Chelsea vs Arsenal - Game 2 - Review

Chelsea 3 - 2 Arsenal

Premier League 2018 Matchweek 2 provided a London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. 

It didn't start well for the Gunners, Chelsea started positively and certainly on the front foot, and when Pedro scored from close range after 9 minutes many fans could have seen another chaotic collapse from Arsenal, and when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang smashed a shot over the bar from close range, Chelsea hit on the counter, and Alvaro Morata doubled the lead for the blues. 

Arsenal somehow managed to get themselves on the front foot and before pulling one back from Henrik Mkhitaryan, who had previously had a miss that was as bad as Aubameyang's. Another dreadful miss from Iwobi was made up for when the Nigerian winger equalised for the Gunners. 

When half-time came in with the score at 2-2, we all expected a second half just as good. Chelsea controlled it and although it didn't quite match up to the first half excitement, left back Marcos Alonso scored the winner in the 80th minute with a low placed shot.

Defensive issues are cause for concern

In a both chaotic and a classic affair, especially in a first half brought some early contenders for misses of the season from Arsenal.

Even after a win for Sarri's team, one that makes it maximum points from two games, the cause for concern for Chelsea is the ease with which Emery's Arsenal side were able to cut his defence apart on so many occasions in the first half.

Sarri loves his teams to be on the front foot and attack but Arsenal could have easily scored five, perhaps six, goals in the first 45 minutes, and multiple mistakes let the blues off the hook, and yet happily for him he has quality in attack at his disposal that enabled Chelsea to come through. 

As for Emery, his style of a high defensive line and playing out from the back is a work in progress but both Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are alarmingly short of pace for such an approach and this certainly needs to be addressed. Petr Cech didn't look comfortable following this style either, but pulled off some quality saves in the Arsenal goal.

It all made for a gloriously entertaining fare for the neutral, but with causes for concern for both Sarri and Emery.

Man of the Match 

Jorginho (Chelsea)

Jorginho's passing completion rate was 91.9% - and no player on the pitch made more than his 99. 

Home TeamChelseaAway TeamArsenal

Possession

Home62%

Away38%

Shots

Home24

Away15

Shots on Target

Home11

Away6

Corners

Home5

Away1

Fouls

Home12

Away9