Looking back on some clips and GIF's from the game against Arsenal, our passing was actually impressive.
There's so many clips of us retaining the ball in tight areas with good passing and also drawing out players and exploiting the spaces, think once we have our full team back we could really smash some of the smaller teams at home.
I watched the whole game again last night and while Arsenal did have some outstanding chances that they managed to turn into howlers they did not have a great proportion of the game. Apart from a very hot 10-15 minutes in the first half Chelsea basically out passed and out ran Arsenal.
There are some good signs with the quick passing and I think the players are capable of playing this element of "Sarribal". Where I think we may struggle towards the end of the season is maintaining the high press. Pedro was chasing down their defense and goalkeeper on his own like a greyhound in the final minutes of the game. Where he gets that stamina from I don't know but he had already been down for cramp a few minutes earlier so perhaps he is superhuman. Will all the players be able, or dare I say willing, to chase like this for an entire season. We ill need to rotate and use the whole squad.
I don't remember Conte using the whole squad. He seemed to play the same players most of the time. I think we have an abundance of talent in the midfield with Fabregas, RLC and Barclay all capable of being in the team but in fact they probably won't. Kante, Jorghino and Kovacic will probably be first pick. I have a certain amount of sympathy for RLC and Barclay because they deserve a chance of first team football. Barclay played his best game for Chelsea on Saturday and impressed me to the point that I thought he could improve the team with his energy, commitment and skill. He was impressive and deserves to play. There was though, a problem for him later in the game and its name was Kovacic. I think he played 20 minutes and in that time he left me feeling very excited. I also went to the game and watched him closely. He is real quality. His confidence and skill on the ball is mesmerising. He looks like a real all-round midfielder with a physique built to chase down. Should fit in nicely.
The front line will have to chase down as well and Moratas fitness should hold up but I suspect he will continue to get hauled off for Giroud on 70 mins. This leaves Hazard, Willian and Pedro. I can't see Hazard pressing as hard as Willian and Pedro. He has done it in patches in the past but you wouldn't say it a large part of his game. His skills lie elsewhere and if he plays on the left I suspect Kovacic will have to cover him.
I'm not convinced by our defense. I have concernes about David Luiz and frankly, Christensen. Our style of play makes attack our best form of defense but the better teams will find a way through and both of the aforementioned have a mistake in them. Maybe I'm being harsh on Christensen but David Luiz gave the ball away a bit too much on Saturday. I like Rudiger. He is solid and very quick. He is still improving and for our best centre half.
Chelsea can do well this season if they keep the faith in the manager's new ways. Hopefully they can keep improving and make top 4.
COYB!
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