Chris Sutton believes Chelsea should be ‘concerned’ (Pictures: Getty)
Chris Sutton insists Chelsea’s struggles in front of goal are a ‘massive worry’ and says the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will ‘demand more’ from Graham Potter’s side after their defeat to Arsenal.
Chelsea’s first wobble under Potter continued on Sunday as the Blues were beaten 1-0 at home by Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The west London outfit impressed after Potter left Brighton to replace Thomas Tuchel as manager but have now taken just two points from their last four league games, slipping five points outside the top-four places.
Chelsea have scored just two goals in that time and Sutton says the team’s struggles in the final third are a huge concern.
He told Stadium Astro: ‘It’s a massive worry. What would also concern me is Graham Potter’s post-match interview when he was comparing Chelsea to Arsenal and where Arsenal are at.
‘Chelsea finished above Arsenal last season so he should be doing better with the players he has at his disposal. I know there are injuries but the issue he has is expectations.
‘They are expected to always compete for the title. They were miles off it against Arsenal but it’s too simplistic to just say “Arsenal are better than us right now and their manager [Mikel Arteta] has had time”.
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‘Potter will get time I think but he needs to start winning games and showing that Chelsea can be far more competitive.
‘It’s okay to lose a game but to not lay a glove on Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea owners and fans will demand more than that.’
Potter, meanwhile, admitted Chelsea ‘lacked a bit of quality’ in their defeat to Arsenal as the Blues ‘huffed and puffed’ but failed to breach Aaron Ramsdale’s goal.
He said: ‘We played against a team in a really good moment, a confident team and you can see the points they have so credit to them.
‘The boys gave everything, it was huffing and puffing but missed that last bit. The goal was disappointing, but overall they deserved it.
‘Arsenal are in a good moment and have been working together for a long time with a good understanding of what they want to do.
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‘We lacked a bit of quality. The effort was there, we were just beaten by the better team. It was not a great goal from our perspective.
‘It’s an indication of where we are and what we need to do better. Mikel Arteta has done a good job, they are in a good place and we’re slightly different.’
Chelsea will be desperate to return to winning ways when they return to action on Wednesday night but face the unenviable task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City in the EFL Cup.
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‘That would concern me.’