CHELSEA ANALYSIS 📈🔵
Chelsea’s best way to counter Arsenal is NOT to try to out-control Arsenal. They should make the game uncomfortable, force Arsenal into transitions, and attack the spaces Arsenal leave when they push forward. Chelsea have started the season very aggressively…
Don’t allow Ødegaard to control the game (even though he Can’t )
This is another huge one.
If Ødegaard receives comfortably between the lines, Arsenal can start playing exactly the football they want.
Chelsea need to make his life uncomfortable:
Ødegaard receives → immediate pressure → force him backwards/sideways.
Don’t necessarily chase him everywhere. Just make sure he can’t turn and play forward.
If Chelsea stop Ødegaard from connecting Arsenal’s midfield to Saka and the attack, Arsenal become much more predictable.
🛡️ 6. Chelsea need a compact 5-4-1/5-2-3 without the ball
This is where Alonso’s system can help.
His teams have historically been comfortable switching between a back three/five and more aggressive pressing structures.
Chelsea could effectively have:
João Pedro
Rogers — Palmer
Hato — Lavia — James — Neto
though he Can’t )
The important thing isn’t the exact formation.
It’s keeping the central area crowded.
Don’t let Arsenal play through the middle.
Force them wide.
Then Chelsea can defend crosses and look for the counter.
This is another huge one.
If Ødegaard receives comfortably between the lines, Arsenal can start playing exactly the football they want.
Chelsea need to make his life uncomfortable:
Ødegaard receives → immediate pressure → force him backwards/sideways.
Don’t necessarily chase him everywhere. Just make sure he can’t turn and play forward.
If Chelsea stop Ødegaard from connecting Arsenal’s midfield to Saka and the attack, Arsenal become much more predictable.
🛡️ 6. Chelsea need a compact 5-4-1/5-2-3 without the ball
This is where Alonso’s system can help.
His teams have historically been comfortable switching between a back three/five and more aggressive pressing structures.
Chelsea could effectively have:
João Pedro
Rogers — Palmer
Hato — Lavia — James — Neto
though he Can’t )
The important thing isn’t the exact formation.
It’s keeping the central area crowded.
Don’t let Arsenal play through the middle.
Force them wide.
Then Chelsea can defend crosses and look for the counter.
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🚨 Alonso: “Looking forward to seeing Arteta but once the whistle blows it’s game on” (SkySportsPL)
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Chelsea have no defensive shape whatsoever. That has to be a key thing for Xabi Alonso and co to work on during the international break.
[False_winger on X ]
[False_winger on X ]
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#HALFTIMETHOUGHTS
All I can say is Chelsea were competitive- yes their attacking transitions looked dangerous, while but yet again our defensive structure was still shaky.
Our first goal was good, nice aggressiveness and man making which led to us taking the lead
But yet again Our Defensive shape was the biggest problem
Chelsea’s back three and midfield weren’t always compact. Arsenal were able to find pockets between the lines, particularly when Chelsea’s midfield couldn’t get back into position quickly.
This was probably Our biggest structural weakness. When Arsenal moved the ball quickly, the midfield sometimes looked disconnected from the defence.
That puts huge pressure on the centre-backs. And this is where we also need Caicedo.
Our defensive line looked so uncomfortable.
@Arsenal_london’s movement forced the defenders to make decisions constantly: step forward, hold the line or track runners. That lack of certainty contributed to the equaliser.
Lot of work to do in the second half
All I can say is Chelsea were competitive- yes their attacking transitions looked dangerous, while but yet again our defensive structure was still shaky.
Our first goal was good, nice aggressiveness and man making which led to us taking the lead
But yet again Our Defensive shape was the biggest problem
Chelsea’s back three and midfield weren’t always compact. Arsenal were able to find pockets between the lines, particularly when Chelsea’s midfield couldn’t get back into position quickly.
This was probably Our biggest structural weakness. When Arsenal moved the ball quickly, the midfield sometimes looked disconnected from the defence.
That puts huge pressure on the centre-backs. And this is where we also need Caicedo.
Our defensive line looked so uncomfortable.
@Arsenal_london’s movement forced the defenders to make decisions constantly: step forward, hold the line or track runners. That lack of certainty contributed to the equaliser.
Lot of work to do in the second half
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Unlike Emery's @Aston_Villa, Alonso has structured Chelsea in a more fluid out-of-possession structure. The difference is that it is initially a 4-4-2 before shifting into a more conservative 5-4-1 as Palmer and Neto drop deeper. This is marginally different shape to what we have seen from Chelsea over the past two Premier League games where we have strictly defended in a 5-2-3/5-4-1 block. I believe that this change was to provide better wide coverage against Arsenal's usage of double width and specifically cope with their fluidity.
That said, @Chealsea have struggled with @Arsenal_london's right side connections. Apart from Saka and White already holding positions on the right, Odegaard and Havertz have showcased their willingness to drift towards that side to receive. Consequently, Arsenal can create a wide overload.
These details are evident in Havertz's equaliser.
That said, @Chealsea have struggled with @Arsenal_london's right side connections. Apart from Saka and White already holding positions on the right, Odegaard and Havertz have showcased their willingness to drift towards that side to receive. Consequently, Arsenal can create a wide overload.
These details are evident in Havertz's equaliser.
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Mikel Arteta hasn't lost a single game against the last 6 @Chealsea managers.
Xabi Alonso (0 wins, 1 game)
Rosenior (0 wins, 2 games)
Maresca (0 wins, 3 games)
Pochettino (0 wins, 2 games)
Lampard (0 wins, 1 game)
Potter (0 wins, 1 game)
FFS. Our bogey team.
Xabi Alonso (0 wins, 1 game)
Rosenior (0 wins, 2 games)
Maresca (0 wins, 3 games)
Pochettino (0 wins, 2 games)
Lampard (0 wins, 1 game)
Potter (0 wins, 1 game)
FFS. Our bogey team.
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The difference between good players and elite players isn't just their talent but their IQ. Fofana and Neto belong to good players category. In games like this, where details matter, they always come short.
[Vince]
[Vince]
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