{"id":2706,"date":"2026-08-30T19:46:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T19:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2706"},"modified":"2026-08-30T19:46:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T19:46:47","slug":"josh-acheampong-or-wesley-fofana-xabi-alonso-now-knows-which-chelsea-star-is-first-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=2706","title":{"rendered":"Josh Acheampong or Wesley Fofana? Xabi Alonso now knows which Chelsea star is first choice"},"content":{"rendered":"


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When Xabi Alonso named his starting line-up to face Brighton, it came as a bit of a surprise. Changes were expected from the win over Luton Town, but not many will have predicted seven.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emi Martinez was the biggest surprise<\/a>. Chelsea<\/a> only confirmed his arrival on Sunday morning and yet, a few hours later, he was starting against Brighton. He might have conceded three, but he was excellent.<\/p>\n

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Plenty of candidates, but who was your Man of the Match against Brighton?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Wesley Fofana<\/a> started his first game of the season, while Malo Gusto played as a midfielder. Reece James started from the bench, as did Moises Caicedo and Valentin Barco. Jorrel Hato was preferred on the left.<\/p>\n

Gusto did a job, Romeo Lavia was excellent, and Hato proved Alonso<\/a> was right to choose him over new signing Pep Chavarria. But there is one real headache emerging on the right of Chelsea\u2019s back three.<\/p>\n

Wesley Fofana\u2019s stats for Chelsea against Brighton<\/h2>\n

Acheampong has starred in Chelsea\u2019s wins over Luton<\/a> and Fulham. So, it was a surprise to see he had been taken out of the side for the returning Fofana, who was available again after serving a suspension.<\/p>\n

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Fofana struggled. The France international might be forgiven for it being his first game back, but FotMob<\/a> gave him a 6.3 rating \u2013 joint-worst of Chelsea\u2019s starting players along with new signing Maxence Lacroix.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman was not involved in a single duel, and having played for 68 minutes, that is concerning. He failed to make a single tackle and managed just 25 touches, almost half of Emi Martinez\u2019s 49.<\/p>\n

The clear difference between Acheampong and Fofana<\/h2>\n

While it was a slightly different game where Chelsea only had 26% possession, the difference is clear. In both of Chelsea\u2019s first two games, Acheampong<\/a> broke the lines and passed forward more than 12 times.<\/p>\n

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Chelsea have high hopes for Josh Acheampong under Xabi Alonso\u2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Today, Fofana did it just four times. Defensively, Acheampong is more athletic; he seems hungrier when defending, and on the ball, Acheampong\u2019s ability to find an attacking teammate is key to Alonso\u2019s tactics.<\/p>\n

It was right to try Fofana, especially after two big outings in the space of four days for Acheampong. But actually, it has also given Alonso an answer; Acheampong should be considered first choice above Fofana.<\/p>\n

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