How can 'untouchable' Estevao get more game time under Alonso?
- Published
A late flourish from Estevao Willian almost snatched Chelsea a draw at Arsenal on Sunday.
His curling strike was saved by goalkeeper David Raya to preserve Arsenal's lead, but it served as a reminder of the important role the 19-year-old Brazil winger could play in Xabi Alonso's side.
His game time has been limited so far this season by the club record £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa as well as the form of Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.
Reports in Brazil have suggested Estevao is unhappy with his lack of opportunities.
However, those claims have been denied by sources at Stamford Bridge and by people close to the player, some of whom have also expressed excitement about Chelsea's summer recruitment - including the arrival of Rogers.
Chelsea regard Estevao as one of a small group of untouchable players that includes Palmer, Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo.
But where does Estevao fit at Chelsea?
Estevao came on for Pedro Neto, who has been operating as a wing-back in Alonso's new system, as Chelsea chased an equaliser on Sunday.
It is difficult to imagine any other in-game circumstance in which Estevao would be asked to perform the same role, given the defensive and physical demands placed on players in that position.
Instead, Palmer occupies Estevao's preferred inside-right number 10 role.
Estevao and Palmer have shown encouraging signs when used together when Alonso has played a back four - but he has deployed that shape only against Luton Town in the Carabao Cup.
Displacing Palmer for league games could prove difficult as Alonso regards him as both a dressing-room leader and one of his key attacking threats.
Alonso has also fielded close to his strongest side even in the Carabao Cup, with Chelsea not involved in European competition and with the new head coach eager to establish his tactical principles as quickly as possible following his arrival.
Estevao is not alone in struggling for meaningful minutes early in the season and, should Leeds United win at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the Blues will have no further cup fixtures until the FA Cup in January.
That quietly makes Wednesday's game an important one in terms of keeping a 27-man squad satisfied.
