{
  "id": 5723165,
  "title": "EPL: ‘He is intelligent’ – Alonso confirms Chelsea defender will play in midfield against Arsenal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/epl-he-is-intelligent-alonso-confirms-chelsea-defender-will-play-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-05T05:50:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/05/epl-he-is-intelligent-alonso-confirms-chelsea-defender-will-play-in-midfield-against-arsenal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has announced that defender Reece James will be playing in midfield during Chelsea's upcoming match against Arsenal on Sunday. Though James primarily plays as a right-back, Alonso plans to utilize a 3-4-3 formation this season, with James as one of the central midfielders. The 26-year-old's physical attributes and leadership skills make him a promising choice for this role.\n\nAlonso believes that James has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world, noting his intelligence and understanding of the game. He has observed James perform well in this position in the past, such as during the Club World Cup final in New York and a match at Anfield last year. Alonso is confident that James is physically fit and ready for action.\n\nDuring a press conference, Alonso stated, \"He is intelligent. He has the intelligence required to excel there. He understands how to connect with his teammates in the midfield and knows the optimal actions to take before and after receiving the ball. His awareness is commendable.\" He recalled James' exceptional performance in the midfield and how the formation aligns with the team's needs and James' position within the squad.\n\nJames may be joined in the midfield by Moises Caicedo, who left the previous weekend's 4-3 victory over Brighton with an unspecified injury and missed the two games before that due to a different issue.",
  "summary": "Chelsea manager, Xabi Alonso has confirmed that defender Reece James will be played in midfield in their match against Arsenal on Sunday. In the past few seasons, the 26-year-old has occasionally been positioned in the central area, although he primarily plays as a right-back. However, early signs suggest that Alonso intends to frequently implement a 3-4-3 […] EPL: ‘He is intelligent’ – Alonso…",
  "key_points": [
    "Reece James to play midfield in Chelsea's 3-4-3 formation against Arsenal.",
    "Manager Xabi Alonso praises James' intelligence and leadership skills.",
    "James may be joined in midfield by Moises Caicedo."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Deploying Reece James in midfield signals Chelsea's intent to maximize his skills and adapt to the team's needs, potentially unlocking new dynamics and threatening Arsenal's plans.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}