Chelsea have made a thrilling start to the Premier League season under new manager Xabi Alonso, winning both of their opening two fixtures while scoring seven goals in the process. Only two other clubs currently boast a six-point return from their opening matches, though Arsenal could join that group depending on their result on Monday.
Despite the impressive goal tally, Chelsea's defensive record tells a different story. The Blues have shipped five goals across those two matches, extending an alarming run in which they have failed to keep a Premier League clean sheet in 18 consecutive games — their longest such streak in the top flight since 1961.
Some context is needed when assessing both the opposition and Chelsea's own attacking output. Brighton, who beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, had been missing seven first-choice players for that fixture, yet still managed to breach Chelsea's defense three times. Fulham, meanwhile, looked sharp in a 3-2 loss to Chelsea on the opening weekend but failed to register a single shot on target in their following match against Sunderland, raising questions about how instructive these early results really are.
Alonso's move away from a rigid, blockish version of the 3-4-2-1 — the shape often associated with the formation elsewhere in the league — has given Chelsea variety, allowing players like center-back Maxence Lacroix to surge forward and combine directly in attack, as seen in his assist during the Fulham game. But that same fluidity appears to be costing Chelsea defensively, in stark contrast to Alonso's title-winning Bayer Leverkusen side, which conceded just 24 goals across 34 Bundesliga matches in 2024 while averaging nearly 60% possession. Chelsea, by comparison, have controlled only around 32% of possession so far this season.
The pairing of Roméo Lavia with either Reece James or Malo Gusto in the double pivot has not yet provided the defensive solidity that the system typically demands. There is hope that the return of Moisés Caicedo — who made a brief 14-minute cameo before being forced off again on Sunday — could inject much-needed energy and defensive stability into midfield once he regains full fitness.
Chelsea's summer transfer business also factors into the bigger picture. The signing of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is expected to bring greater command and fewer individual errors compared to Robert Sánchez, though integrating a new No.1 alongside defensive newcomers like Lacroix will take time. Young defender Josh Acheampong, who impressed against Fulham and featured off the bench versus Brighton, is seen as a highly promising option, having started just eight league matches last season. However, blending multiple new faces into a settled defensive unit rarely happens instantly.
Up front, Chelsea's attacking trio of João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer offer real firepower and give the team a chance against any opponent. That will be tested significantly when Arsenal visit next Sunday in what promises to be a much sterner examination of Alonso's project. Arsenal, further along in their development under their current system, could look to dominate the midfield battle and neutralize Chelsea's attacking spark entirely.
For now, Chelsea's start remains a mixture of promise and vulnerability — an entertaining, high-scoring opening act that still leaves plenty of questions about structural balance as Alonso continues shaping his new team.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.