Chris Hatterall: Four big takeaways from Stamford Bridge
KEY DIFFERENCE: Erling Haaland who had a relatively quiet game in west London still showed that he could be the difference in the title race this season. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images
The big striker, who had a relatively quiet game in west London still showed that he could be the difference in the title race this season.
Whilst Arsenal like to spread the goals around - and don’t have a striker who you’d expect to hit 25 in a campaign - Haaland is guaranteed goals. Which is hugely valuable in matches like this.
His strike at Stamford Bridge means he has now been directly involved in 22 goals in 20 Premier League appearances against the ‘big six’ when it really matters.
You might say Chelsea are no longer a title rival on current form, but it remains a relevant start.
In fact, after 100 appearances for City, Haaland has scored 91 goals and been involved in setting up another 15; which is a remarkable feat. That’s what Arsenal are up against if they want to finish top of the table this time.
Having a squad of more than 50 players and asking big names to train on a separate pitch from the matchday squad, was always going to be a difficult task for new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.
This match proved it. Leaving out Raheem Sterling from the squad all together left the winger’s agents asking for clarification about his future and the Matthew Harding Stand confused.
There were also chants for Conor Gallagher, the homegrown hero who Chelsea are desperately trying to persuade to move to Atletico Madrid even though he would prefer to stay. He’s been training alone at Cobham this week but was badly missed against City with his replacement Enzo Fernandez quiet in an advanced midfield role. The chances of Gallagher returning look slim – he wasn’t even included in the Chelsea squad listed in their matchday programme.
It was an opening-day home defeat for Chelsea against the champions in the end, but there was still encouragement if you looked hard enough for it.
Enzo Maresca managed to get time on the pitch for four new signings and still kept his team competitive for most of the afternoon, even if City were nowhere near their best.
New signings Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga and Marc Guiu all came off the bench as Chelsea stayed in it until Mateo Kovacic, one of their former players, finished them off.
The question for Maresca is how to find the best positions for all his players, given that Cole Palmer looked less influential when not played as a 10, Christopher Nkunku looks lost out wide and Nicolas Jackson is not ruthless enough through the middle.
Brazilian winger Savinho, who is just 20 years old, looks yet another terrific prospect plucked from the ether by Manchester City after he came in to the team to replace injured Oscar Bobb and looked good in a first half cameo.
City got their first glimpse of Savinho at Wembley last week when he came on in extra time and was brave enough to take a penalty in the shoot-out victory over Manchester United, and that first impression was reinforced at Stamford Bridge.
He was clever, quick and hard working before eventually taking one too many heavy tackles and limping off at half time.
It’s worth noting that spotting him was no fluke. He was signed from Troyes and had been prepared for action by a year on loan at Girona. Both those clubs are City Group outfits. So although City don't appear to be spending billions in the transfer market these days - where as Chelsea are throwing money at young players from all over the world - they have certainly spent plenty to get there.
It means that even without injured players like Rodri and Jack Grealish, there is always another waiting for their chance.
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