Chelsea's attacking firepower once again bailed out a shaky defence as Xabi Alonso's side edged past Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, securing a perfect start to the Premier League season despite alarming signs at the back.
Emiliano Martinez, confirmed as a Chelsea player mere hours before kick-off following his £7.5m move from Aston Villa, was thrust straight into the starting lineup by Alonso. The Argentine goalkeeper, a World Cup winner and two-time FIFA Best Goalkeeper, had already trained with his new teammates before the deal was announced, with the club delaying the reveal for marketing purposes.
While Martinez was not directly culpable for any of Brighton's three goals, his arrival did little to immediately fix Chelsea's defensive issues. The result means Chelsea have now conceded five goals in their opening two league matches, both won narrowly, and have gone 18 games without a clean sheet — their longest such run since the 1960s.
Chelsea raced into a commanding position, going 3-0 up before half-time through goals that included a clinical finish from Joao Pedro, who was playing in front of Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti. But Brighton, missing seven first-team players, mounted a spirited fightback under manager Fabian Hurzeler. Malick Yalcouye's goal ignited the comeback, and a deflected effort from Gross — which came off Joao Pedro — made it 3-2 before Cole Palmer, watched by England manager Thomas Tuchel, restored the two-goal cushion with a superb strike that swerved into the corner.
Despite the chaotic nature of the win, Chelsea's underlying numbers raised questions about their control of matches. They managed just 25.9% possession — the lowest recorded in a league game under Alonso across his time at Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid — and completed only 146 passes, a club record low in a Premier League fixture since records began in 2003-04.
Alonso downplayed the possession statistics, insisting context mattered more than raw data. "You need to have context. After 30 minutes, we have 3-0. The data is not important, it's how we play and what we can do," he said. "I never say we have to have 60%, 50%… we need to adapt."
Hurzeler, however, felt his side had dictated much of the play. "We dominated the game," the German coach said, later adding: "If you spend so much money on these kinds of players, of course for a team like Chelsea they can rely on quality."
Martinez reflected positively on his whirlwind introduction. "A win is a win," he told Sky Sports. "I know it wasn't a perfect game. But in the end, winning and moving on is what we need. I am here for a reason. The front three is amazing... At the back, we need to bring the goals down."
The goalkeeper's arrival has significant implications for Robert Sanchez, who has fallen to fourth in Chelsea's goalkeeping hierarchy despite previously being backed by Alonso and club officials. Sanchez was at fault for goals conceded in Monday's 3-2 win over Fulham. Asked about Sanchez's future, Alonso admitted: "We will see. Sometimes you have to take tough decisions."
Chelsea's midfield issues were also evident, with Enzo Fernandez continuing to be left out amid interest from Manchester City, while Moises Caicedo was forced off early after coming on as a substitute. Alonso fielded Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto in midfield, with Jordan Henderson still sidelined through injury.
Alonso stressed the importance of "emotional control" given the unpredictable nature of the Premier League, noting he warned his players at half-time that a two-goal lead "wasn't enough to kill this" — a statement that proved prophetic.
With seven goals scored but five conceded in two matches, questions remain over whether Chelsea's attacking quality can compensate for defensive vulnerabilities as the season progresses. Their next test comes away to reigning champions Arsenal, a fixture that promises to reveal much more about their title credentials.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Independent.