In future years, whenever Chelsea and their fans reflect on this 2023-24 season they will likely think of injuries first. It has been the most injury-riddled season in their entire club history, but Levi Colwill, Reece James and Christopher Nkunku all stand a chance of coming off the IL between now and Championship Sunday.
Nkunku (thigh injury) is back in partial training, and nearing a return, but it won’t happen on Tuesday night when the Blues visit Arsenal.
Chelsea at Arsenal FYIs
Kick: Tue. Apr. 23, 8pm local, Emirates Stadium
Team News: Chelsea Arsenal
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea Arsenal
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Google Result Probability: Chelsea 16% Arsenal 64% Draw 20%
Form Guide: Chelsea WDWDW Arsenal WLWWD
PL Position: Chelsea 47 pts, 9th Arsenal 74 pts, 1st
Blues Team News
As for James (hamstring) and Colwill (toe), they are both about a couple weeks, or thereabouts, away from a return. Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) could be back in May, but Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Wesley Fofana (ACL) won’t be returning this season.
Meanwhile Nicolas Jackson, a machine when it comes to accumulating bookings, is now up to nine, meaning he’s one away from hitting the next suspension threshold.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Twitter.