Trevoh Chalobah gave Arsenal a taste of their own medicine on Sunday.
Chalobah has quietly excelled for Chelsea this season.
Chelsea changed their mind on selling Chalobah this summer, and that decision has paid off in spades.
Enzo Maresca has started the Englishman in 12 of the Blues’ 13 Premier League outings, missing just one due to suspension.
It’s clear that the Italian has faith in Chalobah’s solidity at the back — that he’s scoring for fun is just the icing on the cake.
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Trevoh Chalobah has already matched Gabriel’s goal tally from last season
One of the key focuses for Chelsea heading into this battle at the top was Arsenal’s set-piece danger, as is the case with any team going up against a Mikel Arteta side.
Gabriel is the face of Arsenal’s set-piece revolution, hailed in recent seasons as the most dangerous defender in front of goal.
But Chelsea’s number 23 is upstaging the Brazilian with ease.
Chelsea players celebrate goal against Arsenal
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
After his corner goal against the league leaders, Chalobah is on three for the season. That’s the same tally Gabriel reached in the entirety of last campaign.
In fact, he is on pace to blow the Arsenal star’s numbers out of the water. Gabriel’s highest goal count in a Premier League campaign is five.
No one will argue that Gabriel wasn’t given his flowers for his form in front of goal, so that same energy needs to be kept when discussing Chalobah.
Wesley Fofana and Chalobah are the preferred duo
What a week it has been for Chelsea. First, dominating Barcelona in the Champions League and then battling for a draw against the supposed best team in England with one less player on the pitch.
Maresca will be thrilled with how his side have presented themselves across the two fixtures.
If Wesley Fofana can stay fit, Maresca has his pairing. Fofana and Chalobah are the obvious picks to start for Chelsea now, with a trip to Elland Road on the horizon.
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Both are composed in possession and seem to have ironed out the tendency for errors that raised concerns early in the season.
When Levi Colwill returns, the choice becomes less clear, but for now, the duo we saw bossing it at Stamford Bridge this week is the one to go with moving forward.