You know, I had a feeling we’d get something out of this game, although after forty five minutes it certainly didn’t look like it. Our equaliser completely transformed the game and if anything, we looked the more likely winners after that. It was great to see Joe Hart put in a world class performance, as did Marko Arnautovic to be fair. We now have 34 points, six more than Southampton and seven more than Stoke. The Stoke match next Monday looks to be a crucial won. Win that and you’d like to think we would definitely survive. But just like our dreams…
1. Joe Hart made five saves, three of them saving almost certain goals. The one he tipped over the crossbar was a world class save.
2. Declan Rice put in another top class performance. I love the way he marshalls other players. At the age of 19 you’ve got to have some giant cojones to do that.
3. An outstanding performance from Arnautovic. It was proved to be a masterstroke to play him as a Number 9. I wonder why no one had thought of it before.
4. On the downside, in midfield we weren’t at the races for most of the match. Noble, Kouyate and Fernandes didn’t have the pace or bite to cope with Hazard and Willian.
5. Mario had a quiet game and doesn’t seem to have the pace to beat opposing players. You can see he is skilfull but he seems to lack penetration.
6. Masuaku had one of his quieter games and couldn’t seem to get in the kind of crosses that he excels at.
7. We should have had a penalty with three minutes to go. The commentator reckoned Kante had put in a brilliant tackle because he diverted the ball. Maybe, but he also tripped Arnautovic.
8. Lovely see see Hernandez get another goal, and it was brilliantly taken too. It’s the 6th time he has scored against Chelsea from the Subs bench. And it’s his 8th of the season. I hope he keeps his place in the team against Stoke.
9. Credit to David Moyes. He is more or less down to the bare bones now. To get a point at Chelsea in these circumstances is a real achievement.
10. I can have a nice Sunday evening now!
Scores
Hart – 9
Zabaleta – 7
Rice – 7
Ogbonna – 7
Cresswell – 6
Masuaku – 6
Noble – 6
Mario – 5
Noble – 6
Kouyate – 6
Arnautovic – 8
Evra – 5
David Hautzig’s report will appear later.