As always, pre-season friendlies are largely about gaining match fitness and getting minutes under the belt of as many players as you can.
You will always see the multiple substitutions in-game and that will always unsettle things. However, it’s always great to be the Arsenal, right?
Here are 5 things I took away from the game..
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
We all know I’m a fan, and yesterday to me he really showed signs of the old Ruben, the one we saw bossing the England midfielder in the 2018 World Cup, and the one who really came of age in the 2019 season before his big injury hit.
He was confident, progressive, always looking to pass forward, and he controlled the middle of the park for Chelsea. I don’t know if the 6 role is the best role for him, he will always give the ball away on occasions purely because he is such a direct and progressive player, he takes risks, and he always looks to break the lines with his passes and dribbles. He’s an 8 ideally, but in this system we don’t use an 8, which concerns me a little for him.
But, to conclude, he does look like he is getting back to his best.
Second half bargain bin Chelsea shop window
Danny Drinkwater, Ross Barkley, Michy Batshuayi, Baba Rahman, Davide Zappacosta, Jake Clarke-Salter, and Dujon Sterling… It could have easily been 2017 Chelsea again!
Not saying all these were poor by the way, Sterling in particular I thought was great. However, Chelsea’s performance from the first half compared to when all these guys came on in the second half, was obviously a huge dip.
But I get it, we are trying to sell some of these players, so we need to stick them in the shop window. But unfortunately it backfired, and out shop window became a bargain bin.
Instead of increasing values for some of these players and drumming up interest, I’m afraid some of them decreased in value and put teams off!! I can only laugh though, it’s painful!
Dujon Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah
These two are some proper defenders, right? Trev played in the middle of the back 3, and Sterling played as a right centre back, both of them put in an excellent defensive performance, and Sterling actually proved that he can be a great option as a centre back as well as wing back.
As for Chalobah, what his future holds we do not know, but he proved he is more than good enough for the Premier League now physically and ability wise. I was impressed with both.
Callum Hudson-Odoi on the left
Whilst he was still a little shackled as a wing back, Hudson-Odoi did get to play on his preferred left hand side of the field, and he was excellent.
He was very unlucky not to get a goal with some fine work beating his man down the wing. This is exactly what Thomas Tuchel has asked from him this season, to be braver, more expressive, beat his man and get a shot off. Score more and assist more, and if he does this, I have no doubt he will become a regular for Tuchel, but he needs to be on the left regularly.
Where was Broja?
The exclusion of Armando Broja in the squad altogether could mean one of three things..
He wasn’t injured, as he played for the development squad.
So perhaps a loan move out has already been decided for him? If that is the case, then does that mean Michy Batshuayi is going to be given Olivier Giroud’s place in the squad?
Orrr, could it mean that a new striker is close to arriving at Chelsea this summer and they just don’t need Broja in the squad as a backup?
Check the latest on that here.
To conclude, Chelsea won and that is great, building a winning momentum this early is always a very positive sign. Onwards and upwards we go!
Simon Phillips