Arsenal: 5 talking points from 2-0 Chelsea defeat

Two Premier League games played and two defeats for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. A 2-0 home loss to Chelsea courtesy of first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James sent the Blues on their way to a rampant and dominate three points.

The result heaps pressure on Arteta, although in his defence, he was missing five first-team players for the visit of Chelsea with Ben White, Gabriel, Alexandre Lacazette, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard all out.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was only fit enough for a spot on the bench in a fixture where there were further concerns with injuries to Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli.

The result leaves Arsenal in 19th in the Premier League table having not scored a goal from its opening two games – all of which was met with a chorus of boos rang both at the half-time and full-time whistles.

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Arsenal: 5 talking points from Chelsea defeat as Romelu Lukaku and Reece James net in miserable Premier League night for Mikel Arteta

It was a ruthless and effective performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side as they registered their second win from as many games to start the season. 64.9% to 35.1% possession and 22 shots to six tells its own story as Arsenal never really looked threatening to their rivals.

An opening half hour in which the Gunners were all at sea and Chelsea asserted their superiority effectively ended the game as a contest.

While Arsenal will feel they should have had a penalty when Bukayo Saka and Reece James collided, it was nonetheless waved away. It is all doom and gloom around the Emirates and with Manchester City up next, it doesn’t get any easier.

Here are the talking points.

1. Albert Sambi Lokonga Continues to Impress

The young Belgian again had a very serviceable game in the middle of the park. Cool and calm, he distributed the ball brilliantly with the cleanness of touch he has demonstrated in all his performances thus far.

While he did show that he is still very raw with several positional errors, the 21-year-old acquitted himself well yet again in an Arsenal shirt. He was, and it is no contest, the best player on the pitch in red and white.

Constantly looked to play in the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he came on, and always having his head up looking to get his side forward, Sambi has been Arsenal’s shining light in the first two league games.

Thomas Partey is due back after the international break by which point he looks set to take the midfielder’s place in the team, but, in truth, the pair might be the duo Arsenal need to help avert this slippery side.

2. Arsenal’s Defence & Pablo Mari Get Torn to Shreds

Nothing new, right?

In the first half Chelsea’s right-hand side tore Arsenal apart. Reece James was afforded far too much space for both goals as he assisted Lukaku for Chelsea’s first, before firing home for his side’s second. Tierney made errors but in his strong defence he was constantly looking over his shoulder to both cover Pablo Mari and make up for the spaces left in front of him from midfield.

It’s tough to pick on Bukayo Saka given this was his first start of the season after returning from his endeavours with England, yet for both goals the young winger failed to track back and provide cover for Tierney, offering far too much space to the Chelsea right wing-back.

Equally, as was expected, Mari and Rob Holding had a nightmare up against Lukaku, particularly in the first half as the Belgian brute simply manhandled the Arsenal backline. That did improve slightly after the break but by this point the damage was already done. Mari once again looked exceedingly average.

Chelsea strikers bullying Arsenal defenders. It seems FA Cup finals are the only time this narrative takes a breather. Gabriel and Ben White can’t come back soon enough.

3. Youngsters Leading the Line Doesn’t Work….Again

Now, this might seem harsh as for both games Arteta didn’t have a choice, but Arsenal gave very little service to Folarin Balogun (Brentford) and Gabriel Martinelli (Chelsea) as both were left painfully isolated up front.

Martinelli once again struggled. Mitigation comes in the form of his short turnover time from the Olympics but they’ve been performances he knows he won’t be pleased with.

Much of Arsenal’s good work, as ever, came through Emile Smith Rowe as well as Nicolas Pepe who has been fluttering on the border of ineffective and threatening.

The introduction of Aubameyang certainly changed the dynamic for the Gunners as they looked a slightly more dangerous team going forward, yet Chelsea dealt with whatever they dished up with relative ease.

The captain made several darting runs that were missing from Arsenal’s attack in the first half, offering the home something different to throw at Chelsea, but it was all for naught.

Having Lacazette and Odegaard back in the side will certainly help going forward but against Chelsea, Arsenal barely fired a shot. It was limp and lifeless once more.

4. Bernd Leno Showed Improvement

Credit where it is due.

The German was very rightly battered for his performance against Brentford but against Chelsea, he hardly put a foot wrong.

Not at fault for either goal and produced what can only be described as an stupendous save to deny a Lukaku header from close range.

Commanded his box well and dealt with any balls coming in, clearing his area when needed. From from Arsenal’s worst on what was another poor day for the north London side. Even his distribution was to a much improved standard.

How much of this was the result of Aaron Ramsdale being sat on the bench? We won’t know.

5. Arsenal and VAR

When talking points come up in the conversation, Arsenal’s penalty shout in the first half has to be mentioned. How it was not a penalty is still utterly baffling; James clearly made contact with Saka’s legs and brought the winger down yet referee Paul Tierney waved play on and VAR did not intervene.

Or at least it saw no infringement.

It has an all too familiar feel to it when talking about Arsenal and VAR. Again, another questionable decision goes against Arteta and his side as it could have given them ammunition to get back into the game.

However, as we often see, these decisions simply do not go Arsenal’s way. Equally, it may not have had any significant outcome with Chelsea vastly superior throughout.

So, Arsenal is winless and goalless in the Premier League after two games with West Brom in the cup next then Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

Hopefully, reinforcements are on their way as the Gunners simply have to get going and quick. Yet even with some new faces around the place, the lack of options at Arteta’s disposal is frightening. Absences galore.