😭 Summary:
Arsenal picked Chelsea apart in the first half. They scored both goals after mistakes by Chalobah and Mendy as Chelsea came second-best in literally everything.
The Blues switched to a back-three from a back-four and it allowed them to build up attacks better.
But a slightly better performance did not prevent Arsenal from scoring third, with Saka adding his name to the scoresheet 22 minutes after the break. Sambi Lokonga made it 4-0 with a late header.
Chelsea lose the Florida Cup final but it’s not the trophy the team was after. Chelsea fans hoped for a good perfomance from their side but the Blues were dreadful throughout the game.
⚽ 90+3′ This has just become embarrassing… Lokonga scores fourth, heading home after a cross from the right.
⌚90+1′ Mendy makes another good save, on a free kick this time.
⌚85′ Koulibaly makes a brilliant challenge on Pepe to stop him from potentially scoring Arsenal’s fourth.
⌚78′ Koulibaly shows off his pace to dominate Pepe, who tried to run in behind.
73‘ Koulibaly, Ampadu and Hudson-Odoi on for James, Thiago Silva and Jorginho.
🔄68′ Ziyech plays a great ball for Alonso but the Spaniard can’t get into proper a position to finish it.
⚽66′ Saka makes it 3-0 after two massive Mendy saves on Martinelli and Xhaka.
64′ Ziyech and Batshuayi on, Mount, Havertz off.
🥊62′ Reece James shoves Granit Xhaka after a collision with Nuno Tavares. Other players quickly drag them away from each other.
⌚54′ Havertz’s cutback for Mount is intercepted by an Arsenal defender. Encouraging from Chelsea this.
⌚52′ Malang Sarr tried a Rudiger-esque long-range strike but fires well over the bar.
⌚51′ Reece with a good ball into the box but Alonso can’t quite get to it.
🔄 Azpilicueta, Pulisic, Alonso, Kovacic in, Sterling, Werner, Gallagher and Emerson out. Chelsea switch to 3-4-3.
A few half-time thoughts from Chelsea fans…
AllyRhodes: “What’s seriously concerning is the fact that this is essentially our full strength attacking lineup (besides Werner) and we’ve struggled to create any passages of play. Besides Sterling x Mount link up before HT and Reece James beautiful crosses, we’ve been fucking shit.”
UberCheIseaFC: “There’s just something about us that’s dangerously bad this year. Giving 2015/16 vibes if I’m really honest.”
Laurenz Vescoli: “I‘ve changed my mind. Maybe Chelsea should sign Cristiano Ronaldo. I do think he makes modern top football teams worse as a whole, but Chelsea play like a bunch elephants anyway.
“So adding Ronaldo, that will stay the same but add a good amount of guaranteed goals at least…”
EmenaIo: “45 minutes without a single chance or shot on goal but at least people got to be edgy and say no to Ronaldo and Neymar for a few retweets!”
✍ Chelsea are 2-0 down at the break… Here’s a summary of the first half.
It’s all Arsenal in Orlando so far.
Arsenal had the first real chance of the game in the sixth minute. The Gunners caught Chelsea on the break and Saka went one-on-one with Mendy but the keeper blocked the forward’s effort.
The Gunners broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. Chalobah played a poor ball, it was intercepted and a quick counter-attack followed, with Gabriel Jesus expertly lifting the ball over Mendy.
Twenty minutes after, the Gunners doubled their lead after a similar situation. Mendy basically passed the ball to Partey, who played it upfield to Martinelli, he set up Odegaard for a one-on-one and the Norwegian slotted home.
Mason Mount hit the post after a good combination with Sterling shortly before the half-time whistle.
Chelsea struggle to keep hold of the ball and look rather shaky in defence, as Tuchel’s 4-3-3 system doesn’t function properly today. An improvement is needed in the second half.
📊 Half-time ratings
Decent: James 7, Sterling 6.5, Thiago Silva 6
Average: Emerson, Mendy 5.5
Poor: Gallagher, Jorginho, Mount 4; Havertz, Werner, Chalobah 3
Sarr N/A.
⌚45+4′ Mason Mount off the post! Chelsea’s only chance of the game so far but Mase is unlucky here.
⌚ 45′ Partey’s long-range effort flies over! Would have been tricky for Edou to save this one.
44′ Chalobah off, Malang Sarr on. Probably picked up a knock and Tuchel didn’t want to risk it.
⌚38′ Reece with a good cross from the right but no one meets it.
⚽35′ Odegaard doubles Arsenal’s lead. Mendy makes a terrible pass, it’s intercepted and Martinelli sets up Odegaard for a one-on-one.