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

In Chelsea's 2-1 defeat by champions Arsenal on Sunday, the team faced criticism for having two right-backs playing in midfield. The loss came despite the club spending £349 million on new signings during the summer transfer window. Reece James, a former right-back, failed to track Martin Odegaard, who scored Arsenal's winning goal.

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea's manager, acknowledged that James has the potential to become one of the world's best midfielders but raised concerns about the team's depth in that area, especially with Malo Gusto replacing Romeo Lavia in the second half. Ashley Young, a BBC Sport commentator, noted that the midfield's lack of creativity and Chelsea's defensive lapses, such as lax marking, contributed to Arsenal's victory.

The absence of midfielder Moises Caicedo, who is injured, further compounded the issue. Alonso admitted that the team's midfield options might be insufficient, and if Caicedo's recovery from an undisclosed injury is minor, Chelsea could manage with five midfielders. However, the club's failure to sign a replacement for the recently sold Enzo Fernandez, despite receiving a joint British-record fee of £125 million for him, has raised questions about its transfer strategy.