Chelsea was unable to separate itself from Arsenal at Stamford Bridge as the two teams clashed for the first time this season. This 1-1 result means that Arteta has now visited Stamford Bridge six times in his career, and has not lost once (3 wins, 3 draws). This game, though, says more about Enzo Maresca's side than about the opponents.
Chelsea started with the expected eleven, fielding Romeo Lavia instead of Enzo Fernandez. After creating just one clear-cut chance in the first half and none in the second, the Blues eventually got a goal through a long shot from Pedro Neto. Some players underwhelmed, and others were outright poor, but there were a few bright spots. Here are the Pride of London Blues player ratings from the Arsenal draw:
Robert Sanchez: 5.5/10
Sanchez was okay, in that he didn’t cost Chelsea the game, but he was caught out at his near post by Gabriel Martinelli, which doesn't reflect well on him. Where Sanchez definitely deserves criticism is in his distribution. He completed 3/15 long balls—this is beyond unacceptable.
Malo Gusto: 6.5/10
The highlight of Gusto's outing was missing Chelsea's only big chance of the game, which raises so many questions: Why is Gusto on the receiving end of clear-cut chances for the Blues? Why is Chelsea creating just one clear-cut chance at home in the first place? So many questions, not enough answers. Gusto took 3 shots, none of which were on target. He wasn’t bad defensively, though.
Wesley Fofana: 7/10
Fofana was solid, and his ball-carrying was exceptional. The number of times he drove the ball from defense into midfield was impressive. He even forced Martin Ødegaard to foul him once. Fofana was difficult to deal with and won all his duels, though he didn’t contest many (3).
Levi Colwill: 5.5/10
Colwill struggled with distribution, but he was better off the ball. He made three fouls, which was poor, and his passing was unsatisfactory, completing just 82% of his 79 passes. Even worse—he completed just 5/13 long balls. The fact that he attempted 13 long balls is unsettling, especially when you factor in the poor completion rate. Needless to say, he did not help with ball retention.
Marc Cucurella: 7/10
Cucurella was much better than Colwill both defensively and in possession. He led everyone on the pitch in interceptions (3), accounting for 43% of Chelsea’s team total. He also won 3/4 tackles and completed 92% of his passes. Cucurella won most of his duels as well. This is more impressive when you realize his opposite number was Bukayo Saka.