Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 11.

Player analysis: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)

Chelsea’s much-improved form this season owes plenty to the excellence of Caicedo.

The 23-year-old has taken a while to settle at Stamford Bridge, following his big-money move from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023.

Yet, on current form, Caicedo is the best central midfielder in the country.

Alongside new partner Romeo Lavia, the Ecuadorian has been outstanding in his last three appearances against Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United.

He could not be in better shape ahead of Sunday’s home derby against Arsenal.

Chart-topping tackler

Caicedo has been nothing short of brilliant at winning the ball in 2024/25.

Playing on the right side of a central midfield pair, his combative qualities have played a crucial part in his side climbing into the top four.

He is the Premier League’s top-ranked midfielder for both making and winning tackles, and he also ranks highly for winning duels, recovering the ball in the middle third, and interceptions.

Comparison with PL central midfielders 24/25

Caicedo is very effective when moving towards the right flank to help Chelsea’s full-back and forward there.

He regularly breaks up play close to the right-hand touchline and is quick to see danger.

In Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Newcastle, he made five interceptions alone within two yards of that touchline.

Caicedo’s interceptions v Newcastle

Arsenal will need to be careful about selecting the correct kind of pass when they play out from the back and move the ball into midfield.

Caicedo is always on the front foot, prowling for an opportunity to win the ball back, and has been fabulous at stepping forward to unsettle opponents.

The Ecuadorian is the catalyst for so many of Chelsea’s attacks as he regains possession over the halfway line on a frequent basis.

This defensive-action areas graphic, collated from his last three Premier League starts, highlights the part of the pitch he has been so dominant in.

A precise passer

Caicedo is not just a midfield destroyer, he can also hurt opponents with his distribution.

The former Brighton man makes plenty of progressive forward passes, and has struck up a fine rapport with Nicolas Jackson.

Given time and space to look up, Caicedo slid two perfect through-balls behind West Ham United and Liverpool’s defences to provide assists for Jackson, the on-song Senegalese striker.

It is not easy to trouble Arsenal’s excellent central defensive duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, but Jackson does have the pace to test them if Caicedo picks him out with the right pass.

The Gunners must work hard to congest his space, forcing Caicedo sideways or backwards.

More than just a holding player

While it is his defensive acumen, reading of the game, and ability to resist presses when in possession that set Caicedo apart from other holding midfielders, he must not be viewed as a metronomic pivot.

Able to break the lines with a dribble, or play through teams with his quality, the 23-year-old also completes far more successful passes inside the final third than anyone else in Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea 2024/25 – Successful final-third passes

These figures are even more impressive when you consider Caicedo’s role is more structured and disciplined under Maresca than it was with Mauricio Pochettino, where he had greater licence to fly forward.

By inverting the Chelsea full-backs into midfield, Maresca’s style of play also means that Caicedo makes fewer successful passes per match (47.13) than he did under Pochettino (59.67), but his contributions have actually been more valuable.

Caicedo outperforming Rice

When Arsenal were in the hunt for a top-class central midfielder in 2022 and 2023, Caicedo’s name was strongly linked with Mikel Arteta’s side.

In the end, they smashed their own transfer record by signing West Ham’s Declan Rice for a reported £100million fee.

The England international was magnificent last season, but in the current campaign he has not hit the same heights.

Flitting between a box-to-box role on the left and a defensive-pivot position, Rice is yet to find his groove.

This player radar chart from 2024/25 indicates that Caicedo has largely outperformed Rice across the opening 10 matches.

Last season it was Rice that held the upper hand in many of the same aspects of their game.

The comparison shows how much the Chelsea star has progressed under Maresca.

Duel in prospect?

If Rice recovers from a foot injury that ruled him out of the midweek UEFA Champions League tie at Inter Milan, he could go head-to-head in a direct duel with Caicedo this Sunday.

Thomas Partey moved from right-back into his usual central-midfield role against Inter, alongside Mikel Merino.

If Rice is available and selected against Chelsea, he could operate to the left of centre in a box-to-box role. He looked more comfortable in that position late on at St James’ Park, almost scoring twice in the second half.

If Martin Odegaard is also back in the starting line-up, after making his long-awaited return to the matchday squad as a sub in Milan, that shape is even more likely as Arteta will revert to a 4-3-3.

Based on their respective form this season, Caicedo may have the edge over Rice in that midfield battleground.