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3 problems Chelsea needs to fix after Arsenal drubbing

Reuters

The sins of last season proved neither forgotten nor forgiven at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, as Arsenal, mighty and confident, finally ended its five-year winless drought over London rival Chelsea with a comprehensive victory.

It was bound to happen eventually; as statisticians around the world would tell you, no team remains undefeated forever. But the manner by which Arsenal drove the sword through blue hearts was alarming, and brought previously unfixed issues back to the forefront.

On a day to forget, here are three problems Chelsea should remember to address:

Chelsea's long-term defensive look

Whether Roman Abramovich likes it or not, the simple truth is that Chelsea's back four - as it is - cannot be relied upon for the short- or long-term future. A once-trusty unit has devolved into a mix of careless and aged legs.

Branislav Ivanovic has lost his pace, Gary Cahill folds in possession under pressure, and the comically repurchased David Luiz seems incapable of reading space. That a 35-year-old John Terry was sorely missed is another damning point indicating how poorly Chelsea's defensive ranks are built.

Two years ago, Chelsea won the Premier League title and symptoms of a rapidly degrading back four went ignored. After a woeful 2015-16 campaign, it's a wonder Ivanovic and Cahill kept their starting roles this season.

Why wait for Conte's revolution?

When Chelsea brought in Antonio Conte, it renewed hopes that the Blues would be dominant once again. The Italian, famed for his defensive system and team-first tactical approach, comes from a different school of thought than his predecessor Jose Mourinho.

Why then, does Chelsea look utterly unchanged? Lined up in a similar 4-2-3-1, Chelsea's methodical build-up and constant desire to find Eden Hazard for midfield creativity is identical to its style in the last three seasons. Besides introducing N'Golo Kante, it seems little has changed.

Perhaps Conte cannot yet implement his preferred 3-5-2, bereft as the team is of reliable defenders, but the question must be asked - what exactly has Conte brought to Chelsea? It seems more time is needed to find out.

Who connects Chelsea's two main lines?

The talk leading up to this fixture was of Conte's choice in midfield, specifically in choosing between Cesc Fabregas and Oscar. Yet, with Kante moving across the section, and Fabregas tasked with creative duty, Nemanja Matic was often the midfielder playing furthest forward.

If Fabregas is to command the lines in midfield and connect the back four - with its high-flying full-backs and a duo of mobile defensive midfielders - he will need to be ever-present and rangy. Instead, Fabregas tapers off his runs and looks complacent at times, and was replaced before the hour mark as a result.

Oscar provides a more attack-minded option, but his defensive game is lacking and his stamina remains a problem. It gives Conte a bit of an issue since neither player offers enough in both categories to warrant a consistent starting role.

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