Could this be Chelsea’s lineup against Arsenal?
Right-back – Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spaniard is a versatile player because he mainly played as the right centre-back in a back three for the last two seasons under Antonio Conte, but Sarri has reverted him back to his traditional role as a full-back.
Who he will be up against is uncertain because it’s unclear exactly how Arsenal will set up. Emery is likely to utilise either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Therefore, Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the main candidates. The Gabonese striker will only be there if Alexander Lacazette starts while the choice between Ozil and Mkhitaryan is dependent on whether he wants them to play inverted or not.
Centre-back – Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger appears to be favoured by Sarri based on the Community Shield and last week’s match. He has the right mix of physical attributes and ability on the ball to fit into the system that Sarri is attempting to implement.
He will have a tough task against the Gunners, though, because they will be playing a high line which will suit Aubameyang with his rapid runs in behind. Any mistakes from him could be costly, so he will have to be on top form. Arsenal are unlikely to seriously test him aerially because they don’t have any major threats.
Centre-back – David Luiz
The Brazilian has come back into the fold after being frozen out by Conte as well as suffering from injuries. Luiz’s footwork has always been one of his strong points as a defender because he can play through a press and break opposition lines in a defensive shape by passing into a narrow window. This means he is highly suited to an possession-based approach which focuses on verticality.
His main issue is that he is prone to making bizarre mistakes in the worst areas. He will need to be focused in this game because Arsenal are likely to press high and he is more capable on the ball than his centre-back partner, so the Blues will be reliant on him to help Jorginho during build-up.
Left-back – Marcos Alonso
The wing-back role suited Alonso in Conte’s system because it gave him the licence to go forwards. However, he struggled to have as much of an impact in his second season as teams started to work out the vulnerabilities of the 3-4-3 system.
He will be playing as a full-back in Sarri’s system, but he has another manager who can bring the best out of him through the playing style being utilised. The combination play between him, Eden Hazard, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic will be key in destabilising the opposition by drawing players towards their side. Alonso will be asked to play high up the pitch and provide width in case Hazard opts to drift inside or loiters in the half space.
In this match he will have the tough task of dealing with the pace of Hector Bellerin as well as whoever Emery decides to play on the wing.