Graham Potter and Chelsea faced up to the absence of Reece James against Aston Villa and it wasn’t pretty. On paper, claiming all three points in a 2-0 away win was job done.
But the reality is this was their worst performance so far under Potter and, without their injured right wing-back, they needed an outstanding display in goal from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
James is facing eight weeks out with the knee problem he suffered against AC Milan in the Champions League last week. He will spend the next four weeks on crutches, his World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread and he will not play for Chelsea again until after Christmas.
With N’Golo Kante increasingly injury-prone, James had stepped up to become Chelsea’s most important player. His energy, goals, assists and dominant physicality have made him arguably the world’s best in his position.
Eight goals and 13 assists since the start of the 2021-22 season mark him out as one of the best attacking forces in the Premier League.
In big matches, James produces winning moments. He did so both home and away against AC Milan – his goal and assist were crucial in the 3-0 home win and his through ball led to the decisive penalty and red card in the 2-0 victory in Italy.
It is why Chelsea were hoping the knee ligament injury he suffered in the San Siro wasn’t too bad. Unfortunately, it is now understood to be a fairly big one.
The implications for England are clear. James was nailed on to start at right wing-back at the World Cup in Qatar and his absence is a major blow for Gareth Southgate, who could also be without right-sided centre-back Kyle Walker due to a groin injury.
For Chelsea on Sunday, his absence was obvious. Three different players were used in his position against Villa in what looked like a gaping hole in Potter’s system.
Raheem Sterling started there but looked awfully exposed as Villa dominated the first half, despite Mason Mount opening the scoring against the run of play. Ruben Loftus-Cheek stepped into the position in the 35th minute and the Blues marginally improved.
With tougher tests to come, Chelsea need to find a proper solution to the Reece James conundrum
They gradually got better over the second half but were still uncomfortable as Cesar Azpilicueta was next to play there, trying to shut up shop after gaining the lead.
In Azpilicueta's case, he is the captain and regarded as a legend at Stamford Bridge but increasingly he can’t play three games a week. The position James has mastered requires players to make a staggering amount of high-intensity runs which Azpilicueta can no longer do to the same level.
Villa were camped in Chelsea’s half, particularly during the first 45 minutes where they enjoyed 47.5 per cent possession in their final third.
Goalkeeper Kepa produced more saves yesterday than he had done in any Premier League match since joining Chelsea in 2018. Potter muddled through against a team just above the relegation zone – relying on Mount’s free-kick in the second half to seal victory.
“It can happen sometimes when you lose a key player, you need to try to get a feel,” said Potter.
“We tried to be back three in build-up and back four defensively with Raheem [Sterling as a wing-back]. I thought we started the game quite well in the first 15 minutes but then we lost a bit of momentum and they were able to put pressure on, pick up second balls and get behind us. We had to make a change at half-time I felt and the boys did it well. We’ve got options there.”
With tougher tests to come against Brentford, Manchester United and away at Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, Chelsea need to find a proper solution to the James conundrum.
It could involve switching to a back four, looking at converting another player into a wing-back or completely overhauling the style of play. That is a big call for Potter to make. It feels like whatever they do, Chelsea are a poorer team without James.
