Chelsea’s club record signing Romelu Lukaku did not disappoint on his second debut for the club as he scored in a 2-0 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday putting on a dominant display in the process.
Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea: Match review as Lukaku dominates
Chelsea scored both of their goals in the first half with the first coming in the 15th minute through an easy tap in finish from Romelu Lukaku with the chance being put on a plate for the striker by Reece James. 20 minutes later, after getting an assist, Reece James would get a goal himself and wrap up the game in 35 minutes after being afforded the space and time down Arsenal’s left hand side and placing the ball into the top corner.
Chelsea are now two wins from two in the Premier League with a great performance from everyone all round, but the one that stood out by far was Chelsea’s £97.5 million man Romelu Lukaku.
Romelu Lukaku: Game in numbers andVs Arsenal and how his arrival could help Chelsea compete for the title
Romelu Lukaku’s return to the Premier League and Chelsea was nothing short of superb which saw the striker receive the Man of the Match award after the game. Lukaku lead from the front for Chelsea, being a focal point up at the top of the pitch, holding up the ball with ease and bullying Arsenal’s two centre half’s in the process.
Lukaku managed 8 attempts against Arsenal which is more than any Chelsea player managed in a game last season [Sky]. This is exactly what Chelsea have been looking for and in need of when it comes to a striker with a player of Romelu Lukaku’s quality, who can score 20+ goals a season and can be a threat up front consistently for the team.
But this isn’t the only positive side to Lukaku and what he can bring to Chelsea, with the striker having a passing accuracy of 95% in the game and 11 touches in the opposition’s box. Lukaku’s hold up play was instrumental in this enabling him to link up well with Kai Havertz and Mason Mount who constantly fead the ball into Lukaku which opened up gaps in Arsenal’s defence and allowed other players to get in behind like Reece James who provided the ball for Lukaku’s goal and got on the scoresheet himself. This could prove vital in how important Lukaku could be on and off the ball in Chelsea’s play this season and how he could be utilised under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Lukaku also completed two take ons and won 53% of his total duals (8) and 57% of his aerial duals (4). Lukaku’s impressive physical attributes were key to his great performance at the weekend with the way he was able to out muscle Arsenal’s two central defenders Pablo Mari and Rob Holding on the ground and in the air. Romelu Lukaku has always been blessed with raw physical strength which he used to his advantage and what allowed him to dominate Arsenal’s defence. This is a great sign of what’s to come for Romelu Lukaku and what he can bring to Chelsea this season with hopes of being able to compete for the Premier League title.
What’s up next for Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea?
Chelsea’s difficult run of fixtures to start of the season does not get any easier with the side facing off against Liverpool at Anfield this Saturday. With both teams starting of the season with 100% records so far, this will be a highly anticipated game and the biggest of the season so far with the winner getting an early advantage in the race for the title this season.
With Lukaku’s impressive however untroubled start to life back at Chelsea, this weekend it could get a little more challenging with a blockbuster showdown between the striker and Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk which could be one of the best matchups and battles this season. Will Lukaku be able to bully and dominate the central defenders of Liverpool like he did Arsenal or will Van Dijk’s quality prove even to much to handle for Chelsea’s talisman? Whatever happens, this will be an interesting game and intriguing matchup which could see Chelsea pull ahead of their title contingent and continue Romelu Lukaku’s great start to life back at Chelsea.
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Written by Darius Needham (@Daza_n)
Edited by Tom Coley (@tomcoley49)
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