Alonso backs Reece James to become world-class midfielder ahead of Arsenal clash

Xabi Alonso has declared that Reece James can become a world-class central midfielder, signalling a permanent positional shift for the Chelsea captain as the Blues prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

Alonso, who has deployed a 3-4-3 system since taking charge at Stamford Bridge this season, has used both James and Malo Gusto in central midfield roles. The Chelsea manager was unequivocal about James’s suitability for the position when asked whether the 25-year-old could instead become a world-class right-back.

“I would say so,” Alonso said. “He is very comfortable and confident playing in that position. He has the intelligence to play there because, in the middle, you need to be able to connect with your team-mates and know what the best thing to do is before you get the ball. He has this awareness.”

Alonso also highlighted James’s leadership qualities as a key factor in the decision. “He has this presence where he has respect from his teammates. When he says something, they listen and they follow him,” the Spaniard added.

James spent the vast majority of his career at right-back before managers at club and international level began experimenting with him in midfield over the past year. Alonso is not the first coach to make the switch, but his comments suggest it is now the plan rather than an experiment.

The positional change has been partly shaped by circumstance. Chelsea sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125 million on deadline day and failed to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco in a proposed £47 million deal, leaving them shorter on specialist midfield options. Moises Caicedo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson, and Romeo Lavia remain the recognised central midfielders in the squad.

James was not in the starting XI for last weekend’s 4-3 victory over Brighton, with Gusto partnering Lavia in the middle. Alonso, however, insisted the squad has sufficient depth to cope with any setbacks.

“We have this feeling with the squad that we are good to go. If we have these setbacks in the season with injuries and suspensions, we have this feeling that we will be able to manage,” he said.

Sunday’s fixture at Arsenal will be an early test of whether James’s evolution into a top-level midfielder can hold up against one of the Premier League’s most pressing sides.