Chelsea were defeated 3-1 by Arsenal in what was a leisurely game for the home side as Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus ensured Noni Madueke’s strike counted for little
Chelsea’s English defender Ben Chilwell reacts after failing to score (Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP)
This hasn’t been a good season for Chelsea: everybody knows it. Few would have expected a positive result away to Arsenal and such is the nadir surrounding the Blues in this moment, few might have expected a good performance.
Frank Lampard’s offering of a 4-3-3 and an attacking option in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang accompanied by a first start for Noni Madueke since February offered a degree of excitement for some, while playing a more attacking formation against the Gunners having set out a defensive stall against Brentford a week ago confused others.
The first 45 minutes showed little in terms of attacking expectation as Ben Chilwell’s foray into the box provided their only real opportunity and such was Madueke’s isolation, his positive play was in lone drives up the pitch. Instead the Blues mostly appeared to sit back and wait for the inevitable.
When Martin Odegaard twice came to meet the cross of Granit Xhaka, Chelsea were left watching and waiting. Chilwell and Thiago Silva’s ferocity of conversation for the second goal offering more conviction than most of the west London side’s play.
Soon the ball was in Chelsea’s box again and the momentum of the game was set. On this occasion the backline was caught on its heels, Cesar Azpilicueta couldn’t jump high enough to win the header and while Fofana and Silva looked to scramble across to put in blocks, it was more through hope than calculation as Gabriel Jesus found the goal.
Heads were down, apart from Fofana’s as the Frenchman stood with his back to the post looking like he was searching for answers as his teammates trudged to their positions. ‘Are you Tottenham in disguise?’ came the shout from the stands; it felt like Chelsea were on course to concede more than six.
They scarcely seemed to want to leave them as Thiago Silva found himself on the ball on the verge of half-time and looked upfield expecting some movement. There was little outside of the frustration in his arms waving around.
Chelsea familiarised themselves slightly more with their opponent’s side of the pitch but it was still Arsenal’s game. The Emirates Stadium was in the mood for a party and cheered every flick and pass as their team coaxed the ball around.
There was laughter from supporters near the press box and not a great deal of tension in the air. In the end, Oleksandr Zinchenko switched off and allowed Madueke to be found with an impressive pass from Kovacic to slot past Aaron Ramsdale.
That the England under-21 international, albeit having picked up an issue, was replaced by Hakim Ziyech seemed to signal the stasis the club are in. Too many players are unlikely to be here next term.
With five games of the season remaining, Chelsea might currently be the worst team in the Premier League. There’s not really any room for benefit of the doubt. It didn’t feel like they were going to win a ball in the air, rarely on the ground and rarely was there a moment of merit.
This is a big squad and the team has seen a great deal of turnover on and off the pitch; they are understandably low on confidence, but even with nothing to play for the excuses cannot wash.
Any moment of good play feels in vain at the moment and it’s difficult to find room for positivity. There needs to be a different offering when the Blues travel to Bournemouth.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 5.
Cesar Azpilicueta –3.
Wesley Fofana – 4.
Thiago Silva – 4.
Ben Chilwell – 5.
N’Golo Kante – 4.
Enzo Fernandez – 4.
Mateo Kovacic –4.
Raheem Sterling – 2.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 2.
Noni Madueke – The only starter able to claim a real positive impact, and the only player really deserving of a rating. Struggled to find his way into the game but took matters into his own hands to carry the ball up the pitch. Finished well when given the opportunity. 6.
Kai Havertz – 5
Mykhailo Mudryk – 5
Conor Gallagher – 5
Hakim Ziyech – 5
Trevoh Chalobah – N/A
Source: FOOTBALL.LONDON
