Frank Lampard was desperate for victory but it will now be the result of Ben Chilwell’s injury scan that is stressing the Blues boss.
The left-back – celebrating his 24th birthday – grimaced as he hit the turf just four minutes into the Blues’ 3-0 victory over their London rivals, twisting his ankle after clashing with Jarrod Bowen.
The Englishman was replaced by Emerson after a failed attempt to run the injury off – providing a fresh fitness worry in defence with Reece James already a doubt for the Arsenal clash on Boxing Day.
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The Blues beat West Ham 3-0 on Monday but Lampard is wary of their upcoming fixtures over Christmas.
‘I expect he’ll be doubtful for Arsenal,’ Lampard revealed.
‘He turned his ankle, tried to carry on but it was too painful so we’ll have a scan or whatever tomorrow and try to see how bad he is.’
While James will only need surgery on his knee as a ‘last resort,’ Chilwell’s knock could yet be a bigger setback for Lampard.
‘We hope both their injuries are not that bad and they will be in and around it for those Christmas fixtures,’ the Blues icon added.
Despite Emerson coming on at left-back and Cesar Azpilicueta filling-in for the in-form James, the Blues were rock-solid at the back – largely thanks to summer signing Thiago Silva, who was Sportsmail’s Man of the Match.
Silva headed the Blues ahead after 10 minutes before Tammy Abraham’s quick-fire double at the end sealed Lampard his first victory over West Ham since returning to Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal are next for Chelsea and with the Gunners sliding towards a relegation scrap, having not won in the Premier League since November 1, they will hope to build the foundations of another positive run.