Chelsea have taken an unconventional strategy to their preparations for this weekend’s Premier League showdown with Arsenal, with Xabi Alonso placing his gamers via coaching workout routines utilizing massive rugby crash pads, Softfootball understands.
The Blues have been pictured coaching with the pads at Cobham as Alonso seems to be to arrange his squad for the bodily problem they might face in opposition to Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium.
Valentin Barco and Pep Chavarría have been amongst these noticed holding the rugby pads whereas their teammates repeatedly crashed into them throughout the session.
The weird coaching methodology is known to be a part of Chelsea’s preparations for Arsenal’s famend set-piece routines.
The Gunners have been one of many Premier League’s most harmful groups from dead-ball conditions final season, scoring 22 objectives from set-pieces. Their nook routines have regularly concerned a number of gamers attacking the goalkeeper’s space with aggressive runs and bodily motion.
Arsenal’s potential to create chaos across the goalkeeper has made their corners notably troublesome to defend, with the Gunners usually utilizing their bodily presence to assault the ball and create alternatives from shut vary.
Alonso subsequently seems eager to make sure that his Chelsea gamers are ready for the potential onslaught when the 2 London rivals meet this weekend.
Chelsea could have a bonus of their very own relating to coping with Arsenal’s bodily strategy. The Blues at present possess the joint-tallest squad within the Premier League alongside Leeds United, which means Alonso has loads of top accessible to counter Arsenal’s aerial risk.
Chelsea have additionally made a formidable begin to the brand new Premier League marketing campaign. The Blues have received each of their opening matches and have already scored seven objectives, highlighting the attacking risk Alonso has launched to the group.
Nevertheless, their defensive report offers some trigger for concern, with Chelsea conceding 5 objectives throughout these two victories.
That might turn out to be notably important in opposition to an Arsenal facet whose defence has been extraordinarily troublesome to breach. The Gunners have saved clear sheets in each of their opening Premier League fixtures and might be trying to keep that report in opposition to Chelsea.
Arsenal may nonetheless have choice considerations forward of the London showdown, with Bruno Guimarães and Cristian Mosquera each reportedly lacking coaching this week following the victory over Aston Villa.
Talking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Villa, Mikel Arteta defined the significance of getting adequate defensive depth, notably with the membership competing throughout 4 competitions.
“We knew that if we had an damage on the again line with Jurrien [Timber] out, we’d be in huge bother – so we needed to do Ezri [Konsa deal],” Arteta stated.
He additionally offered an replace on Mosquera, explaining that the defender had been withdrawn as a result of he felt he was approaching a possible bodily subject.
“Mosquera couldn’t proceed, so we all know the depth needs to be actually huge after we’re combating for 4 competitions within the method that we play as properly,” Arteta added.
“He’s wonderful, however he was feeling like he was about to have one thing, and that’s why we’ve got the bench that we’ve got, and that’s why we needed to convey Ezri in.”
With Chelsea arriving on the Emirates in wonderful attacking type and Arsenal boasting an ideal defensive report up to now, the conflict guarantees to be an early check of Alonso’s strategies.
And judging by the rugby pads at Cobham, the Chelsea boss is taking Arsenal’s set-piece risk very severely.
