As it's so often felt like at Chelsea this season, there was little positive to take away from their defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night. In many respects, it was difficult to even appreciate Noni Madueke's efforts such was the disaster of the Blues' first-half performance at the Emirates Stadium.
However, in many regards, Madueke's performance is what onlookers have been waiting for. The 21-year-old arrived in January and is part of the future of the club at a time when few players can say they will remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer.
Madueke showed some promising forays forward and took his goal very well before being substituted later in the game. Providing his knock is not too severe, the winger guaranteed his place in the team to face Bournemouth.
READ MORE: Chelsea's possible new 25-man squad for Mauricio Pochettino includes 6 new signings
The former PSV star has proved himself to Lampard in recent weeks having missed out on the caretaker manager's first squads before making his way onto the bench and eventually into the starting line against the Gunners. Madueke has shown endeavour to prove his abilities in training and as a result managed to impress Chelsea staff and supporters alike.
Lampard noted following the game: "I spoke a lot about confidence after Brentford, stand by that. The team is low on confidence but it's also underperforming in the basics. Now it's the question of five games to compete with each other, like Noni did tonight in his performance from two weeks of good training, to show you deserve to be in the team. Those should be the rules anyway: now or never. People say there's nothing on these games but they're wrong. Every individual has a lot on these games."
It seems the progress of Madueke has inspired Lampard to go further in trusting those players who are showing their abilities on Cobham's training fields.. The 44-year-old suggested he has changed in his time since returning to the club.
He said: "In my short time here, and the more I'm here in the short period I'm becoming more practical about it. The players that do show that they train well, they have their motivation. It's not always the shouters, it can be the quiet ones that have the motivation, will be the ones that continue to try and get improvement in these five games until the end of the season."
Chelsea have little to find solace in until the end of the season and seeing the growth of players who still have something to play for maybe something for supporters to invest in. Offering opportunities to the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Carney Chukwuemeke and David Datro Fofana, should they deserve it, could provide a reason to be excited, and in my areas, things don't feel like they could get worse.
READ NEXT:
What Enzo Fernandez did as Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell argued as Chelsea fall apart vs Arsenal
Man Utd give green light for Todd Boehly to sign Chelsea's 'next Didier Drogba'
Every word Frank Lampard said on Chelsea failures, aggression, Noni Madueke and the next coach
Chelsea player ratings vs Arsenal as Frank Lampard's side threaten to reach disgraceful nadir
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher agree on Chelsea problem after 'disgraceful' Arsenal display
