Nothing captured the confusion at Chelsea better than the sight of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang waiting to enter the fray just before Harry Kane sealed the points for Tottenham. There was no point trying to work out the logic at that stage. Chelsea had delivered another muddled display and, although Graham Potter needed someone in blue to do the unthinkable and score a goal, it was hard to see why this was the moment to turn to a player who had not been deemed worthy of a place on the bench for more than a month.
It hardly suggested that Chelsea, who lie closer to the bottom three than the top four after another demoralising defeat, have a plan. Why bring back Aubameyang now? The striker has been shoved to the margins, omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the Champions League, deemed less effective than David Datro Fofana. But here, with Potter desperate for a response after losing at home to Southampton, there was nothing but more misery, waste and Aubameyang given seven minutes to try to stop Spurs from beating Chelsea in the league for the first time since November 2018.
Spurs, who once again had Cristian Stellini deputising for Antonio Conte on the touchline, did not have to be special to tighten their hold on fourth place. They played the game on their terms, sitting deep, waiting for opportunities, and were in control after the excellent Oliver Skipp gave them the lead with a magnificent goal in the 46th minute. “We huffed and puffed,” Potter said. “Scoring goals is the difficult part of the game.”
Chelsea, who have won twice in 15 matches, are making it look impossible. They have scored 23 goals in 24 league games and rarely looked like improving on that record.
Potter tried to talk up Chelsea’s first half. He spoke about control. Yet Chelsea never opened Spurs up. Enzo Fernández almost picked out João Félix and Raheem Sterling tested Fraser Forster. Clear openings were rare and, despite the hosts initially giving the impression of doing their level best to rebuild Potter’s relationship with Chelsea’s fans, it was worth remembering that Spurs rarely make fast starts under Conte.
Chelsea needed more from Kai Havertz in attack but Potter is not making it easy for himself. Against Southampton he ignored Aubameyang, started Datro Fofana and substituted the 20-year-old at half-time. Eight days on, Datro Fofana was out, Aubameyang was on the bench and Potter, who has a bloated squad, had made six changes again.
There were some odd calls. There was a place on the left of the back three for Kalidou Koulibaly, who was also hooked at half-time against Southampton. Hakim Ziyech, who almost joined Paris Saint-Germain last month, was at right wing-back.
Perhaps the confusion affected the officials. Heaven knows what the referee, Stuart Attwell, and the VAR, Paul Tierney, were playing at after Ziyech pushed Emerson Royal in the face just before half-time. It was an obvious red card and Attwell showed one, only to have a change of heart, check the monitor and enrage Spurs by downgrading it to a booking.
Chelsea, who lost Thiago Silva to a knee injury, could not capitalise on Ziyech’s reprieve. Spurs were cagey at first, the attack limited with Ben Davies at left wing-back, but they were gathering momentum at the end of the first half. Wesley Fofana, Silva’s replacement, had deflected Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s low drive on to a post and Spurs eventually led.
Chelsea had grown sloppy, with Fernández misdirecting passes, Ben Chilwell guilty of a foul throw, and Reece James letting the ball slip under his foot. Spurs pushed. Dejan Kulusevski isolated Chilwell and released Royal.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could not hold the right wing-back’s shot and Fernández’s clearance reached Skipp, who shoved Félix aside. The midfielder has caught the eye since coming in for the injured Rodrigo Bentancur and he made Félix pay by storming towards the area before crashing a superb shot in off the underside of the bar.
There was no prospect of an equaliser from Chelsea, who soon brought on Mason Mount to give them more drive. Havertz briefly threatened from Félix’s flick, only for Forster to smother, but Spurs stood firm.
It was hard not to feel for Potter, who has even been on the receiving end of death threats. Spurs would deepen the misery when Son Heung-min, left out for Richarlison, delivered a corner shortly after replacing Kulusevski. Eric Dier rose above Mount, Kane exposed some slack marking and Chelsea’s season now rests on whether they can salvage their Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund.
