Maurizio Sarri may have a new saviour, in the form of veteran England defender Phil Jagielka, after the 36-year-old scored a priceless winner against Arsenal in his first start of the season. Such divine intervention, Jagielka was not originally meant to start the game, coupled with back to back wins against Cardiff and Brighton have put Chelsea firmly back in contention for a top-four finish.
West Ham are the team that stands between the Blues and another crucial three points, which would see them move up to third in the table, and for all their good fortune over recent weeks Sarri is aware as anyone that performance levels must increase if they are going to reach the European promise land. Wednesday’s win against Brighton possessed glimpses of the tactical ingenuity Sarri has been trying to impose over the course of the season, with Jorginho playing a critical role in two of Chelsea’s three goals on the night from his position at the base of the midfield.
It would be wise to persist with the same starting XI that proved so capable of executing Sarri’s orders, but with that being one of the few times Chelsea fans were actually satisfied with the team selection this season the odds would suggest that the return of players such as Willian and Gonzalo Higuain are on the cards despite their indifferent form.
