James remains optimistic that this is not a major setback, his availability for the weekend remains uncertain.
Carney Chukwuemeka, who was on the bench during Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Burnley after recovering from a knee injury suffered in August, is also facing challenges. The 19-year-old is experiencing knee pain again, raising concerns of a potential recurrence of his previous injury, which means he is still working towards full fitness.
Chelsea released a statement confirming the setbacks for both Chukwuemeka and defender Trevoh Chalobah. Both players will undergo further evaluation before continuing their rehabilitation under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. Chalobah has been sidelined since August with a thigh injury, missing 10 games to date. The situation is further complicated by concerns over Axel Disasi, who is dealing with a quadriceps issue.
Cole Palmer, who missed England Under-21’s game against Ukraine due to a knock sustained in a 9-1 victory over Serbia, was diagnosed with a dead leg and has returned to Cobham for recovery. Nicolas Jackson underwent wrist surgery but is not expected to be ruled out of the upcoming Arsenal clash.
Meanwhile, Armando Broja, despite returning from a nine-month knee injury layoff to play three games for Chelsea before the international break, was withdrawn from international duty with Albania.
As things stand, Chelsea currently occupies the 11th position in the Premier League, having won their last two games. However, the mounting injury list is a major concern as they prepare to face Arsenal and navigate a challenging season ahead.
