Why Chelsea Had a Bad Time Against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge

Graham Potter goes into his first London derby with a positive record against Arsenal, The Gunners have lost three out of the last six (6) games in the Premier League against a club coached by Graham Potter. Mikel Arteta's side only won two (2) and drew one. Thus, the Gunners remain the only club that the English coach has defeated more often in the league (4), However he lost his last game against his former club Brighton.

After the game, fans and the media blamed Potter for his team's lack of chances in the derby, and when he was asked about it in the post-match press conference

** “There are two teams on the pitch and Arsenal defend well and press well. That's what the top teams do and Arsenal at the moment are a top team. I don't like to say that but it's the reality” Potter replied**

So let's explore the question of how Arsenal managed to nip the Blues in the bud.

Chelsea tries to build from the back with deep fullbacks, Silva receives the ball from Mendy and plays it to Cucurella because of Jesus, Mount drifts wide to receive it, in the meantime White follows him while Jorginho is marked by Odegaard and Xhaka in this situation leaves his man R.L.Cheek and runs back to cut off the passing lane to Havertz while Partey shifts after marking Havertz.

And when the ball goes to the right, Martinelli runs with a curved run to Chalobah, who plays the ball to Azpilicueta, and at this moment Zinchenko leaves his space to put pressure on the Spaniard FB, while Partey follows Havertz.

In the first minute, Cucurella takes some backward steps, Jesus goes towards Silva, while Saka waits the ball goes to Cucurella first before making his move.

Here, Mount starts to drift wide to receive from Cucurella.

And when he receives the ball, Ben White tracks him aggressively, Mount in a trouble, as the space is so closed, there is no option for him to pass.

Again, Cucurella takes his backward steps to receive the ball from Thiago.

At this moment, Mount guides Aubameyang to run in behind the space that Ben White will leave and points at the space that Cucurella should play into.

But Auba still between Arsenal’s CBs, and the ball goes to Saliba.

And when the ball goes to Mendy who takes some far steps from his goal, Jesus presses on him with intensity, while Martinelli goes towards Chalobah, which means that Azpilicueta is the only option for him.

At this time, Zinchenko steps up to press on Azpilicueta while Partey marks Havertz, while Ben White still marks Mount.

Potter didn’t give a hoot to make any changes in his build up phase, after 15 minutes at the 2nd half, Thiago has the ball, Jorginho here tries to create a space for the Brazilian CB to carry the ball forward, while Jesus presses on him aggressively

there is no passing option for Thiago Silva, Saliba tracks Aubameyang if he has dropped off to receive and Jesus manages to win the ball.

Saka receives the ball, then passes it to Jesus who misses and goes to a corner which Arsenal takes the lead from.

We saw that Arsenal defended well, so it's understandable that there were no chances, but the blame lies with Potter should be to make any tweaks in his plan to create chances.