In an exciting Chelsea-Arsenal match, both Robert Sanchez and David Raya made costly errors that allowed the Gunners to come back from a 2-0 deficit and maintain their unbeaten Premier League record.
The debate about playing out from the back continues, with the question of whether it is right or wrong far from being straightforward. There is a need for nuance on both sides of the argument. However, after the Chelsea-Arsenal match on Saturday, those who question the wisdom of taking risks in the defensive third may feel vindicated.
Both Robert Sanchez and David Raya were guilty of giving away possession in dangerous areas. While only the Chelsea goalkeeper conceded a goal as a result, Raya’s own mistakes when handling the ball did not go unnoticed. It was Raya who found himself out of position at his near post when Mykhailo Mudryk redirected a hopeful left-wing cross into the goal just three minutes into the second half. The ball sailed past the Brentford loanee and into the net, making it 2-0 in favor of the hosts after Cole Palmer’s first-half penalty.
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But he had Sanchez to thank for taking some of the heat off him, as his fellow Spaniard’s poor clearance was returned into the net by Declan Rice in the 77th minute, sparking an Arsenal comeback that maintains their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
The comeback was capped by substitute Leandro Trossard’s equaliser, as Mikel Arteta turned to his bench to turn around an otherwise awful display, while Mauricio Pochettino must be wondering how his team didn’t convert their best performance of the season into three points.