Graham Potter continued his excellent run in the Premier League as Chelsea boss, with the Blues recording a 2-0 win away to Aston Villa. However, it was not a match that came without test.
Things couldn't have started much better for Chelsea than when Tyrone Mings' wayward header fell in the lap of Mason Mount. The England international was full of composure to slot the ball around Emiliano Martinez and handed the Blues a lead with his first goal of the season.
When it seemed as if Chelsea would be able to exert control on the match, Villa proved they had come to play. Steven Gerrard's side repeatedly put pressure on Chelsea's flanks and threatened to come out of the first half with a lead if not for Kepa Arrizabalaga's heroics. The Spaniard defied belief again and again during the opening period to ensure Chelsea held on until the midway point.
READ MORE: What Thiago Silva did to assist stunning Mason Mount free kick as Chelsea receive £71m boost
Potter's side struggled to implement their authority on the game in the second period too but Mount came up trumps once again. Chelsea's academy star first won a free kick before dispatching it expertly from more than 20-yards to double the visitor's lead. football.london looks at a few things we learned during the game.
How Chelsea are going to cope without Reece James?
With Chelsea having confirmed the news that James is set to be out for eight weeks and unlikely to make the World Cup, the question quickly came 'how would the Blues fare without him?'. Potter acknowledged before the match that it would be no easy task.
He said: "It's a big miss for us. We're disappointed he's out. We are going to have to deal with that and help him get back fit as quickly as we can. I spoke to him yesterday. He is disappointed to be out."
Raheem Sterling was tasked with a role on the right first, in a move that looked to mirror his outing against Red Bull Salzburg in Potter's first game in charge. The home side looked to attack Chelsea's flanks and left Sterling in a position where he needed to be disciplined defensively. John McGinn ensured the winger had problems as he located himself between Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah, while Ben Chilwell and Marcu Cucurella struggled to provide solidity on the opposite side. The Blues boss had to change things before the half was out.
Sterling was moved up the pitch, with Mount sent in to partner Mateo Kovacic in the centre and Ruben Loftus-Cheek filled in at wing-back. At half-time the cavalry arrived with Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta tasked with shoring up the defence.
Chelsea's captain is the closest thing the Blues have to a Reece James' replacement and with so many games to come before the break for the World Cup, Potter is sure to want to figure out an alternative to ensure he can rotate his team.
Chelsea proved Steven Gerrard wrong
Though, not in a way they would have hoped.
"Chelsea should be competing for the league, they should be competing for the Champions League, and they should be coming to Villa Park and wipe the floor with us."
Steven Gerrard's words left many perplexed ahead of the game between the two Premier League side's. In isolation it almost seemed an expectation of defeat rather a call to arms. But, Chelsea did not wipe the floor with Sunday's opposition. For large parts of the game they were the inferior team, and only Kepa stood in the way of the scoreline looking very different.
Should Chelsea come to Villa Park and wipe the floor with home team? It's questionable. You can take nothing for granted in the Premier League, and time and again teams prove they can be competitive in a one-off again. Perhaps Gerrard's words did inspire his team, but at the very least they were set up to challenge Chelsea in wide positions.
What is important for Chelsea and Potter however, is that the Blues dug deep to earn three points when they might not off. Performances against Leeds and Southampton show what can happened when Chelsea play poorly but they did not allow that to be the case in the Midlands. As the cliche goes, a good team is capable of playing badly and winning.
Mason Mount can find the goal
Since Potter's arrive, Mount's intention to focus on his production at the higher end of the pitch has been obvious. A goal had eluded him however but his pray on Sunday saw him fulfill Graham Potter's plan.
Mount noted earlier in the season: “The manager has spoken to me about trying to get in the box and also connecting the midfield to the strikers and being able to move and be free and get assists and then get goals.
“It’s been happening for me over the last couple of games and I want more, I want to continue doing that and hopefully that will happen in the next few games too. I feel good. I’m enjoying it and we’re playing well and scoring goals, so that’s the most important thing.
“Hopefully next I get a goal because it’s been coming but I just haven’t finished it off yet. But I’ll take the assists, setting them up for my team-mates and I’m very happy for them.”
Mount has thrived under Potter and his two goals provided his fifth goal contribution in the last three games having started every game under his new boss. Not bad at all as he matched Frank Lampard's record of hitting 31 goals in his opening 173 games.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is Chelsea's first choice goalkeeper
During the summer Kepa Arrizabalaga did not have a certain future. The Spaniard acknowledged he would consider a move away if necessary but stayed. In doing so, even at his most optimistic, he probably did not expect to be in the conversation for number one so quickly, never mind first choice with just 10 games played in the Premier League.
Edouard Mendy's knee injury requiring rest and attention allowed Kepa his opportunity and even those unconvinced by his merits would have been applauding his efforts against Aston Villa. The 28-year-old glovesman pulled off a series of scarcely believable first half saves to demonstrate his shot-stopping prowess. It was a far cry from this moment two years ago when he lost his place to the newly arrived Mendy.
That is not to say Kepa is perfect, and he may not even be first choice come the end of the season. At the moment however, he is proving he is capable and it was impossible not to enjoy his interaction with the away supporters as he received their adulation and returned with applause of his own and enthusiasic fist pumps.
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