Chelsea player ratings: Simply abysmal against Arsenal

Christian Pulisic, Winger, 6/10

Incredibly dangerous when on the ball and intelligent with his movements when off it, Christian Pulisic is the closest Chelsea have come to a replacement for Eden Hazard. Pulisic’s direct running was vital in the build-up to Chelsea opener when he slalomed through the Arsenal defense before laying the ball off to Callum Hudson-Odoi who crossed in for Abraham to score a tap-in.  It is moments like these which get fans off their seats and the American certainly possesses the quick feet and pace in behind to make moments like possible every time Chelsea plays. At just 21, Pulisic has the potential to become the next greatest thing following Hazard’s departure.

Tammy Abraham, Striker, 6/10

Largely ineffective in the first half due in large parts to the lack of proper service from the midfield, Abraham nonetheless displayed the kind of fight and hunger for goals that was sorely missing from most of his teammates. Perhaps in part driven by the fact that his entire family is made up of Arsenal fans, Abraham played like a man who truly understood the meaning of a London derby. Constantly looking for space to exploit in behind or contesting for long balls, it is true that the 23-year-old’s work may not always bear fruit. The effort, however, is most definitely undeniable and Chelsea’s number 9 eventually got his goal late in the second half to mark his 50th Premier League appearance for Chelsea with his 21st goal for the club. A fantastic achievement for a player who does not always get the respect he deserves.

Timo Werner, Winger, 3/10

The most disappointing player on the pitch against Arsenal, Saturday’s game could be the final straw that convinces Lampard that Werner simply cannot be played into form. The German has endured a terrible goal drought stretching all the way back to November and worryingly, his complete loss of confidence has even seeped through into other aspects of his gameplay such as his passing and dribbling. This is a problem that cannot be resolved by just “playing him as a 9”. Moreover, Abraham’s form up top has been decent enough for him to keep his place in the starting eleven and at this point of time, it is clear that Werner desperately needs some time on the bench. One can certainly imagine how damaging Germany’s 6-0 loss to Spain must have been for Werner’s confidence in hindsight and careful man-management from Lampard of one of Chelsea’s biggest signings in the summer would be needed to hopefully get the German back firing again.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Substitute 46′, 7/10

A breath of fresh air on the right wing following weeks of playing makeshift wingers in said position, Callum Hudson-Odoi offered something direct and different to the team following his introduction in place of Timo Werner. Dangerous with his expert delivery into the box, Hudson-Odoi combined really well with Reece James on the right as they attempted to break down the rigid Arsenal defense. It was the 20-year-old who eventually provided the cross into the box for Tammy Abraham to score Chelsea’s only goal of the match and Hudson-Odoi’s performance here is surely enough to earn him a starting berth against Aston Villa.

Jorginho, Substitute 46′, 4/10

Brought on to establish greater control into the midfield in lieu of Mateo Kovacic’s struggles in the first half, Jorginho did his utmost to move the ball along as quickly as he could upon his introduction. Chelsea’s greater sense of urgency in the second half was down in parts to Jorginho’s contributions in this aspect. However, the Italian’s lack of pace was once again apparent in the number of opportunities Arsenal had on the break in the second half as Chelsea poured men forward in search of a lifeline. Moreover, Jorginho’s missed penalty, his third of his last six attempts, denied his side a chance to stage an unlikely comeback with 5 minutes of additional time still on the clock.

How do you rate the players in this one? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!