Ivanovic and Cahill faces ‘Clear-Out’ from Chelsea after defeat to Arsenal

Chelsea Boss, Antonio Conte is ready to launch a ruthless defensive clear-out following his side’s calamitous 3-0 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday.

Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic are expected to be phased out as they were at fault for Arsenal’s first goal, Daily Mail reports.

The two would be the victims as the Chelsea boss looks to bolster his back four, who have conceded 12 goals in just four games.

The pending returns of skipper John Terry and fellow centre back Kurt Zouma from injury will provide more options for Conte in the coming weeks.

But with 35-year-old Terry’s career drawing to a close, Conte has his eye on signing a new full back and two centre backs, which could also cast doubts over David Luiz’s position as a first-choice central defender.

Conte failed to land his top defensive targets in the summer - Leonardo Bonucci, of Juventus, and Kalidou Koulibaly, of Napoli. 

He eventually added left back Marcos Alonso and Luiz, who returned to the club from Paris Saint-Germain.

But Conte still believes he needs to increase his options at the back in the next two transfer windows. 

The club had begun a scouting drive to identify the best emerging home-grown central defensive while Burnley's Michael Keane and Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson could be possible arrivals having been scouted by the Blues.

 

Conte was visibly agitated following the damaging defeat at the Emirates Stadium when questioned about his side's shocking display at the back.

The defensive meltdown against their London rivals prompted Conte to deliver a warning to his players about living on their reputations.

 

“We are a great team only on paper, not on the pitch,” said the Italian. “I prefer to be a great team not only on paper but also on the pitch. The pitch is the truth. The pitch speaks. The pitch is the most important thing for us: not the words, not on paper. We must work to change this. We must work a lot.”

 

“Last season was a bad season. We must have last season present in our mind to not repeat the mistakes. We must reflect a lot to find very soon the right way.”

The Blues can attempt to discover that right way on Saturday with a trip to Hull at the KC Stadium.