Chelsea’s perfect start under Xabi Alonso ended at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday when Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 in the Premier League. Morgan Rogers stunned the champions within two minutes, volleying home on the edge of the box. Kai Havertz equalised on the 25-minute mark, and then captain Martin Odegaard put the game to bed five minutes into the second half.
The close scoreline did the visitors a lot of favours, as Arsenal had 2.11 expected goals to Chelsea’s 0.35, with 16-13 on attempts and nine shots on target to five. Alonso’s first stumble as Chelsea manager came after successive wins against Fulham, Luton Town and Brighton and exposed the structural compromises built into his transition blueprint.
What Alonso Did Well at The Emirates
That early goal wasn’t accidental or coincidental, though. Fast starts have become a hallmark of this Chelsea side. Alonso’s attacking plan in the first half was intentionally direct, unapologetically vertical. Chelsea kept giving the ball to Pedro Neto, who was posted high against the last line on the right and supported by the advancing right centre-back Josh Acheampong. That pair created real danger behind a recovering Christos Tzolis, and Neto almost scored as he hit the post just before the break.
The way the team defended without the ball also deserved credit, given the quality of the opposition. Chelsea were set up in a tight 5-4-1 low block, with Joao Pedro protecting the central pivot and Cole Palmer and Rogers falling out wide of the midfield four. Neto dropped into right wing-back, and Jorrel Hato moved inside, giving the Blues plenty of width across their back-line.
Chelsea also pressed the champions with conspicuous courage, rather than meekly giving ground. Acheampong, Joao Pedro and Palmer swarmed Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Roméo Lavia and James cutting off the forward passing options to Tzolis and Odegaard.
How the structure was broken against Arteta’s overloads
That aggression meant that a broken counter-press left Chelsea dangerously stretched. Acheampong’s runs from the right brought Lacroix out wide to cope with Havertz, creating large horizontal gaps between the Chelsea defenders. Arsenal exploited that vulnerability as early as the 15th minute, with Tzolis playing a pass behind Lavia and James to release Odegaard into a three-on-two.
The most obvious change from Arteta was to push Havertz out to the right touchline to overload the left side of the Chelsea block. Sharing the turns with Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Rice, the German constantly created three-on-two superiority against Rogers and Hato, gathering the ball in that very same right wide zone to score the equaliser.
The decisive goal was the reversal of the same principle, using the inside rather than the outside. Tzolis received on the left and drove infield, Riccardo Calafiori’s half-space run attracted both Lacroix and Neto, and Lavia was drawn across as the ball-side midfielder. James failed to recover centrally to track Odegaard’s run and the midfielder arrived unmarked to finish emphatically.
The Midfield Hole Enzo Fernandez Will Leave Behind
The afternoon’s most damning indictment was of personnel. Chelsea finished a game against the reigning champions with two natural right-backs in central midfield, with Malo Gusto coming on for Lavia at the hour mark, with James remaining in the double pivot.
That bit of improvisation is a consequence of a manic deadline day at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Fernandez’s £125m switch to Manchester City matched the British record set by Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool. Chelsea’s €55m move for Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsed after the Ligue 1 club withdrew. Moises Caicedo was again out injured, having been subbed off against Brighton shortly after coming on.
How could a side assembled for an estimated £349m finish such a key match with two right-backs in the middle of the park? Opposition teams will now be aware of the space that opens up through the lines when Chelsea sit deep and try to absorb prolonged periods of pressure.
What The Defeat Means For Chelsea’s Short-Term Future
The result leaves Chelsea fourth in the table, while Arsenal stayed top of the table on nine points alongside Manchester City. Encouragingly, the Blues saw more of Arteta’s side than on their previous four league trips to north London, a run that saw them concede 11 goals with nothing to show for it.
But a curious statistical anomaly does demand the attention of Alonso and his coaching staff. Chelsea won both games comfortably enough, despite having a record-low share of possession at Fulham and against Brighton. They came up against Arsenal, where they had an even share of the ball.
Alonso can seek immediate reinstatement when Chelsea host Leeds United in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The Blues will be looking to combine their undoubted attacking prowess with the defensive solidity that was lacking at the Emirates when Hull City come to West London on Saturday afternoon for a Premier League assignment.