Reece James produced a phenomenal performance for Chelsea in their hard-fought Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday night, earning rave reviews and a perfect midfield rating.
Captain James steps up after Caicedo red
The match at Stamford Bridge on 1st December 2024 took a dramatic turn when Chelsea's £115 million midfielder Moises Caicedo was shown a red card for a foul on Mikel Merino. With his team down to ten men for over half the game, manager Enzo Maresca made a tactical masterstroke, pushing his captain, Reece James, into a central midfield role.
James, who has battled injuries throughout his career, seized the opportunity. He covered immense ground, provided a calming presence, and organised his teammates vocally throughout the demanding fixture against the league leaders.
'An absolute beast' - Pundits heap praise on versatile star
Speaking on Sky Sports after the final whistle, former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old. "He was an absolute beast today," Sturridge declared. "Gave them so much running power in midfield, it was a very experienced and professional performance from him. He's got all the tools to play in midfield and at right-back."
LondonWorld's post-match ratings reflected this view, awarding James a 9/10 – the highest of any Chelsea player – and describing his display as "phenomenal" and "Reece James at his very best."
A World Cup audition and leadership statement
The performance also caught the eye of former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott. He highlighted how James's versatility offers a major boost for England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of next year's World Cup, a tournament James missed in 2022 due to a knee injury.
Walcott also addressed questions about James's leadership, stating, "What I am really pleased to see in his development is his growth and leadership skills... He clearly is a captain on today's performance." Walcott concluded that James was "absolutely outstanding from start to finish" and named him Player of the Match.
The resounding display from Reece James not only helped Chelsea secure a creditable result against the odds but also emphatically demonstrated his value, versatility, and burgeoning captaincy credentials on one of the biggest stages.
