At the end the attention inevitably lingered on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goal in Chelsea colours, Graham Potter’s substitutions coming off and Conor Gallagher respecting the narrative with a stunning last-minute winner.
All things considered, for all that Potter could not entirely dismiss Crystal Palace’s complaints about Chris Kavanagh’s officiating, it felt better to dwell on the positives. There were pivotal saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga, flashes of class in attack, even a decent cameo from Christian Pulisic. Crucially, too, Thomas Tuchel’s successor had seen his new side roll their sleeves up. Instead of crumbling after going a goal down to Crystal Palace, Chelsea had rallied; victory rarely looked secure, but it was certainly hard-earned.
