BREAKING NEWS:“He was the best player in the pitch but fans won’t appreciate him because he don’t score or assist”- Skysport man was full of praise for sensational Chelsea star who completed 40 passes, 90% accuracy, 4 duels, 3 interceptions and 2 clearances without committing a single foul throughout 90 mins against Arsenal.
Chelsea player ratings vs Arsenal: Robert Sanchez hang your head in shame! Goalkeeper’s moment of madness completely ruins what had been a perfect night for Cole Palmer & his mates
The Blues had been cruising before their calamitous ‘keeper gifted the Gunners a way back in and ultimately cost his side all three points
Mauricio Pochettino will be absolutely fuming. Chelsea, in what was undoubtedly their best performance of the season so far, were flying against Arsenal, winning the individual battles all over the pitch. Step forward Robert Sanchez.
Eyebrows were raised when the Blues first bought the Spanish goalkeeper from Brighton to potentially be their number one, and his complete lapse in concentration here has cost his side big time. His lazy pass was picked off by Declan Rice and gave the Gunners a way back into a game they hadn’t been in for 77 minutes.
Indeed, Cole Palmer – who looks a hell of signing – got the hosts off to the perfect start before a fortuitous Mykhailo Mudryk cross-shot put Chelsea in dreamland. It all started to fall apart after Sanchez’s stupid error, however, with Leandro Trossard further spoiling the night with the late equaliser. Plenty of positives for the Blues, no doubt, but that’ll be a sore one tonight.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Robert Sanchez (3/10):
Raya was having his own nightmare at the other end but that didn’t stop Sanchez trying to go one better. After gliding through a game that saw Arsenal fail to have a shot on target until the 77th minute, he gifted Arteta’s side a way back into the game with a howler of a pass straight to Rice, who was left with an empty net. Crazy.
Malo Gusto (5/10):
Might’ve done better when he linked up with Sterling late on in the first half but smashed his shot harmlessly over the bar. Was dealing well with the considerable threat of Martinelli although fell asleep at the far post to allow Trossard in for the equaliser.
Thiago Silva (7/10):
Floored Martinelli midway through the first half with a lunging challenge that left his compatriot limping away licking his wounds. That one moment epitomised a no-nonsense display that proves why Pochettino still relies on him, even at 39.
Levi Colwill (6/10):
A commanding presence in the air, he looks so much more at home at centre-back and produced a solid display here, alongside the dominant Thiago Silva, to ensure Jesus never got a look in. You certainly can’t blame him for either goal.
Marc Cucurella (7/10):
He won his individual battle with an unusually subdued Saka, and not many full-backs have been able to say that this season. He’s not a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, but with more aggressive and dominant performances like that, he’ll be back in the Shed End’s good books in no time.
Midfield
Enzo Fernandez (8/10):
Another polished and assured performance that saw him, and Caicedo, dominate the midfield battle for the majority of the game. Fernandez oozed class once again here, while he showed Sterling who’s boss when he made the final call on who should take the penalty. He’s one of the Premier League’s best, already.
Moises Caicedo (7/10):
He might’ve found life tough when he first joined Chelsea but he’s starting to show the sort of form we saw at Brighton that prompted Pochettino to pay such a huge fee to sign him. Worked superbly well in tandem with Fernandez and doubled up with Gusto to help keep the dangerous Martinelli at bay.
Attack
Raheem Sterling (7/10):
Played a huge role in the controversial penalty call as his whipped cross led to Mudryk’s header being blocked by Saliba’s arm. Then tried to wrestle the ball from Palmer to take the spot-kick himself, only for Fernandez to intervene. Ignoring that unnecessary altercation, he looks such a threat on that right wing and clearly hasn’t let his absence from the England squad affect him too much.
Cole Palmer (8/10):
Chelsea have a new hero! Bagged his second goal in as many games with a calm penalty stroked effortlessly past Raya and nearly added another with a smart snapshot that fizzed just wide. He’s quickly becoming a vital cog in Pochettino’s rebuild and was arguably the best player on the pitch here.
Conor Gallagher (6/10):
Busy, energetic, tenacious… what Gallagher performance isn’t? Will claim the assist for Mudryk’s goal, albeit he only touched it into his team-mate’s path. He’s clearly a Pochettino favourite and it’s not hard to see why.
Mykhailo Mudryk (7/10):
Earned the penalty as his header smacked off Saliba’s hand before embarrassing Raya with a looping cross that ended up in the Arsenal goalkeeper’s net. He might not have meant it but moments like that will further help convince him that he belongs at this level.
Subs & Manager
Nicolas Jackson (5/10):
Came on for Mudryk in the 66th minute but had little impact.
Reece James (5/10):
A welcome return – his first appearance since August – after a start to the season hugely disrupted by injury. Chelsea fans will be hoping their club captain can now stay fit for a prolonged spell.
Noni Madueke (4/10):
Let Saka cut inside him far too easily as he was allowed to cross for Trossard’s equaliser. It was a lapse that ultimately contributed to costing his side all three points.
Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):
Right up until the last 15 minutes or so, this was undoubtedly Chelsea’s best performance of the season. Pochettino got his line-up, and false-nine tactics, spot on and Arsenal didn’t have an answer, all over the pitch. It all fell apart at the end, but you can’t blame the manager. The improvement from the start of the season is clear to see.
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