All of the groups chasing Arsenal have gotten issues they should work on – for Chelsea, their lack of self-discipline is one thing that has to vary if they’re going to problem for the title.
Moises Caicedo’s dismissal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw towards the Gunners was the fourth time in 13 Premier League video games {that a} Chelsea participant has been despatched off this season.
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A kind of crimson playing cards, for Malo Gusto towards Forest, got here so late it didn’t have an effect on the end result however towards Manchester United, Brighton and now Arsenal, they’ve been a person down for a major a part of every match.
They’ve taken just one level from a doable 9 in these video games, and naturally the crimson card had an impression on every end result.
Caicedo was despatched off for this problem on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino within the thirty eighth minute, with the rating at 0-0. Shearer known as it a ‘clear crimson card’ on MOTD. Of Chelsea’s different crimson playing cards within the Premier League this season, Robert Sanchez was despatched off within the fifth minute of their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United when the rating was 0-0 and Trevoh Chalobah was despatched off within the 58th minute towards Brighton with the Blues main 1-0 – they misplaced 3-1 [BBC]
In opposition to Arsenal, Chelsea will likely be pleased with some extent within the circumstances due to the best way they responded once they went right down to 10 males and the purpose they scored. Even once they did concede, they made it tough for the Gunners, who couldn’t open them up.
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However, due to the best way his group performed with 10 males, I nonetheless suppose Blues boss Enzo Maresca will see it as a chance missed at house to shut the hole on the leaders.
It is not lengthy since Arsenal had been the group who had been rueing expensive crimson playing cards within the title race – they dropped factors in three of their first eight matches final season, and all three events got here after they’d a person despatched off.
This season, nonetheless, their disciplinary report is way improved. Sure, they picked up six yellow playing cards on Sunday in what was a feisty London derby, however they stored 11 males on the pitch.
That is one thing Mikel Arteta’s aspect have executed in all 20 video games they’ve performed in all competitions this season, and it is an instance Chelsea have to begin to observe.
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Chelsea missing consistency too
I did not have Chelsea down as title contenders earlier than the season began – I had them as being in and across the prime 4 – however then I did not suppose they’d win the Membership World Cup in the summertime, they usually stunned me there.
It most likely fits them that no-one actually has them down as title contenders now, both, despite the fact that Sunday’s recreation was first versus second going into the weekend.
They’re nonetheless in place after their draw, however do I believe they’ll win the Premier League from right here? No, I do not.
Can they win it? Sure, in fact… however they would wish to enhance extra than simply their disciplinary report for that to occur.
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It’s their inconsistency that has value them greater than something, in video games like their 2-1 house defeat by Sunderland the place a crimson card was to not blame, as a result of what has been an honest begin to the season for them might have been even higher.
Man Metropolis are conceding too many possibilities
Aston Villa are most likely in the perfect kind out of the groups behind Arsenal within the chasing pack. Unai Emery’s aspect have been sensible just lately and are on a very good run.
However from final season’s prime 5, it is solely the Gunners who’ve discovered any consistency – the opposite 4 groups have been up and down – significantly Liverpool and Newcastle, however together with Chelsea too.
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It is the identical story with Manchester Metropolis, who at the moment are in second place however nonetheless look shaky in defence and are giving up far too many possibilities.
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Additional again, Liverpool picked up an necessary win on Sunday, however I nonetheless do not see the defending champions getting again within the title race now.
As a substitute, their purpose might be the Champions League locations which is one thing they need to have sufficient for with the flexibility of their squad.
Their recreation towards West Ham was one other that I watched for Match of the Day. After the Reds’ run of kind, they had been on the stage the place efficiency did not matter as a result of they only wanted end result.
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Because it turned out they obtained each. It was an necessary three factors as a result of Arne Slot was below stress and he made a giant name to depart Mohamed Salah out, however it labored out for him.
It was big for Alexander Isak to attain his first Premier League purpose for Liverpool too. He is needed to wait longer than he would have wished for it, and the Liverpool followers have needed to wait as effectively.
His purpose towards West Ham was a superb end on the half-volley, and it was additionally an important one as a result of it modified the sport
There isn’t any doubt the standard is there with Isak, so it was hardly a shock to see him put away such a intelligent strike like that.
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It’s nearly him getting absolutely match after lacking most of pre-season and the group getting used to how he desires to play, and that’s one thing he and Liverpool are nonetheless engaged on.
Arsenal need to be 5 factors clear
What hasn’t modified this weekend is that Arsenal are nonetheless the group to beat.
You might argue they might have executed extra towards Chelsea’s 10 males, they usually may be dissatisfied to not create extra possibilities after the crimson card, and to solely get a draw.
However, trying on the greater image, they’ve come out of a really tough week within the Champions League and Premier League with spectacular wins over Tottenham and Bayern Munich and now getting a draw away on the group who had been closest to them within the desk.
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In opposition to Chelsea, they had been lacking each of their first-choice centre-halves, Gabriel and William Saliba, and I do not suppose it’s a coincidence that, with out them, they conceded from a Chelsea set-piece and didn’t look their standard menace from their very own.
That is another excuse why selecting up this level will likely be seen as a constructive factor, and Arteta is not going to view the end result as two factors dropped.
Arsenal have now drawn their previous two away video games however they’re nonetheless essentially the most constant aspect within the Premier League and that’s the reason they’re 5 factors clear.
The league desk isn’t mendacity in the meanwhile, and it by no means does. They need to be the place they’re as a result of they have been the standout aspect up to now, and they’re going to take some catching too.
Alan Shearer was talking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
