West Ham United 0-3 Chelsea : Blues positives and negatives

Chelsea had a fantastic afternoon at the London Stadium on Saturday, defeating West Ham 3-0. An early double from Nicholas Jackson set the tone, allowing the Blues to head into halftime with a comfortable lead. Cole Palmer capped off the scoring with his second goal of the season early in the second half.

Here are the positives and negatives from the match:

Positives

1. Nicholas Jackson at His Best

Nicholas Jackson faced criticism for his performance against Bournemouth, where his finishing and ball control were lacking. However, on Saturday, he excelled in every aspect. Both of his goals showcased excellent finishing after impressive runs, and his creativity was evident as he assisted Cole Palmer’s goal.

Fans witnessed arguably Jackson's best performance for the club. If he can replicate this consistency, Chelsea may not need to seek a forward in the near future. Christopher Nkunku's winner against bournemouth last week, alongside speculation about him potentially replacing Jackson in the starting lineup, likely spurred his motivation.

2. Back-to-Back Clean Sheets

Last season under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea managed just two clean sheets away from Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca has already matched that tally in just three matches. Unlike the shaky defense against Bournemouth, the backline looked solid against West Ham. Shifting Wesley Fofana to right back and starting Tosin Adarabioyo provided much-needed stability, which had been missing with Axel Disasi last week. Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill were again impressive, while Robert Sanchez made several crucial saves.

Enzo Fernandez's presence ahead of the backline also contributed to Chelsea's control over the match. With his Argentine partner back, Moises Caicedo was able to influence the game significantly without having to cover for his teammates' mistakes.

3. Enzo Maresca’s Tactical Adaptability

Last week, Marc Cucurella played further forward, helping Chelsea penetrate Bournemouth’s low block. However, against West Ham, Cucurella inverted into midfield, adding an extra player that Chelsea exploited, especially during their second goal, aided by Jackson's clever movement.

Maresca's substitutions were also on point. Axel Disasi replaced the cautioned Fofana and looked much improved compared to his previous outing. The attacking changes kept West Ham’s defense on high alert in the second half.

The win made it three wins for the Italian manager in his first three away games. He became the first manager to achieve this feet since Pep Guardiola in 2016.

Negatives

1. Noni Madueke’s Selfish Play

Chelsea could have easily scored more than three goals, with several close attempts and a Christopher Nkunku header brilliantly saved by Alphonso Areola. However, one promising move was wasted by Noni Madueke, who opted for personal glory despite Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto being in better positions. This wasn’t the first instance of Madueke prioritizing individual accolades over teamwork. Aside from his hat trick against Wolves, his performances have raised concerns about his approach.

Madueke needs to recognize that he is not yet on Cole Palmer’s level. Palmer consistently showcases superior all-around ability, finding teammates and finishing chances effectively, as evidenced by his excellent goal against West Ham.

2. Treatment of Cole Palmer

One challenge of being a standout player is attracting increased attention from opposing defenders. Chelsea fans are familiar with this tactic; Eden Hazard faced similar treatment during his Premier League tenure. Currently, Cole Palmer is experiencing such scrutiny, often becoming the target of reckless challenges. Referees and officials must ensure that such actions are appropriately punished to protect players like Palmer.