Wayne Rooney believes Xabi Alonso must tackle Chelsea's midfield problems while the team grapples with injury challenges. The former England forward also pointed out the gap between the Blues and the reigning Premier League champions, Arsenal.
Chelsea suffered their first defeat under Alonso, losing 1-2 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with Moises Caicedo missing out due to injury.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, Rooney remarked:
Xabi Alonso needs to find solutions for Chelsea's midfield while they have injuries. Moises Caicedo has yet to return to the squad, so I think Alonso needs to sort this out and find a way forward.
They won their first two matches of the season, but now they faced Arsenal, the champions. They’ve seen the level they need to reach and, at the moment, I think they’re just a bit short.
After three matches, Chelsea have recorded two wins and one loss. For Alonso's side, the encounter with the current champions marked their first defeat of the new season.
