Mauricio Pochettino could be handed a double suspension boost following Tuesday's clash against Arsenal. The Blues head into the London derby just three days removed from further heartbreak at Wembley this time at the hands of Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final, two months after defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

Having played 120 minutes against Real Madrid in the week, Man City showed real signs of fatigue which Chelsea looked primed to take advantage of. However, a clincial edge in front of goal was lacking with Bernardo Silva bagging the decided after Nicolas Jackson and others missed numerous chances.

"Football is a dynamic system and you need to adapt to the circumstances," Pochettino said of Jackson. "The circumstances are a young striker arrived from Spain and then different offensive players, like Christopher Nkunku or Armando Broja, were not available in a way that would allow him to rest.

"That's why it's unfair not to give him the praise or credit for the effort that he has been making. He was also involved in the Africa Cup of Nations and I think he has been doing a fantastic job for the team. "We are going to give him all the support for him to be in the future calmer in front of goal and to increase the percentage of scoring goals."

Despite his struggles, Jackson has still managed to score 15 goals this season and he is five away from his own personal objective, but he is facing the possibility of missing two games through suspension, with one other Chelsea player also at risk.

Jackson is joined by Moises Caicedo on nine yellow cards for the league season and either picking up another caution against Arsenal would result in a two-match ban. With Chelsea about to play their 32nd game of the season, which is the final cut-off point for ten yellow cards to result in a suspension, the duo avoiding being booked will mean it is practically impossible for them to be absent this season through an accumulation of yellow cards.

After a side's 32nd game, the threshold for bookings increases to 15 and with the Blues having six games left it would require a caution in every remaining fixture for a suspension to be dished out. Pochettino losing Caicedo or Jackson for the upcoming two games would be a potentially significant blow especially with doubt surrounding Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell following Pochettino's updates.

Palmer, Chelsea's talisman has missed this week's training through illness and is expected to be absent with Gusto and Chilwell being assessed for muscular concerns.

You can find this story in   My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.