We won\u2019t rehash the same information we discussed in that article but, long story short, Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers is now a Gameweek 31 fixture in danger of falling due to the Gunners\u2019 first-leg lead.<\/p>\n
Unlike Manchester City v Crystal Palace, Arsenal v Wolves *could* be brought forward to the midweek after Gameweek 26\/27, creating a double for the Gunners (and Wolves).<\/p>\n
Watch this space \u2013 but we won\u2019t get any confirmation of any rearrangement until before Gameweek 25. That\u2019s when the EFL Cup semi-final second legs take place.<\/p>\n
INJURY\/ILLNESS UPDATES ON FIVE CHELSEA PLAYERS<\/p>\n
Chelsea looked like they were up against it from the point of the teamsheets coming out.<\/p>\n
Not only were the three injury doubts from Rosenior\u2019s presser<\/a> \u2013 Cole Palmer (\u00a310.4m), Malo Gusto (\u00a35.0m) and Reece James (\u00a35.7m) \u2013 all absent, but the Blues were also unexpectedly without Liam Delap (\u00a36.2m) and Jamie Gittens (\u00a36.0m). Illness, it turned out, accounted for the latter two.<\/p>\n Moises Caicedo (\u00a35.7m) sat the game out through suspension, meanwhile.<\/p>\n Grilled on his absentees after full-time, Rosenior said he was \u201chopeful\u201d of many of them being available for Gameweek 22.<\/p>\n \u201cThis game came too early for [Palmer]. Hopefully, he\u2019ll be available to train on Friday and hopefully he\u2019ll be ready for us to play on Saturday. But he had a little minor strain in his thigh. If you play a player too early in January with a minor strain, it can turn to six weeks. I can\u2019t afford to lose Cole Palmer for six weeks because he\u2019s that good.<\/p>\n \u201cReece [James] had a big knock on his hip. It was too sore for him today, so hopefully he\u2019ll be back for Saturday. Considering those two are out, Jamie Gittens was ill last night, Liam Delap was due to play today. He was ill four hours before the game. He couldn\u2019t play. Who else is there? Moises Caicedo was suspended, Malo Gusto was out. There\u2019s a lot of positive aspects from the group today.\u201d \u2013 Liam Rosenior<\/p>\n Arsenal, by contrast, recovered both of their doubts<\/a>, Leandro Trossard (\u00a36.9m) and William Saliba (\u00a35.9m).<\/p>\n CHELSEA QUESTIONS REMAIN<\/p>\n Many FPL managers would have approached Wednesday\u2019s match hoping for an answer to one of Gameweek 22\u2019s biggest questions: which Chelsea players to get for the below run?<\/p>\n Unfortunately, little of the debate was settled.<\/p>\n Without four, possibly five (Palmer, James, Caicedo, Delap, Gusto) of what many pundits would deem to be Chelsea\u2019s first-choice XI, it was difficult to make much of a judgement of this Rosenior-led team.<\/p>\n Take Enzo Fernandez (\u00a36.4m), for instance. He was deeper against the Gunners, playing as part of a two alongside Andrey Santos (\u00a34.5m). Rosenior called the Argentine \u201coutstanding\u201d after full-time but he was off-puttingly far from the business end, save for his dash into the box for Alejandro Garnacho\u2018s (\u00a36.4m) first goal. Enzo\u2019s one shot came from about 25 yards out.<\/p>\n But what happens when Caicedo and James are available? Does Enzo move to the \u201910\u2019 then, elevating his appeal as a Fantasy pick?<\/p>\n There\u2019s little to be read into Marc Guiu (\u00a34.2m) starting up top either; Rosenior said Delap was earmarked to start before illness struck.<\/p>\n Estevao and Pedro Neto (\u00a37.1m) were lively enough and both got 90 minutes, the latter going up top when Guiu went off. Another wide-man, Garnacho, laid down a marker with a well-taken brace, both assisted by Neto.<\/p>\n All in all, it was all a bit\u2026 same as before. A 4-2-3-1 on paper, a full-back inverting into a \u2018box\u2019 midfield. Half-decent going forward, but not brilliant. Lingering question marks over the defence, now without a clean sheet in eight matches in all competitions. But for Robert Sanchez\u2018s (\u00a34.9m) toe, the Blues would have been 4-1 down after 75 minutes.<\/p>\n Still early days, then, and we could do with more evidence. The fight shown to keep the tie just about alive was encouraging, at least.<\/p>\n ROSENIOR DEFENDS SANCHEZ<\/p>\n Sanchez\u2019s crucial save from Mikel Merino\u2018s (\u00a35.6m) volley was the Spaniard at his best.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, we also saw the worst of the \u2018keeper, who has generally been quite good in 2025\/26. Very uncomfortable with the ball at his feet (which isn\u2019t \u2018news\u2019 but Rosenior was asking him to do it regardless), he flapped at a corner for Arsenal\u2019s first goal, then allowed a low cross to spill through his gloves for the second.<\/p>\n As you\u2019d expect, Rosenior defended him \u2013 but the new Chelsea manager\u2019s love of a ball-playing goalkeeper<\/a> may spell longer-term problems.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just on Rob [Sanchez]. I\u2019m asking Rob to do things that he hasn\u2019t done before. I said to him before the game, and I made this really clear, when my players make mistakes, I\u2019m accountable. That\u2019s on me. He made a save in the second-half that was absolutely world-class. That could have put us out of the tie.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will improve in terms of his understanding. He\u2019s had a very good season. There were very, very good moments with him. I\u2019ll stay positive with him, as I will with all the group. My job is to help them, not to blame them.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are certain triggers [that I\u2019m asking them to do differently], there are certain patterns. That\u2019s Rob\u2019s first game with me. I\u2019ve had two days\u2019 work with him.\u201d \u2013 Liam Rosenior on Robert Sanchez<\/p>\n MORE SET-PIECE JOY FOR ARSENAL<\/p>\n There were no massive takeaways from the Arsenal side, just more of the same from Mikel Arteta\u2019s quadruple-seeking juggernaut.<\/p>\n Another assist from a corner from Declan Rice (\u00a37.3m), another huge set-piece chance \u2013 this time missed \u2013 for Gabriel Magalhaes (\u00a36.7m). And more return-dodging from Bukayo Saka (\u00a310.2m), who had to settle for supporting cast roles in goals two and three.<\/p>\n After mostly sending out the second string against Portsmouth in the FA Cup, Arteta went about as strong as he could for this one, save for cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (\u00a34.1m) starting between the posts. Jurrien Timber (\u00a36.3m) deputised at left-back in the absence of the injured Riccardo Calafiori (\u00a35.6m) and Piero Hincapie (\u00a35.3m), so Ben White (\u00a35.1m) retained his place at right-back.<\/p>\n And it was White involved in the first two goals, first nodding in Rice\u2019s corner and then providing the cross that Sanchez served on a plate to Viktor Gyokeres (\u00a38.7m). The Swede had one of his better games, doing very well to tee up Martin Zubimendi (\u00a35.3m) for Arsenal\u2019s third goal.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he had a really good performance overall; I think what he brings to the team, it\u2019s a lot sometimes. I understand that people cannot appreciate it, we certainly do that, and on top of that he got rewarded with a goal.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Viktor Gyokeres<\/p>\n One clean sheet in seven matches isn\u2019t great but were it not for late out-of-the-blue concessions against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, we wouldn\u2019t be sat here discussing the recent record. Indeed, Chelsea didn\u2019t create all that much on Wednesday, with Garnacho owed credit for two fine finishes.<\/p>\n Chelsea (0.73) 2-3 (3.20) Arsenal<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-199-1024x100.png\")
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