Enzo Maresca has named the one thing Chelsea have to significantly improve in Arsenal clash

Enzo Maresca has named the one thing Chelsea have to significantly improve in Arsenal clash

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Chelsea supporters have started to show their frustration with some of their side's play in recent weeks but for Enzo Maresca, it is all part of a long-term plan.

The Blues have been accused of being too slow, passive and not always looking for the forward ball – particularly in the second half of the season. Learning from the great Pep Guardiola during his days at Manchester City, Maresca wants his team to play with control. He does not want the match to become like a basketball game; end-to-end and out of control.

We have seen similar with Arne Slot at Liverpool this season, albeit the Reds are right out at the top of the Premier League table. Jurgen Klopp’s teams over the years were made to play what he described as ‘heavy metal football’ but Slot wants his players to be a lot calmer in possession and tries to reduce the amount of attacks the opposition has in transition.

That, in essence, is what Maresca is trying to create at Stamford Bridge, too, albeit it is far more complex than that. We often see player x choose to not to play a risky pass to player y and instead choose the safer option. While that frustrates supporters, it is evident Maresca has full belief in his ideology and style of play.

Chelsea go to Arsenal this weekend in what is a crucial Premier League match. The Blues, along with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham are the only teams in the division to average a higher possession percentage than the Gunners. Mikel Arteta, also a former student of Guardiola’s, likes his team to dominate the ball and tire the opposition out.

When the two sides went head-to-head in November, it was very even in almost every aspect. The game itself finished 1-1, with Pedro Neto scoring the equalising goal after Gabriel Martinelli had put the visiting Gunners ahead just 10 minutes before. Arsenal ended the match with 51% of the ball, with Chelsea having 49%, something Maresca was not too pleased about at full-time.

Speaking after the game four months ago, the Italian explained how a lack of control meant anything could happen on the day: “I think the performance was good. We played in the way we want to play on and off the ball. The game in some moments was open – anything can happen in both sides but for sure, 100%, we deserved a point and this is important.”

Maresca will be hoping to have more control at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Chelsea look to take a big step towards qualifying for next season's Champions League. However, the head coach also hinted that his players could look to utilise counter-attacking opportunities as he expects Arsenal to be aggressive in north London.

"The intention will be that [to control the game]," Maresca said when asked about Chelsea's plan of action against their fierce rivals. "If we are not, it will depend a lot on the opponent. If we plan the game to sit back and wait, for sure our strikers, wingers, they are going to do 20 sprints for 60, 70 metres.

"But when you play most of your game in the opposite side, there is no space to do that kind of sprint. So, Arsenal, our plan is to control the game, but also it's a team that they're going to try to press high and they're going to try to be aggressive and probably we will have more space for attacking in behind."

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• Arsenal vs Chelsea
• Chelsea
• Enzo Maresca
• Mikel Arteta
• Premier League