Title contenders Gunners on Saturday met what was unexpected Rigid Blues in a tight match that exposed Mikel Arteta game plan while crediting what is being cooked by Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge after the exit of Roman Abrohimovic era. Sanchez’s 76th Blunder gave “out of option” Arsenal a lifeline who later turned the scoreline to 2-2 at full time credit to Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard efforts.
Despite a low pick up of life in London, Chelsea were poised to snatch one of their biggest victories this season in front of their fans. A well marshaled midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Moise Caicedo and Conor Gallagher was enough to keep out the Rice, Jorginho and Ordegard combination. Gallagher was instructed to cut down any ball build up towards Odegard and it worked when Arsenal defense lacked the option of squeezing through balls to deep lying midfielder making him completely lost in the game.
Arsenal also were unlucky on the flanks as Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella pocketed their red hot Bukayo Saka and Martinell in both wings to reduce their threats. This forced Arteta side to rely on Jorginho on ball possession as he was left with the option of playing to Raya and the defense who were less under threat in build ups since Chelsea men had drawn back to the middle.
An early penalty won by Ukrainian Mudryk was converted by wonder kid Cole Palmer after VAR intervened in the 15th minute. The sublime take gave Chelsea composure and confidence in the first half.
Mudryk’s second goal came just three minutes into the second half after his speculative cross turned goal which found David Raya out of position to give Chelsea a double. However, the Blues failed to utilize another Raya blunder after he played the ball to Palmer’s leg but failed to convert the chance.
A 76th blunder by Sanchez gave Arsenal a lifeline after the goalkeeper mis-passed the ball through Rice’s right leg who sent it back to the empty net. Sanchez has been playing blunder passes a couple of times in previous games and this has received too much criticism. What was seen as a pass he intended to play to Gallagher, was supposed to be played to Enzo who had dropped deep to pick the ball, passed only to be intercepted by Rice who had marked Gallagher.
The second goal didn’t stay long as Leandro Trossard was unmarked in the right flank by Malo Gusto, allowing him to convert a cross from Bukayo Saka to bring the match to 2-2.
Despite the early lead, Blues surrendered two points in a Landon derby that they had already “killed” the match and left Arteta with no “plan B”. However, there was much to admire in the Chelsea performance after a long sloppy period of overhaul being witnessed at Cobham
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