It was another tough afternoon for Chelsea fans as Liam Rosenior's side matched up well against Arsenal , only to be let down by set pieces again. Trevoh Chalobah was not impressed.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both found the net from dead ball situations, while Reece James' corner kick led to an own goal. But it was not enough.
The same problems continue to haunt Rosenior's side: defending set-pieces, crossing issues, and now another red card. That is seven in the Premier League this season – two short of the record – and 10 across all competitions.
There also seemed to be lapses in focus. One moment stood out when Robert Sanchez nearly gave away possession at the edge of his box, leaving Rosenior visibly frustrated and Chalobah none too pleased either.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
It started just 17 minutes into the match when Sanchez, already under pressure, took a heavy touch and nearly handed the ball to Viktor Gyokeres . The Spanish goalkeeper looked hesitant and unfocused from the off.
Chalobah had lost possession earlier in a similar position, but this time it was Sanchez who had to step in and stop Eberechi Eze after hesitating on the ball. He got away with it, but only just.
Chalobah was visibly furious with Sanchez, according to Football London. His frustration stemmed from Chelsea's repeated defensive errors in their own third when playing against the league's top team.
Sanchez has put together a solid season for Chelsea, showing improvement not only as a shot-stopper but also with his distribution. The progress has been noticeable, and he has had stretches where he looked dependable between the posts.
But lapses remain part of his game. The first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals saw two costly errors, and against Arsenal on Sunday, he nearly gifted a goal before being overpowered for their second.
If Rosenior had any doubts about whether Chelsea needed to pursue a new goalkeeper this summer, those questions may have been answered. It now feels essential that the club targets a proven number one in the upcoming window.
Chelsea have been linked with £50m-rated Premier League pair Bart Verbruggen and Robin Roefs . Whether either is the solution remains to be seen, but it is clear this is an area that needs urgent attention.
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