Chelsea to miss the one player they need most to compete with Arsenal tonight | OneFootball

This is a syndicated version of this story, originally featured on the BBC Sport website.

In his first week in charge of Chelsea, Liam Rosenior has said all of the right things – although it was never really in doubt that he would.

The articulate and engaging new coach wouldn’t have had to do much to impress fans and the media more than the bluff and sometimes curt Enzo Maresca. But he exceeded expectations both in saying the right things, and saying them in the right ways.

A comfortable win over Charlton helped grow the green shoots of positivity at the club even more. But the game against Arsenal tonight is is what everyone has had their eyes on. Rosenior’s words will mean little if the team capitulate horribly, but equally they will carry a lot more weight in hindsight if the Blues get a good result.

Arsenal a huge test for young team and their new coach

Chelsea and Arsenal players clash at the Emirates. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It won’t be an easy task. Arsenal have the best squad in the league, they have form and confidence and momentum, they have a manager who will prepare every detail to get the win, and players who aren’t afraid of doing whatever it takes to ensure they come away with a result.

Chelsea have to match them in every way – and do it all without Moises Caicedo, their midfield lynchpin and probably the man they’d most want in their team to help them compete physically.

Rosenior’s response to tactical questions so far has been to brush them off and point out that his focus has been working on his players’ mindset and attitude rather than anything too technical. Given his limited time on the training pitch, that’s probably a sensible idea.

Now the question is if we will see the results of it on the pitch at Stamford Bridge tonight.