Xabi Alonso assesses Chelsea defeat against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso addressed his team's performance following a loss to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on September 6, 2026. The match saw defender Levi Colwill remain on the bench due to a fitness issue, impacting Chelsea's ability to build play from the back. Alonso declined to use the absence of Colwill or the injury-related exclusion of Moises Caicedo as excuses for the result. The manager noted that Caicedo suffered a recurrence of a previous injury after coming on as a substitute in the prior week, suggesting the player may have returned to action too soon. Alonso emphasized that while he remains satisfied with the squad, the team is more effective when key players are healthy. Chelsea looks ahead to upcoming fixtures against Leeds and Hull as the team works to manage ongoing fitness and suspension issues within the squad.

• 8:05 PMYahoo Sports — Alonso responds to tough questions about Colwill absence against Arsenal