There was a short-term novelty in Arsenal’s opening goal during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, with Martin Odegaard executing the kind of pass few Gunners players have even attempted during his two months out with an ankle injury.
From a Chelsea perspective, though, it felt utterly familiar. Gabriel Martinelli’s far-post finish was the fifth goal in as many Premier League matches that the Blues have conceded, directly or otherwise, via deliveries to and overloads of that region.
In fact, that represents all but one of the goals Enzo Maresca’s team have leaked in that period and the vulnerability is the chief reason why the only clean sheets kept in 11 matches have come against Barrow and FC Noah.
Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood’s opening goal came after Forest had successfully engineered a back-post mismatch at a deep free-kick. Giant centre-back Nikola Milenkovic easily won his header against Malo Gusto, nodding across goal for Wood to poke in.
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Curtis Jones’ winning goal at Anfield saw the midfielder breach Chelsea’s high line to meet Mohamed Salah’s fine ball and finish beyond Robert Sanchez unchecked. Reece James was caught out trying to play offside and doubly occupied by the presence of Cody Gakpo out wide, while Tosin Adarabioyo failed to open out to notice Jones’ run.
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
Alexander Isak was left unmarked between Levi Colwill and James to connect with Lewis Hall’s cross from close range. The Swedish striker actually finished in the centre of goal, but it was James’s preoccupation with two more Newcastle players at the far post that allowed Isak to stay free. The least costly of the five goals in this run, given Chelsea went on to win the game.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
The least egregious, both because of the quality of the pass and the fact that it did not lead directly to a goal. But Wesley Fofana was caught under Casemiro’s early ball and Rasmus Hojlund left free to control at the far post.
Sanchez lunged at the striker’s feet and Bruno Fernandes tucked home the resultant penalty. Earlier in the same match, Marcus Rashford had struck the woodwork with a back-post volley.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Probably the worst of the lot, given Arsenal’s attack had slowed and Chelsea were well set. Here, the entire back four plus Moises Caicedo were dragged towards the ball - Gusto, the widest player, was in line with the penalty spot when Odegaard crossed - as Martinelli and Declan Rice peeled into the back-post space. Noni Madueke was culpable, too, with a clear view of the danger but no urgency to communicate it or get back.
So what’s going wrong?
The most obvious flaw has been one of organisation, which cannot be helped by the fact that Chelsea have started five different back fours in their last eight Premier League matches. Coupled with Maresca’s heavy midweek rotation, it means no combination has yet emerged as clear first-choice, nor had time to develop an automatic understanding.
Fofana and Colwill are now established picks at centre-back, but their partnership is still in its infancy given the former missed the whole of last season through injury.
At full-back, James’ welcome return to fitness and surprising use at left-back has clouded the picture, with Gusto and Marc Cucurella also in contention for two places.
Maresca’s decision to opt for the latter pair against Arsenal was a good one, with the recalled Cucurella excellent against Bukayo Saka, but it will be interesting to see whether a settled backline emerges in the coming weeks.
Regardless of personnel, though, Chelsea’s defensive set-up does leave space in behind that invites crosses like those from Odegaard and Salah, and encourages midfield runs from deep. Sanchez’s inability to command his six-yard box certainly does not put anyone off either.
Maresca defended the approach following the defeat at Anfield last month: “In the way we conceded the second goal, we have already avoided this season five or six goals because of the [high] line.”
Chelsea’s wingers, too, do not appear to be tasked with the same level of defensive responsibility as, say, Arsenal’s (think, for instance, of Martinelli jumping with Gusto inside his own six-yard box for the defender’s glaring chance on Sunday).
Their higher starting position gives Chelsea their biggest threat in transition - Pedro Neto’s role in Nicolas Jackson’s counter-attacking opener against Newcastle is a prime example - but does risk leaving both full-backs exposed.
Lastly, there is a weakness that Maresca highlighted himself in the lack of experience, on-field communication and leadership within what is, by design, a young squad. That is a failing, though, that cannot be fixed overnight.
