London is Blue Dispatch #088

With both teams missing all their center-forwards and left-footed magicians, this game was always going to be decided by one moment. If boring was how it felt, then it is because that’s exactly how both managers wanted it – a clash of traditional English titans produced a grand total of zero big chances. And as is often the case against Arsenal, that one moment came from what they’ve effectively turned into a cloaked dagger – their extra midfielder rising at the near post and looping it over a flailing goalkeeper.

In many respects, Maresca’s hands were tied. With Jackson, Madueke, Mudryk all unavailable, there is simply no speed in the frontline in any attacker bar Pedro Neto. Any balls over the top to force Arsenal’s encroaching last line back was never really on. Neto sprinted relentlessly to make those runs and found some joy down the right flank, but with the lack of runners he was often left isolated in enemy territory. He managed three shots on the afternoon, worth a total 0.08 xG; each one from outside the box. He did though manage more by himself than the three attackers behind them combined.

The very real issue through is a frugal return of four goals in the last four games (twice against Copenhagen, once against Leicester) or 9 in the last 10 barring a generous 4 against a dismal Southampton. Shooting and the npxG numbers remain quite decent, but Jadon Sancho has two shots in his last 8, Nkunku has nine in his last 10. This was a second-choice attack against the league’s best defense. Barring a small miracle, this is exactly how the game would turn out if played 9/10 times.

After a dreadful 30 minutes in which Arsenal exerted suffocating pressure, there were glimpses of a faint rebellion. At one point, Sancho, Nkunku, Cucurella, Badiashile and Caicedo all ended up on the left flank, causing momentary panic in Arsenal’s eyes before the end of the first half. To Sancho and Nkunku’s credit, both positioned themselves diligently to prevent the plethora of issues Arsenal cause with their rotations – Sancho followed Lewis-Skelly to central midfield when he inverted, while Nkunku dropped to double up on Martinelli whenever he could. It is what they are failing to provide the other way consistently that ultimately made the difference again.

It is legitimately tough to pin the approach or execution on Maresca. With two underperforming wide players and no center-forwards it is hard to draft a bold approach, even if a point in this fixture could have had galvanizing repercussions for the games ahead. Was there wisdom in waiting for 74 minutes before throwing on Tyrique George, who has more assists than Nkunku or Sancho this year? Only he knows. Perhaps the magnitude of the fixture and 90 minutes in the last game could well have factored into that decision. However, managing only 3 shots in an entire half where a goal could have yielded an invaluable point tells its own story too.

Bottom line, yes, the form book does look daunting. Yes, this is the lowest xG Chelsea generated in 855 days. That does not really sound encouraging before a run of fixtures against Spurs (who lost 2-0 vs Fulham), United, Forest, Liverpool and more. However, this wasn’t a damaging defeat in the end. After the international break, the Blues will almost certainly have Nico Jackson back fit; with Cole Palmer out, one wonders if there will be a tactical withdrawal from England to give his jaded mind and body a well-deserved rest. This interlude could well be the breathing space everyone desperately needs to recover and make a hard dash to the finishing line.