Arsenal Dragon
Where are they now: Thomas Tuchel’s final Chelsea XI?

It’s been two years since Thomas Tuchel was sacked as Chelsea‘s manager. It was all going smoothly for the German after he had joined the club in January 2021. Leading the Blues to UEFA Champions League glory that same season, Tuchel’s impressive results resulted in him signing a three-year contract extension that would have kept him at Chelsea until 2024.
However, things took a dramatic turn despite Chelsea’s decent 2021-22 season, where they finished 3rd in the EPL, runners-up in the League Cup and FA Cup and quarter-finalists in the UCL. During that phase, Roman Abramovich stepped down as the owner of Chelsea in February 2022, leaving the club’s future in dire straits. American Todd Boehly took over the club in May 2022, and things never looked bright for Tuchel after that.

Just a couple of weeks into the 2022-23 season, Tuchel was sacked as manager of Chelsea following a UEFA Champions League group stage loss against Dinamo Zagreb on the 6th of September, 2022. Although Tuchel found himself a team in Bayern Munich after that, the Blues never really shone after his sacking. In fact, only two years later, in 2024 have they begun showing signs of promise.
Here is a look at the final starting XI Thomas Tuchel managed at Chelsea:
GK – Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s regular starts at the London Club waned as the years went by. Especially when Edouard Mendy was performing at the peak of his powers, Kepa never really got a chance to start. However, he did in this Champions League fixture. The shot-stopper is still a part of Chelsea, but is currently on loan to AFC Bournemouth. He previously had a loan stint with Real Madrid as well.
RWB – Reece James
Often touted as Chelsea’s next big thing in defense, Reece James is still at Chelsea. However, he very rarely starts for them – blame it on his extensive injuries which have sidelined him season-in-season-out.
CB – Kalidou Koulibaly
When Kalidou Koulibaly was signed by Chelsea, the Blues’ fans were over the moon. He was one of Tuchel’s final signings. However, the Senegalese never really got going at the club, leaving them the very next year to Al-Hilal, where he currently plays.
CB – Wesley Fofana
Wesley Fofana is still at Chelsea, and has been getting starts for the club of late.
CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

The ever-reliable Cesar Azpilicueta left Chelsea after the 2022-23 season. After nearly 12 years with the club, Azplicueta bowed out as a club legend with well over 300 EPL appearances. He now plays for Atletico Madrid.
LWB – Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell is another injury-plagued star. Ever since signing from Leicester City back in 2022, Chilwell has been a regular starter for Chelsea. However, it is the injuries that deny him starts.
CM – Mateo Kovacic
After having joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in 2018, Kovacic completed his transfer to the London club in 2019. After four seasons with the Blues, Kovacic moved to Manchester City, and has been quite a regular starter for the Mancunian club.
CAM – Mason Mount
Mason Mount was seen as a star to take Chelsea to celestial heights, but little did fans know that he would only fade after impressive early seasons with the club. His last season at Chelsea was the 2022-23 season, and his numbers that year were very poor. He moved to Manchester United in 2023, and has hardly got game-time there as well – primarily due to his injuries.
RW – Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz was a decent player at Chelsea, with the highlight being his Champions League-winning goal against Manchester City in 2021. With okayish returns, Havertz left Chelsea for their London rivals, Arsenal – a move that was initially frowned upon by the Gooners. However, the German has settled quite well at Arsenal.
LW – Raheem Sterling
Another Arsenal connection here. Although, Raheem Sterling is still on loan from Chelsea, he now plays for Arsenal. The Englishman joined the North London club only on the deadline day of the 2024 summer transfer window.
ST – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
After having joined from Barcelona, the former Arsenal hitman, struggled at Chelsea. He left for Marseille the next year, and came up big for the French Club, almost taking them to the Europa League 2023-23 finals. He now plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah.
Arsenal
Arsenal Extend Hotels.com Partnership as Premier League Champions Maintain Commercial Sponsorship Through 2026-27 Season

Arsenal have extended their commercial relationship with Hotels.com, maintaining the travel brand as Official Partner of the Premier League champions across both their men’s and women’s operations. The sponsorship renewal, which commenced in 2023, provides Hotels.com continued access to Emirates Stadium alongside meaningful engagement with Arsenal’s globally distributed supporter base, particularly those travelling domestically and across European competition fixtures.
Hotels.com recognises the commercial value of football’s unique capacity to mobilise supporter travel, with their data demonstrating significant accommodation search increases during Arsenal’s competitive campaigns. The partnership extension reflects genuine commercial alignment regarding supporter engagement and travel-focused experience creation extending beyond purely transactional sponsorship arrangements.
Commercial Partnership Enables Supporter Experience Development
Hotels.com’s sponsorship provides Arsenal direct pathway toward their globally engaged supporter base, particularly those following the club across domestic and European competitions. The brand’s investment in travel-focused content and curated supporter packages suggests genuine commitment toward meaningful fan engagement rather than purely passive logo placement.

