Chelsea have started the Premier League season with two wins under new manager Xabi Alonso, scoring seven goals but also conceding five. This perfect yet chaotic start places them among only three clubs with a six-point haul so far, though Arsenal had yet to play at the time of writing. While the attacking output is impressive, the defensive openness has raised questions about the team's structural solidity.
Early season context and opposition quality
The context of these results cuts both ways. It is early in the season, and Chelsea have undergone significant squad changes, suggesting they will improve in coherence. However, the quality of opposition must be considered. Brighton, despite missing seven frontline players at Stamford Bridge, scored three past Chelsea on Sunday, even after thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 the previous weekend. Fulham, who lost 3-2 to Chelsea on the opening weekend, failed to register a shot on target against Sunderland on Sunday.
These results make it difficult to draw clear patterns. Granit Xhaka's performance for Sunderland against Fulham, where he helped his side dominate midfield, highlighted why Chelsea wanted to sign him in the summer. His partnership with Noah Sadiki offered a level of control that Chelsea under Alonso have so far lacked, especially given the emphasis Enzo Maresca placed on control last season.
Structural issues and tactical analysis
Both Chelsea games have resembled a pastiche of the modern Bundesliga: high tempo, turnovers, chaotic and fun, but slightly unserious. This contrasts sharply with Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen side, which won the Bundesliga in 2024 conceding only 24 goals in 34 games while averaging 59.5% possession. Chelsea, by contrast, have had just 32% possession so far this season.
Moisés Caicedo's return to fitness could bring immediate improvement, but he managed only 14 minutes from the bench on Sunday before being forced off again. The way Fulham and Brighton sliced through Chelsea suggests structural issues. The 3-4-2-1 formation is often criticised for being too blockish, relying on inside-forwards for creativity. However, Alonso's version is more fluid, with variations that allow centre-backs like Maxence Lacroix to burst forward, as he did to set up a goal against Fulham.
Defensive concerns and future challenges
The defensive issues predate Alonso. Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in 18 games, their longest run in the top flight since 1961. The signing of Emí Martínez should provide a more assertive presence in goal than Robert Sánchez, but integrating new defenders like Lacroix and Josh Acheampong, who started only eight league games last season, will take time. The constant squad churn adds to the instability.
Next Sunday, Arsenal will provide a far stiffer test. Chelsea's front three of João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer give them a puncher's chance, but Arsenal could dominate through midfield, rendering them irrelevant. The two teams are at very different stages of development, and this match will reveal more about Chelsea's true level under Alonso.
