Week 11 Match Review: Chelsea 1 - Arsenal 1
On the one hand, boy howdy could that have been worse (that last second miss is going to haunt the Gunners). On the other hand… Malo Gusto. Another London derby and both squads came out with a point. Left-footed weapons on each side were sheathed, Kai Havertz got smug before sustaining a head injury, and I’d certainly take this over a 5-0 shellacking any day. Let’s have a closer look.
What Was Good
Moises Caicedo Was Everywhere
With the exception of Gabriel on Arsenal, Moises Caicedo might’ve been the most impactful player on the entire pitch last Sunday. He was everywhere and it’s clear that big Enzo is empowering the feisty midfielder to seek out the ball, regardless of his positioning (you can read more about that here). Besides covering more Chelsea ground than anyone since N’Golo Kanté, Mois is also bullying just about anyone he comes up against. Whether it was Havertz or Gabriel Martinelli or Martin Ødegaard, Caicedo hawked to them the second they got the ball. While some of this rise can simply be attributed to more time spent with the team, it must be said that Caicedo’s transformation into super saiyan mode has come with the increased minutes of Romeo Lavía and fewer sightings of little Enzo. For better or worse, the far less physical Argentine looks to be the odd man out in the midfield.
Pedro Neto Has Found His Form
Pedro Neto was still recovering from an injury during the preseason before being purchased by Chelsea and now, 11 games into the season, we’re finally getting a look at who he really is at full strength. Breaking news: Neto is very good. The Portuguese international was my favorite signing for the Blues this summer and watching him sprint down the left flank all night against Ben White was just beautiful. On two different occasions, Neto turned nothing into something, coming close on two would-be assists (had the recipients not been both undersized and unable to finish each of their respective headers). And then, of course, there’s his perfect strike to tie the game and secure a point for the Blues. Watching him direct play, organize the counter defense, and get in the perfect spot for his strike against David Raya… it was genuinely beautiful.
Marc Cucurella Loves Playing Against Bukayo Saka
There aren’t many trolls on Chelsea. As a whole, the team (with the exception of maybe Nicolas Jackson, although he’s even mellowed out this year) is calm and measured, never letting their emotions get the best of them. And then, there’s Marc Cucurella, who plays with his heart on his long sleeve every game. While this was once perceived as an issue during his early days at the club, it’s clear that his brash bravado is the secondary source of his power (outside his hair) and that was on full display against Arsenal as he all but shut down Bukayo Saka through the entire game. These two have plenty of history from multiple Premier League clashes and battles at both the Euros and World Cup, yet Cucurella’s pugnaciousness continues to bring him out on top – hair flopping, maniacally grinning, and all.
What Was Bad
Cole Palmer Was Essentially Removed From the Game (Again)
We’re starting to see a theme. One week, Cole Palmer is one of the most impressive players in the league, and the next, all quiet on the eastern channel. In order for Palmer to take the next step, he’s going to need to find ways to get away from his marks (in this case, a very physical Thomas Partey) and make plays. While Palmer wasn’t alone in going stealth this game – Jackson and Noni Madueke were both equally quiet – he is the difference maker, and the team can’t rely on Neto picking up the slack every week, regardless of how clean his finish was against the Gunners.
Malo Gusto Was Lost
Ignoring the criminally-missed header from Neto’s breakdance-esque jukefest vs. Ben White, Malo Gusto still seems a bit unsure of himself. Interesting that in a game against Arsenal where Cucurella was starting on the left, big Enzo started Gusto over Reece James, who did eventually come on. Gusto is a solid fullback, but in this new system, he’s being asked to come inside almost as a second number 10 and that is simply not his game (nor is it James’ for that matter, but he at least has a bit more passing vision). Maybe James is still getting back to full health, but Gusto seems like he could use a break from the A team just to regain some confidence… especially after missing that gimme header last week.
Robert Sanchez, We Meet Again
Another week, another minor blunder. While Havertz was luckily called offside by about an inch to rescind the first goal of the game, Martinelli’s eventual near-side finish against Bob Sanchez was tough to watch. It’s important to remember that Sanchez is 6’6”, yet he somehow plays much smaller. Luckily, Arsenal was so exhausted by the end that they missed a Gusto-level tap-in from a cross in the last few seconds of injury time, securing a point for a Blues team that seemed somehow both earned and given. I guess it’s hard to complain too much about a team that’s currently third in the table after 11 games, but still, keeper is the one position that feels the most in need of some new energy sooner rather than later.
What’s Next
The last international break of this young season is already here, which will hopefully give players like James and Lavía a bit of a break to finally get back to top fitness. Well, it will for James at least since it appears that England’s top 83 men (OK, it’s eight) on the depth chart are all skipping this final break before the Tuchel era begins. Otherwise, it’ll be three games in nine days for Chelsea to close out the month, starting with a trip to King Power to face an abysmal Leicester squad before welcoming Heidenheim to the Bridge for the Conference League, and then hosting Villa on December 1st. Two tricky Premier League fixtures and another opportunity for Mykhailo Mudryk to show the world what he’s occasionally capable of – heck of a first third of the season everyone.
