Chelsea have openedXabi Alonso‘s Premier League reign with two victories and seven goals, but Sunday’s chaotic 4-3 win over Brighton exposed a problem which Arsenal can punish next weekend.
Alonso could hardly ask for more attacking threat.
Chelsea followed their 3-2 victory at Fulham by scoring four at Stamford Bridge, racing into a three-goal advantage against Brighton before Cole Palmer eventually struck the winner.
But the fact Palmer’s fourth was ultimately required tells another story.
A match Chelsea appeared to have killed inside 34 minutes became a desperate battle to protect three points.
As Football365 argued following the Brighton victory, Chelsea already possess enough attacking quality to challenge near the top of the Premier League. Their defensive balance remains the major question.
4 – Chelsea's Xabi Alonso is only the fourth manager to see his side score 7+ goals in his first two Premier League games, after Bobby Robson (8 in Sep 1999), Michael Laudrup (8 in Aug 2012), and Marcelo Bielsa (7 in Sep 2020).
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Chelsea’s attack already looks ready to challenge
Seven goals across Alonso’s opening two Premier League matches represents a Chelsea record at the beginning of a new manager’s league reign.
The attacking variety has been particularly encouraging.
Joao Pedro has immediately established himself in Alonso’s attack, while Morgan Rogers has added power and direct running around Cole Palmer.
Against Brighton, Pedro Neto also demonstrated the threat Chelsea possess from wider areas.
ReadChelsea’s Chelsea 4-3 Brighton match report detailed how Alonso’s side ripped through the visitors early before allowing them back into the contest.
That first half showed Chelsea can overwhelm opponents.
The remainder showed why scoring freely may not be enough.
Brighton expose Chelsea’s lack of control
Chelsea led 3-0 after 34 minutes.
By the 62nd minute, the score was 3-2.
The Guardian described Alonso’s side as increasingly disorganised as Brighton took control of the match, forcing the Chelsea head coach into a significant reaction.
That is the issue Alonso needs to solve.
Chelsea do not simply need to defend their penalty area better. They need to become better at controlling the state of a match.
When Brighton increased the tempo, Chelsea struggled to slow the game down. Possession became less secure and the contest increasingly developed into an exchange of attacks.
Alonso responded by introducing experienced options from the bench, including Moises Caicedo and Reece James.
Palmer then restored the two-goal cushion.
Even that did not completely settle Chelsea, with Pascal Groß heading Brighton’s third in stoppage time.
Alonso got his victory.
He did not get control.
Caicedo injury could make Chelsea problem worse
Caicedo appeared to be part of Alonso’s solution.
The Ecuador international was introduced as Brighton threatened to equalise, giving Chelsea another midfielder capable of winning possession and protecting transitions.
His comeback lasted only a matter of minutes.
ReadChelsea reported how Caicedo suffered another injury scare shortly after returning against Brighton.
That could become particularly significant ahead of Arsenal.
Chelsea have other talented midfielders, but few offer Caicedo’s combination of defensive coverage and ability to regain control under pressure.
Football365 also identifies his fitness as a potential issue for Alonso after Chelsea conceded five times across their opening two league fixtures. (football365.com)
Emi Martinez cannot solve everything
Chelsea have already acted decisively in one defensive position.
Emi Martinez completed his £7.5million Chelsea transfer on Sunday morning and went directly into Alonso’s starting XI.
The World Cup winner should provide greater experience and reliability in goal.
But Brighton demonstrated why Chelsea’s problems cannot simply be placed on Robert Sanchez.
Martinez was behind a team that repeatedly allowed Brighton to build momentum and attack dangerous spaces.
A goalkeeper can rescue individual moments.
He cannot compensate for an entire structure losing control.
Arsenal will provide Alonso’s first major benchmark
Chelsea now travel to the Emirates on Sunday 6 September for their biggest test of Alonso’s short reign.
Arsenal are precisely the kind of opponent likely to punish the spaces Brighton found.
Chelsea will still carry an enormous threat of their own.
Palmer can decide matches from almost nothing. Rogers has immediately added another dimension, while Joao Pedro has made an excellent start to the campaign.
That attacking quality gives Alonso a platform from which a genuine title challenge could eventually develop.
But Chelsea have now conceded five goals in two Premier League games.
Alonso had demanded greater consistency from Chelsea before the Brighton match.
The result gave him another victory.
The performance gave him the clearest warning yet.
Chelsea already know how to hurt teams.
Before facing Arsenal, they need to learn how to stop a match from hurting them back.
Chelsea suffer Moises Caicedo blow just 14 minutes into Brighton return
Chelsea suffer Moises Caicedo blow just 14 minutes into Brighton return
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton: Blues survive late scare in seven-goal thriller
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton: Blues survive late scare in seven-goal thriller