For the second game in a row, Chelsea looked down and out before they even got started when they lost 3-0 to Arsenal on Saturday night.
Just like against Liverpool, the Blues lacked intensity, impetus and desire as they sat back and allowed Arsenal to control the tempo of the game at the Emirates. That, paired with defensive errors, gave Arsene Wenger’s side the chance to win the game before half-time, without getting out of second gear.
Gary Cahill found himself in the spotlight again when he was robbed by Alexis Sanchez who went on to dip the ball over the top of the out-rushing Thibaut Courtois.
Cahill looked as if he wanted the ground to swallow him up right there and then, he gave a look of a man that has little to no confidence after having it all drained following a succession of mistakes.
He is one of many Chelsea players that would benefit from Antonio Conte switching up his system and reverting to a three-back formation. When the Italian first arrived at Stamford Bridge, it was considered that he would just get Chelsea playing 3-5-2 and we’d be the next Juventus, no questions asked, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
However, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using a three-back formation at Stamford Bridge and admitted that his new squad are more fitted to a 3-4-3. After a couple of horror shows defensively now would be the perfect time for Conte to switch things around at the back.
The Blues have looked lost without John Terry in the side, who has been sidelined with injuries but should be fit enough to return to feature against Hull on Saturday.
It wasn’t just Cahill who found his name in lights after the 3-0 defeats, calls for Branislav Ivanovic to be dropped arose once again after another poor performance and a change of formation may mean more to him than most, possibly a change of position too.
Should Conte decide to play a 3-4-3, we think it could look something like this.
This would offer more protection for Cahill, should Terry be confirmed fit enough to play. As well as this, it gives the option for Ivanovic to play a more central role for Chelsea, something that was tried and tested in his earlier days at Stamford Bridge.
Not only does it offer more protection for the central defenders, it would allow for Chelsea to get higher up the pitch earlier, which gives them the ability to get their foot into games and take control. Something they’ve failed to do in the last two league games and felt the consequences immensely.
It would allow for new signing Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta to offer support to the midfield pivot, something that Kante has needed, whilst also offering an overlapping option to both Eden Hazard and Willian, who both could be very dangerous cutting inside their opposing fullbacks.
Whether or not it’s the formation or the personal, something needs to change at Chelsea to break the vicious cycle that we’ve found ourselves in. The 4-2 win over Leicester overshadowed another poor defence showing that saw us concede two goals in the first half.
Whatever the change is, it’ll take time for Conte, the players and the fans time to adjust to what is a season that we were hoping to see the current squad revitalised under the Italian.
