The arrival of the newly elongated three-week international break means Chelsea do not play again until October 10 against Bournemouth.
The September and October international breaks have been wrapped into one, and that means a prolonged early-season rest for Xabi Alonso’s side, whose hugely disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday wiped some of the sheen off their bright start to the campaign and leaves them 10th in the Premier League table.