Reece James impressed in midfield as Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo was sent off. Bukayo Saka provided a crucial assist, and Enzo Maresca showed doubts about Estevao Willian.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, James was deployed centrally next to Moises Caicedo, a strategic decision Enzo Maresca has been contemplating since studying the England international’s performances on loan at Wigan in 2018-19.
Maresca, who even sent James a WhatsApp video of him scoring a 25-yard screamer for Wigan against Bristol City in April 2019, has sought to use him in midfield whenever the opportunity arises.
James was deemed “impeccable in everything he did.” When Arsenal had possession, the captain performed a strict man-marking job on Declan Rice, relentlessly hounding his England team-mate even when Rice dropped deep into Arsenal’s defence.
When Chelsea gained control, James expertly helped to progress the ball up the pitch.
His dominance was such that Arsenal defenders struggled to contain him: the club will be fined £25,000 by the FA for receiving six yellow cards, and three of those cautions—shown to Martin Zubimendi, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly—were specifically for fouling James.
Furthermore, it was James’s corner kick that led to Trevoh Chalobah heading home to give Chelsea’s 10 men a surprise lead.
However, the afternoon was marred by Chelsea’s persistent disciplinary issues. Moises Caicedo became the team’s sixth different player this season to be dismissed for a stamp on Mikel Merino, joining a list that includes Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, plus manager Enzo Maresca for a total of seven reds.
Chelsea insiders suggested that this tendency to finish matches a man shy is a primary reason they are not currently in the title race.
Caicedo will now miss Premier League clashes against Leeds, Bournemouth and Everton.
In attack, Bukayo Saka’s cross created Merino’s headed equaliser, marking his first Premier League assist for exactly a year since November 30, 2024, away at West Ham.
Meanwhile, Maresca’s decision to remove the £40 million summer signing Estevao Willian at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho suggested the manager “does not yet entirely trust the 18-year-old Brazilian to do his defensive duties.”