Moisés Caicedo lasts just 13 minutes against Brighton, in doubt for Chelsea's derby vs Arsenal

Thirteen minutes. That's all Moisés Caicedo could manage on his return against Brighton before asking to come off with a physical complaint. It was a sight that set off alarm bells at Chelsea just as the club prepares for one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar: the derby against Arsenal.

The Ecuadorian midfielder hasn't had the start to the season he was hoping for. An injury picked up right after preseason disrupted his rhythm from the get go and kept him from finding the continuity he needed. He missed the Premier League clash with Fulham and also sat out the Carabao Cup match against Luton Town. When he finally got back on the field, in the win over Brighton, the discomfort flared up again and forced him off before he'd even played a quarter of an hour.

With that recent history in mind, it was only natural that Xabi Alonso would be asked about the midfielder's condition at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Arsenal game. The Spanish coach, who arrived at Stamford Bridge following his spell at Real Madrid, declined to give away a decision and explained that the key step still lies ahead: the final training session before the match.

Tomorrow is the last session for the team before Sunday. We shouldn't worry, we need to assess him tomorrow and make the final decision.Xabi Alonso

A derby that leaves no room for unnecessary risks

The coach's message is clear enough: there's no panic, but there's no certainty either. Caicedo has become a difficult player to replace in Chelsea's midfield, which is why every knock he picks up turns into news. Alonso's approach seems straightforward: wait until the last possible moment before risking a player who has been dealing with recurring issues in a sensitive area.

The match against Arsenal is set for this Sunday at 10:30 at the Emirates Stadium, and it's shaping up to be one of the toughest tests of the Premier League season so far for both sides. For Chelsea, having Caicedo available or not could completely change the balance of the starting eleven, especially in a fixture where control of midfield tends to decide games like this one.

We'll have to wait for the result of that final training session to know whether the Ecuadorian will be available. In the meantime, Xabi Alonso's caution suggests the priority isn't rushing him back, but making sure that if Caicedo does play, he's actually fit enough to make a real impact.