Just now, just said:

The thing is we have seen examples, in both games so far, that Barkley does have that ability to burst past players. I would like to see him do it more. I really hope is kept in for now. He hasn't done anything wrong IMO.

I agree. His performances have been promising and I don't think Kovacic should be picked ahead of him just yet. Barkley still deserves to keep his spot.

Barkley is certainly one of our best goal threats, if not the best, from midfield. I haven't seen Kovacic so can't say how good he is when it comes to that. However, Barkley doesn't move the ball forward enough or take those risks that the better players make, for e.g. receiving the ball in midfield, making the turn towards the opponents goal and looking for the pass forward. I hope he will learn to improve this being around better quality players as he has been at Everton all his career, and with all the respect in the world, Everton don't have top level players to learn from.  

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by enigma

1 minute ago, just said:

The thing is we have seen examples, in both games so far, that Barkley does have that ability to burst past players. I would like to see him do it more. I really hope is kept in for now. He hasn't done anything wrong IMO.

He hasnt done much wrong, but he hasnt done that many things right either. He is a handy player to have for sure, but Kovacevic is just on a different level. The sooner he gets the nod the better.

Great win, just think Luiz needs to be replaced with Christensen for now. 

Alonso is fantastic at attacking but his defending is pretty poor, Azpi didnt have the best of games either. Really need to sort out our defence

Great win for a team that's a work in progress. Happy Morata scored.

We were too vulnerable to cut backs in the 1st half.

3 minutes ago, just said:

The thing is we have seen examples, in both games so far, that Barkley does have that ability to burst past players. I would like to see him do it more. I really hope is kept in for now. He hasn't done anything wrong IMO.

Agreed, I thought he done well today. There’s plenty to be positive about in his future with us I reckon.

Luiz is still a bit meh for me. I think Christensen/Rudiger partnership is the best we have tbh. Luiz made some lazy passing in the second half which I don't like from him, and he does that a lot. 

First half we were brilliant going forward but just did not have the balance between attack and defence whatsoever... Kovacic coming on completely changed that, brilliant defensively and superb with his distribution. We need to do what we can to make his stay permanent

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by BenCFC19

Did Arsenal have a chance in the second half?

Apart from a 15 minute blip before half time we controlled the game and played some beautiful football.

It is completely different to watching a Conte or Mourinho Chelsea and I am going to have to get used to potential overlaps or pockets of space forming either in behind or out wide but all in all a good performance and already a 6 point buffer over Arsenal. not to bad for a team still getting used to a extremely taxing system 

Like I said, Sarri will analyse the defensive faults and try correct them. Sarri can't perfect all the players if he doesn't know who is stronger and who is weaker. This is something he's going to have to see as the season goes on, then hopefully the board help to strengthen those areas. 

I was massively surprised by one of the 2nd half substitutions..... I didn't even realise ozil was on the pitch until he went of. 

I have a lot of faith and confidence in Sarri, purely because how he improved those Napoli players, including the defence. He is a brilliant coach, but needs the time and patience to fix things and change our style. Nobody said it would be easy. 

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by enigma

At times with kovacic, the way he moves, looked like we had 2 hazards on the pitch...even wears his old shirt, what a player hope that option to buy was pencilled in. 

I read a lot of people blaming the cb’s for the cut back chances, those runs are midfields duty not the cb’s. Having said that the full backs or cbs should be sniffing those balls out from coming in, too easy to put in and no midfielder running into cover leaving a free man every time.

I’m sure Sarri will work on it, great win, we can see already the potential this team has, for me a CB and a fullback should be on the shopping list moving forward, rest of the pitch looks complete, if Morata starts scoring we will be deadly, 6 in 2, not bad. 

10 minutes ago, just said:

The thing is we have seen examples, in both games so far, that Barkley does have that ability to burst past players. I would like to see him do it more. I really hope is kept in for now. He hasn't done anything wrong IMO.

I reckon he's still building up confidence in a Chelsea shirt, post injury, after a long spell without playing...with each game he's growing...which is why Kovacic has to be a concern for him...as for Ruben....

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by The Brit

So happy we won that game, but if I'm going to be objective I think we have a lot of holes in our system so far. I am going to write this season off as a transition season completely, I think I was too optimistic expecting us to revert back to 4 at the back so easily. 

Alonso as brilliant as he is cannot deal with pace @yorkleyblue you called it before the match kicked off, Bellerin's pace for him was an absolute nightmare to deal with. 

But my god our attacking football has improved so much, that was so good to see, and I already love Kovacic. 

1 minute ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

At times with kovacic, the way he moves, looked like we had 2 hazards on the pitch...even wears his old shirt, what a player hope that option to buy was pencilled in. 

I read a lot of people blaming the cb’s for the cut back chances, those runs are midfields duty not the cb’s. Having said that the full backs or cbs should be sniffing those balls out from coming in, too easy to put in and no midfielder running into cover leaving a free man every time.

I’m sure Sarri will work on it, great win, we can see already the potential this team has, for me a CB and a fullback should be on the shopping list moving forward, rest of the pitch looks complete, if Morata starts scoring we will be deadly, 6 in 2, not bad. 

Bang on, our midfield didn't track well in the first half for their goals, but the defence was also to blame for allowing their player to get behind to do the pull backs. 

7 minutes ago, JJP said:

Great win, just think Luiz needs to be replaced with Christensen for now. 

Alonso is fantastic at attacking but his defending is pretty poor, Azpi didnt have the best of games either. Really need to sort out our defence

Azpi was playing like a CB getting mixed up with ruduger in the first half, it’s like he forgot how to be a fb, imagine him playing RB his whole career you have to wonder if relearning defensive duties and swapping feet takes away from his full potential as a rb or makes him more versatile.....

I thought Barkley played well too - this season I will enjoy the competition between Barkley & Kova?i? - also there is more depth for rotation to assist Don Maurizio - I could tell the match was getting to Don Maurizio - he had a fresh pack of cigs in his hands during the match - I wonder where he goes to sneak a smoke

Rollercoaster of a game.Eden made the difference  when he came on.A work in progress maybe,but entertaining to watch.Anyway always nice to beat the gooners,onwards and upwards !

You can tell when you get a player within a couple of minutes sometimes. That happened today with Kovacic

we have won a watch with this one, issue is Madrid will want him back. I really hope we have a clause to buy the lad.

 

 

Chelsea were by far the better team and deserved to win this match ....we are numero uno sitting on Top of the Spuds and the rest of the other also rans!! ...Come on The CHELS 

14 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I agree. His performances have been promising and I don't think Kovacic should be picked ahead of him just yet. Barkley still deserves to keep his spot.

It’s a bit of a shame for Barkley having such a good player competing for a spot but a good problem to have. 

I have to feel though Kante for me needs to be in the middle..it’s a bit of a dilemma but when you have the worlds best dm you play him at dm, I think having kovacic in the way he was taking control would allow that scenario more and give Jorginho a bit more time on the ball without lying deep in the middle 

10 minutes ago, dkw said:

I was massively surprised by one of the 2nd half substitutions..... I didn't even realise ozil was on the pitch until he went of. 

I was going to say this when he was subbed, but it's happened so often now that I didn't see any point. Ozil is a magician alright, he's mastered the disappearing act.

Da Gaffa speaks after the match

 

Something tells me this season will be impressive for us !!