CHELSEA 1-1 ARSENAL: Pedro Neto scored a stunning equaliser after Enzo Maresca’s double substitution saw the Portugal winger moved onto his stronger side but keeping every Chelsea player happy may prove tricky as season continues
At the end of a bad week for left wingers, Pedro Neto offered further evidence that it is easier to do damage on the right.
Two minutes after shifting flanks following a double substitution, the £54m summer arrival produced a stunner from 25 yards to peg Arsenal back and ensure both sit nine points behind Liverpool.
Neto had been ineffective on the opposite side before Enzo Maresca introduced Mykhailo Mudryk for Noni Madueke and shuffled the order.
But the Portuguese was not alone in his failure to bring a sweat out of David Raya. Until that point Chelsea had fashioned just one shot on target – a long-range effort from Cole Palmer with two and a half minutes on the clock.
And with their star man not at his sharpest after being injured by Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez a week previous, the responsibility instead fell on Neto’s shoulders.
His strike was ruthless and well-placed and conclusive evidence followed that he is a greatly diminished force when unable to cut inside on his stronger foot.
Six minutes later he shimmied in from the right once again before seeing his shot blocked and a minute into added time he delivered a tantalising cross that an unmarked Palmer almost got on the end of.
Equally this was a reminder that Maresca is still figuring out his strongest XI and establishing the hierarchy of a luxuriously-talented squad.
No matter who plays, the head coach will be leaving talented forwards upset – as evidenced by Joao Felix frustratedly throwing a bandage to the ground when he realised that Christopher Nkunku would instead be afforded a late cameo.
Madueke, who has started all but one league game, appeared displeased when heading straight down the tunnel for the substitution that earned Chelsea a point.
Beyond Palmer no one else should be certain of a place in Maresca’s first-choice front four.
Neto has quickly made a compelling case to be the correct man for the right flank.
But how the head coach ensures those snubbed remain motivated to break in will likely define whether this campaign really ends up a success.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
