Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel hopes to have both N'Golo Kante and Romelu Lukaku available for selection for the Arsenal game.
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Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea got their Premier League 2021-22 campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday (August 14). They beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at home thanks to goals from Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and Trevoh Chalobah.
That they won the UEFA Super Cup three days prior to that game shows this Chelsea side mean business. And to make things better, the win on Saturday came without a few key players being part of the XI.
N’Golo Kante was not in the final matchday squad for the Palace game and neither was new signing Romelu Lukaku. Both were excluded for very different reasons, however.
Tuchel revealed that Kante aggravated a slight ankle injury due to playing in the Super Cup against Villareal. However, the coach added he should be fit to play against Arsenal.
“N’Golo felt discomfort in his ankle (on Friday). He (first) felt it in the warm-up in the Super Cup match against Villarreal. He played a little bit in pain and (on Friday) he felt it again,” said Tuchel.
“We decided to take him out and not risk him at the beginning of the season. I think N’Golo will be back in the middle of the week to get ready for Arsenal.”
Tuchel had similar good news regarding Lukaku. The Belgian was completing quarantine but will join training on Tuesday and is in contention to play against Arsenal.
“On Tuesday, he (Lukaku) will join in team training because Monday is a day off (for everyone else). We will prepare him to be ready for Arsenal. Hopefully, he can be on the pitch.”
One player who was conspicuos by his absence against Palace was Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The midfielder would have expected to get some minutes during this game as he looks to revive his Chelsea career.
But he was left out of the squad, with rumours persisting he had tested positive for COVID-19. Tuchel said that was indeed the case.
“The rumour is right, Ruben did a positive test. He got the result on Thursday or Friday. He is in isolation and following the protocol, that is why he could not be in the (Palace) group.”
Aside from that, there are currently no other players missing either due to injury or suspension. It remains to be seen how Tuchel deals with giving Loftus-Cheek game time once he is back in the fold.
But for now, he will be happy to have plenty of options for what is sure to be a key London derby.
