Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.placeholder image
Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. | Getty Images
Alejandro Garnacho landed a heavy challenge on Jacob Ramsey as Chelsea picked up a point at St James' Park.
Reece James netted a superb free-kick before Joao Pedro bagged the equaliser just after the hour mark at St James’ Park as Enzo Maresca’s side made is three wins in a row across all competitions. The Blues now enjoy a short break over Christmas before hosting Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge next weekend and then welcoming AFC Bournemouth on December 30 to close off the calendar year.
One player who is perhaps lucky to be eligible to feature in those matches is Alejandro Garnacho. The 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle United in what was only his second full Premier League match since joining the club from Manchester United this summer.
Shay Given slams Chelsea star for ‘nasty’ Newcastle United challenge
The winger was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Newcastle United star Jacob Ramsey but, speaking on Match of the Day, former Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given felt that challenge could have deserved a red card.
Given said: “I understand Eddie Howe’s frustrations because some of the decisions I actually disagreed with myself. There was a few decisions the referee had to make and they weren’t easy, don’t get me wrong.
“The first one came in the first half and I thought it was a really nasty challenge from Alejandro Garnacho. If you watch it slowly, he doesn’t make any attempt to play the ball, he goes over the top and clearly catches him really high up. VAR didn’t intervene but I think that’s a really dangerous tackle from Garnacho and one he gets away with.”
If Garnacho had been shown a straight red card for foul play, that would have come with a three-match ban which would’ve ruled the player out against Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth, as well as the trip to Manchester City on January 4.
Enzo Maresca and Malo Gusto praise for Alejandro Garnacho
It’s a blow avoided for Chelsea with Maresca praising the Argentine before taking on Newcastle United. When speaking about the player’s budding relationship with colleague Enzo Fernandez, Maresca said: “As a player, you need the team around you. The connection between Enzo and Garna is good; they are both from Argentina and, most of the time, they play on the same side of the pitch.
“We know that Enzo is doing a lot for Garna and it's the same for Facundo Buonanotte since he arrived, too.”
Chelsea defender Malo Gusto had also been outspoken with praise for Garnacho after he was assisted by the former Red Devils star against Wolves. Gusto said: “He has a lot of quality as a winger.
“He’s able to bring all our team into their box, which is part of the plan for us, asking the wingers to do these kinds of things, dribble of course, and create chances. That’s what he did; he helped us a lot with his crosses. So I’m very happy to be playing with him.”
In other news, 'Sad Sight': Arsenal and Chelsea handed title race boost as Liverpool star Alexander Isak injured.
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