Reece James has maintained an injury-free status for over 12 months.
The Chelsea versus Arsenal match was anticipated as a midfield battle between Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice, but Reece James emerged as the dominant force in the center of the pitch.
Usually a right-back, the Chelsea captain has been deployed in midfield due to Romeo Lavia’s ongoing injury issues. James partnered with Caicedo, with Enzo Fernandez further forward in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea controlled the first half, but their momentum was disrupted when Caicedo received a red card for a late challenge on Mikel Merino in the 38th minute.
Maresca adjusted at half-time, introducing Alejandro Garnacho, with Fernandez dropping deeper alongside James.
Shortly after the restart, James delivered a cross for Joao Pedro, who headed on target from close range. He then provided another assist for Trevoh Chalobah, whose looped header from a corner surpassed David Raya to open the scoring.
Merino equalized with a header 11 minutes later but, with James leveraging his physicality in midfield, Chelsea remained competitive, matching the Premier League leaders despite being a man down.
“Reece was fantastic, [he was] top, very good,” stated Maresca, adding that he would need to consider how to utilize the 25-year-old, given his history of injury concerns, against Leeds in midweek.
“Now, we have a game on Wednesday. We need to manage him, we need to control him, we need to control a little bit his situation. But he was very good tonight.”
Despite an impressive performance by Chelsea, Arsenal were also content with preserving their unbeaten run, now standing at 17 points, and maintaining a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Chelsea believes James has finally overcome the persistent hamstring injuries that have plagued his career in recent seasons – a turnaround that is no accident.
A key factor has been a restructuring of the club’s medical department, led by performance director Bryce Cavanagh and medical director Craig Roberts, coupled with Maresca’s disciplined approach to team selection.
Together, they have implemented stricter load management protocols and closer player monitoring to maintain long-term fitness.
When asked by BBC Sport last month how he managed to stay injury-free for over 12 months, James responded: “Many people behind the scenes are assisting me – they know who they are. I have someone at the club I work closely with. He’s been a big part of keeping me on the pitch.”
Chelsea’s analysis team also plays a crucial role, tracking player data to facilitate high-intensity football while minimizing injury risks. Last season was considered a success at Stamford Bridge, as the club transitioned from having one of the worst injury records in the Premier League to one of the best.
James was limited to one match per week last season, as were Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia. This year, both James and Fofana have remained injury-free and have been cleared to play two or three matches per week, without needing to decrease their physical output on the field.
However, Maresca mentioned that starting a fourth consecutive match at Leeds would likely be too much for James.
He has already been heavily involved this week: playing the full 90 minutes against Arsenal, 82 minutes in the 3-0 midweek victory over Barcelona, and the first half of the 2-0 win at Burnley last weekend.
The Chelsea captain also reached a personal milestone last month, making his 200th appearance against Nottingham Forest – the first time he had started four consecutive matches, albeit with an international break in between, in more than two years.
Reflecting on the milestone, James commented: “200 times – it’s a dream. I probably would have liked it to come around a bit quicker!”
Following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, James was asked by Sky Sports whether his team had made a statement. His response was understated: “I think everyone can see where we are and what we are fighting for. I think today was a big statement. Even though we wanted to win, there are lots of positives to take.”
That calm authority mirrors James’ evolution as Chelsea captain. After Cesar Azpilicueta’s departure in 2023, James was handed the armband by Mauricio Pochettino. Early in Enzo Maresca’s tenure, the Italian admitted he “expected more” and even conveyed this to James in a one-on-one meeting.
Since then, Maresca has been impressed with James’ response, both publicly and privately.
James is generally reserved off the pitch and not particularly vocal. Instead, he leads with considered action.
He provides individual encouragement, organizes team meals during challenging periods, and frequently leads by example, relying on vice-captain Fernandez to be what one source termed the “aggressive leader.”
However, this season, James has also been seen calling for more aggression from teenage winger Estevao Willian in September against Brighton, who credits him with assisting his integration into English football.
He has also instituted a half-time ritual where the team gathers in the center circle before walking off the pitch together – a small gesture that reinforces unity that was lacking during Chelsea’s rebuild phase.
The Chelsea captain draws inspiration from outside football, cultivating friendships with South Africa rugby union captain Siya Kolisi and Formula One star Lewis Hamilton.
This personal growth is promising for England in a World Cup year. It was Thomas Tuchel – the current England manager – who initially elevated James to a new level at Stamford Bridge, and they achieved Champions League success in 2021.
Despite not featuring for England since 2022, James was recalled by Tuchel in March, marking a significant moment after the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup due to injury and Euro 2024 through non-selection.
Tuchel characterized James as being at the “highest level” in March, a standard he is maintaining both in midfield and in his preferred right-back position this season.
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