Two right-backs in midfield - are Chelsea short despite £349m spent?

What the report says

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday has renewed scrutiny of the club’s midfield depth, even after a summer spending spree reported by BBC Sport Football to total £349m. The main concern came late in the match at the Emirates Stadium, where Reece James and Malo Gusto, both of whom started their careers as right-backs, ended up playing together in midfield after injuries and selection choices limited Xabi Alonso’s options.

BBC Sport reported that the immediate issue is the absence of Moises Caicedo, who went off after only 11 minutes in a substitute appearance against Brighton the previous week and is now sidelined for an unspecified period. Jordan Henderson is also unavailable, while natural midfield options have not yet been fully used. The article said Chelsea have instead relied heavily on more makeshift solutions, including Gusto in midfield, and that this has raised doubts about balance and creativity when the team needs to chase games.

The report also placed Chelsea’s situation in the context of a busy transfer window. The club pursued several central midfielders but did not secure a replacement for Enzo Fernandez after his departure on deadline day, according to the piece. BBC Sport said Chelsea remain confident in their squad, and Alonso has argued that the team can cope without European fixtures this season. Even so, the Arsenal result suggested they may still be vulnerable in central areas against top opposition.

The wider significance is that Chelsea’s attack has shown promise, but the match underlined that the team may not yet be complete despite heavy investment. If Caicedo’s injury is more serious than hoped, the club could revisit midfield recruitment in January.