That approach aligns with Arsenal’s stated objective regarding supporter community deepening, establishing commercial partnerships as integral to their competitive and cultural ambitions.
Data Validation Demonstrates Partnership Commercial Viability
Hotels.com’s reported metrics showing 1,300% accommodation search increases during Champions League final weekend combined with 30% domestic matchday increases validate the partnership’s genuine commercial effectiveness. Those figures establish measurable evidence of supporter travel patterns connected directly to Arsenal’s competitive success, suggesting authentic correlation between championship performance and travel engagement.
This extension feels strategically important for Arsenal’s commercial positioning. Rather than pursuing purely transactional sponsorship arrangements, they invest in partnerships enabling genuine supporter experience enhancement. Hotels.com’s continued investment suggests confidence in Arsenal’s continued competitive success throughout their partnership duration.
Also read: Manchester City Host Barcelona at Joie Stadium as Champions Prepare for Elite Pre-Season Test
Arsenal
Arsenal Under-21s Defeat London Bees in Encouraging Pre-Season Friendly as Academy Prospects Continue Development Trajectory

Arsenal Women’s Under-21s secured a 1-0 victory against London Bees in entertaining pre-season friendly, with England Under-17 international Cairo Antoine providing the decisive goal following excellent centre-back Millie Marriott diagonal pass.
The match demonstrated contrasting performance levels across both halves, with Arsenal controlling the opening period before London Bees emerged as genuine threat during the second half, providing balanced assessment of the young squad’s competitive readiness.
Arsenal’s academy prospects including Bella Cowley, Marriott and Antoine demonstrated genuine quality throughout the fixture, establishing themselves as emerging talent deserving continued senior investment. Amy Liddiard’s clean sheet performance as goalkeeper suggests meaningful first-team pathway potential despite currently occupying third-choice position behind established senior goalkeepers.
Young Prospects Display Genuine Elite Development Markers
Antoine, Cowley and Marriott all impressed throughout the fixture, demonstrating the technical quality and tactical intelligence required for elite-level competition. That performance level suggests these academy graduates continue progressing appropriately through development structures, though significant adaptation remains required before consistent senior contribution becomes realistic expectation.
The presence of England Under-19 manager John Solomon alongside first-team youngster Sophie Harwood suggests genuine institutional monitoring of these young talents’ developmental progression.
Academy Development Requires Sustained Patience Rather Than Immediate Promotion
The clear assessment emerges that these academy prospects, despite impressive showings, remain two to three years away from delivering consistent senior contribution within championship and Champions League competition. That developmental timeline reflects realistic expectations regarding the substantial gap between elite Under-21 football and genuine senior elite competition demanding sustained consistency.

This fixture feels strategically important for Arsenal’s institutional philosophy. Rather than forcing premature academy advancement, they maintain patient developmental approach recognising these young players’ genuine quality alongside realistic assessment of their competitive readiness limitations. Liddiard’s interesting case regarding goalkeeping hierarchy warrants first-team pre-season exposure, potentially accelerating her development pathway while maintaining squad depth security.
Arsenal
Charlton Athletic Women Confirm Arsenal Pre-Season Friendly as Final Preparation Before Liverpool League Opener

Charlton Athletic Women have confirmed their final pre-season fixture against Arsenal Women at Meadow Park on Wednesday, August 26, at 7 pm BST, providing elite opposition testing ahead of their inaugural Women’s Super League campaign.
The friendly represents crucial preparation opportunity enabling Charlton to assess their competitive readiness against established championship-level opposition immediately before their domestic campaign commences.
Charlton’s Women’s Super League debut begins the following week against Liverpool at The Valley on Sunday September 6, establishing their first competitive fixture as newly promoted club enters elite-level football. That compressed pre-season schedule provides limited preparation timeframe for Karen Hills’ squad to implement tactical philosophies whilst integrating their summer recruitment additions.
Arsenal Provide Elite Preparation Benchmark
Arsenal’s Meadow Park venue provides familiar Arsenal Women home environment, enabling the Gunners to utilise their established training and match-day infrastructure whilst testing Charlton’s competitive foundation. That fixture represents genuine championship-level testing opportunity essential for newly promoted teams requiring clear perception regarding their competitive standing against established elite performers.
The pre-season arrangement appears deliberately scheduled to provide maximum preparation value immediately preceding Charlton’s genuine league campaign commencement.
Season Ticket Availability Enables Fan Engagement
Charlton have confirmed fixed season ticket pricing at £80 for their inaugural Women’s Super League campaign, providing supporters accessible pricing structure supporting consistent matchday attendance throughout their championship journey. That affordable pricing suggests deliberate fan engagement strategy supporting community investment in their historic league elevation.
This fixture schedule feels strategically important for Charlton’s competitive foundation. Rather than purely ceremonial pre-season preparation, the Arsenal friendly provides elite testing enabling Hill’s assessment of her squad’s genuine competitive readiness.
That structured approach combined with accessible season ticket pricing suggests genuine commitment toward supporting their Women’s Super League establishment through comprehensive fan engagement and competitive preparation.
Also read: Wales Duo Olivia Francis and Ellen Jones Join Wolves Following Promotion to Women’s Super League 2
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