Chelsea in quandary after Morata knee injury and Hassenhuttl’s first home test is Arsenal

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri is likely to assess the attacking talent on offer in the transfer window after Alvaro Morata suffered an injury this week.

The Spanish striker was forced out of the Europa League draw at Hungarian club Vidi just before half-time after injuring his knee while shooting and will miss Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Brighton and Hove Albion today.

His misfortune allowed Olivier Giroud to enter the action and the France international responded with a late free-kick that secured a 2-2 draw and ensured Chelsea remained unbeaten throughout the group stage as they progressed to the last 32.

Sarri must now decide whether Giroud should start at Brighton or whether he again employs Eden Hazard in a central role as part of a less physical, more mobile forward line. Given his frequent tactical changes so far, the Italian does not appear fully convinced that either approach is ideal.

Neither Morata nor Giroud have fully impressed this season. Morata has outscored his rival for the centre-forward role with five Premier League goals to Giroud’s one but has again proved inconsistent as well, mirroring last season’s form when he was bought as a replacement for Diego Costa.

Giroud said this week he had no problem biding his time at Chelsea because the prospect of winning a Premier League title kept him motivated.

“Alvaro [had] a great pre-season, so it was normal not to take him off the team even to put in a world champion.

“Let’s be patient, work in training and come back stronger,” he told The Guardian. “I prefer to be at a big club rather than playing every week in a less prestigious team and I still have targets.

“To win a Premier League is my last dream as a footballer, maybe more than winning a Champions League, because I know how tough it is to win this league. I have teammates here who have won it, so I’m a bit jealous.”

Hazard scored eight goals in the opening first 10 games but has now failed to find the net in eight games.

Meanwhile, in today’s other game, Arsenal will look to maintain a run of 23 matches unbeaten in all competition, which stretches back to August, when they visit struggling Southampton.

It will be the first home match in charge for Southampton’s Ralph Hassenhuttl, who replaced Mark Hughes as manager earlier this month.