Chelsea is facing a significant challenge in their midfield, a gap that is expected to persist until the January transfer window. The club banked £125 million from the sale of Enzo Fernandez but did not recruit a replacement during the summer, leaving them short of options in crucial matches.
This midfield deficiency was evident in a recent game where manager Xabi Alonso was forced to deploy two right-backs, Reece James and Malo Gusto, in central midfield roles due to a lack of specialized players. This situation stood in contrast to Arsenal, whose manager Mikel Arteta had ample elite midfield talent, even leaving players like Bruno Guimaraes on the bench.
During the summer transfer window, Chelsea explored several midfield targets, including Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Zubimendi, and considered players like Alex Scott, Manu Kone, and Lamine Camara. However, none of these potential signings materialized. With Moises Caicedo sidelined and Jordan Henderson not yet match-ready, the team's midfield options were further limited. Romeo Lavia, who started the match, has yet to complete a full 90 competitive minutes for the club, and his substitution for Gusto underscored the depth issues.
The lack of midfield reinforcements means the team must protect leads differently without the appropriate players, a task made more difficult by the depleted options. This contrasts with Arsenal, who appeared unified and decisive, executing plays with the confidence of a team operating in sync.
Arsenal's opening goal demonstrated their cohesive play, mirroring a tactic previously used against Manchester City. A move involving Christos Tzolis, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz exploited Chelsea's defensive positioning, with Odegaard scoring past Emiliano Martinez. While Robert Sanchez was in goal, the ease with which he was beaten highlighted the defensive vulnerabilities.
On a tactical note, Chelsea's set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee, devised a strategy for defending Arsenal's corners. The approach involved pushing four players up the pitch, leaving Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer near the halfway line and Morgan Rogers and Pedro Neto deeper. This tactic aimed to draw Arsenal players back, clearing space in the penalty area and forcing the opposition to allocate four players to marking. This innovative approach may be adopted by other teams in the future.