Chelsea’s trip to The Emirates was always going to be a tough one, but Liam Rosenior’s side shot themselves in the foot, and Robert Sanchez had Liam Rosenior fuming.
Liam Rosenior made two changes to his Chelsea defence on Sunday afternoon as Chelsea travelled across London to face top-of-the-table Arsenal. Arguably the toughest fixture in the Premier League calendar.
Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr were both given starts. With Marc Cucurella injured, Hato came in for Malo Gusto who was used as a makeshift left-back, while Sarr was handed his first Premier League start.
Confirmed XI v Arsenal – YOUR thoughts?
Two changes – in come Sarr and Hato…
Chelsea had made a good start, but such is the way with Chelsea’s defence at the moment, the Blues’ frailty at the back was on show again and much of it was down to their own making, namely, in Sanchez.
Rosenior had his head in his hands because of Sanchez
Before Arsenal’s first goal, a fourth-set piece from the five conceded by Chelsea during Rosenior’s reign as Blues manager, Sanchez was caught in possession by Viktor Gyokeres on the edge of his own area.
Chelsea Training Session and Press Conference
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Gyokeres almost squeezed the ball away from Sanchez, but for a desperate lunge from the Spanish goalkeeper that managed to nab the ball back and away from the Swede’s grasp. Chelsea got lucky.
BBC Live reported that in the immediate aftermath of Sanchez’s mistake on the edge of his area, which came after Trevoh Chalobah also lost the ball, Rosenior had his head in his hands in frustration.
“Rosenior had his head in his hands in frustration after Sanchez gave the ball away there. The Arsenal crowd are already jeering the goalkeeper’s every touch after a couple of shaky moments on the ball.”
Chelsea’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper comes as little surprise
Chelsea have wanted a new goalkeeper for a while with Milan’s Mike Maignan constantly linked before he signed a new deal at Milan. The need for a new goalkeeper remains and Sanchez is not helping his cause.
Chelsea’s attacking play against Arsenal has been unconvincing lately! 👎
What does Liam Rosenior have to do to make the Blues a better team offensively?
Chelsea's manager Liam Rosenior gestures
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
He was hardly without fault for Arsenal’s first goal, either. There is no doubting that he is a good keeper and solid with the ball at his feet. But there is also the ability to produce a howler and that was evident.
Chelsea’s defence, albeit ever-changing, need someone they can rely upon at the back and Sanchez simply is not that. The Blues have been linked with £50m-rated duo Robin Roefs and Bart Verbruggen.
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