It was ‘Boring, Boring Arsenal’, however are at risk of turning into the group to ship supporters – notably their travelling followers – to sleep.
Chelsea haven’t gained away from dwelling within the Premier League since a 4-3 thriller at Tottenham Hotspur on December 8 and the objectives have dried up of late.
A clean on the Emirates means Enzo Maresca’s group have solely scored thrice of their final seven away video games within the league, additionally failing to get on the scoresheet towards Everton, Ipswich City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
It’s a far cry from November, when Levi Colwill declared he could be scared to play Chelsea if he was on the opposition group as a result of he and his team-mates have been “battering” their rivals.
A part of the snoozefest may be traced again to accidents to striker Nicolas Jackson and , whereas star man Cole Palmer was dominated out with a muscle drawback that can be anticipated to see him pull out of the England squad.
However Palmer had not scored for 10 video games earlier than his harm, Jackson was with no purpose in eight and Madueke had netted twice in 12 matches.
Requested in regards to the influence of lacking Jackson, Palmer and Madueke, Chelsea head coach Maresca mentioned: “It’s an enormous distinction should you consider the three gamers with most objectives for us are Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke. Not one in every of them was on the pitch immediately.
“For 2 of them, they’ve already been out a very long time, so it’s regular that offensively we battle slightly bit, even when – till immediately – we’re the second or the third finest attacking group within the league. Meaning in any case we’re doing effectively with out these gamers, however we may do higher with the gamers which are injured in the intervening time.”
Palmer a doubt for Tuchel’s England debut
Since Palmer joined the membership, Chelsea have performed three home away video games with out him and misplaced all three, whereas failing to attain a single purpose (eight conceded). Sunday’s loss was their first league match with out Palmer since April 2024, which was additionally an away defeat to Arsenal.
“If Noni was there, or Nico was there, then in all probability the [Arsenal] sport is totally different,” mentioned Maresca. “It’s not nearly one participant. After I say we can’t depend on Cole, it’s appropriate to say since you can’t depend on one participant. It’s in regards to the group and don’t put an excessive amount of stress on Cole.”
On Palmer’s harm and the chance of him withdrawing from England responsibility, Maresca added: “It’s a muscle drawback and the scan is deliberate for tomorrow [Monday]. I don’t suppose [he will be available for England]. I don’t suppose so. It can give him some relaxation, bodily and mentally. It might be good.”
There’s higher information for Palmer’s worldwide team-mate Morgan Gibbs-White. The Nottingham Forest midfielder was a shock omission from the unique squad however has since been known as up.
Jadon Sancho didn’t handle so as to add to his one shot heading in the right direction since Boxing Day towards Arsenal, whereas these current may have been forgiven for forgetting Christopher Nkunku was enjoying till he and Sancho have been changed with 14 minutes remaining.
“Jadon did fairly effectively, Christo additionally,” mentioned Maresca. “I didn’t have the sensation they will do one thing higher. For certain, we will create and assault higher as a group.”
There have been puzzled seems to be all spherical when Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta claimed Chelsea are the perfect attacking group within the league “by a mile” after his facet’s success – though each groups are tied on 53 league objectives.
One may solely think about Arteta was basing his opinion on the primary half of the season, quite than Chelsea’s attacking type for the reason that victory over Tottenham, who they entertain at Stamford Bridge after the worldwide break.
Arteta mentioned: “For my part, they’re the perfect attacking group within the league. In open play, sure.
“By a mile, I imply the stats say it and every little thing that I’ve seen, say it. They’ll open you up, they will run in transition, they’ve particular person high quality. Any participant within the defensive position can throw you in behind, they will mix on either side, on weak sides and they’re lacking some large gamers as effectively in the intervening time.”
Arteta appeared to doubt himself the extra he was quizzed on it, including: “I don’t know, it’s my opinion, I’ve a whole lot of knowledge, the target one, what it says and as effectively what I’ve seen within the video games that they play. I is perhaps mistaken, I don’t know.”
No matter Arteta thinks, Chelsea must begin scoring and successful away from dwelling to make certain of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League.
“Initially, we’re going to try to win video games away,” mentioned Maresca. “In the meanwhile, we’re successful video games at dwelling and we’re going to try to do the identical away. At the start of the season, we have been successful video games away and struggled at dwelling. Now it’s the opposite approach. We’re there, for certain. We have to enhance, however total I believe we’re good.”