Two games into the Premier League season, and Chelsea sit fourth in the table with a perfect record.
They won both games, scoring seven goals, and produced the type of front-foot football that has entertained Chelsea fans, with Stamford Bridge hopping after the games finished.
It’s the ideal start under new manager Xabi Alonso and there’s genuine title talk now beginning.
The team is winning games that they’re not necessarily controlling, with youthful fearlessness and individual brilliance being enough to paper over some of the defensive issues.
The Palmer effect
Chelsea could be one of the most watchable teams in the Premier League this season, as there’s talent in all areas of the pitch, given the massive depth that’s been built over recent years.
Fans will no longer be turning off their television and playing online casino games or watching other games, as the action is enthralling.
Cole Palmer is the main man and he’s given more freedom under Alonso, dictating the rhythm of Chelsea’s attacks.
He’s showing a lot more maturity now and appears to be very motivated after an injury-ridden last season and missing out on England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Added to that is Estêvão managing to slot in seamlessly into the attack and João Pedro being a focal point.
Then there is the width of Pedro Neto and the creativity of Morgan Rogers, which means that Chelsea have multiple angles of attack.
The shrewd signing of Danny Welbeck as cover also shows how they’ve got Premier League-proven players ready to come in when needed.
This is a young group, so getting experienced players like Welbeck and Jordan Henderson on board means they’ll have some direction in the dressing room to lead by example on and off the pitch.
Smart transfer business
Chelsea’s transfer window has been a flurry of activity on both sides. Losing Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid is a blow, but many think the deadline day departure of Enzo Fernandez could be a blessing in disguise.
The Argentine completed a move to Manchester City on a deal reportedly worth around €140 million, meaning Chelsea turned a healthy profit on a player whose relationship with fans had soured.
One area which has been an issue in recent seasons for Chelsea has been goalkeeper, and signing Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5million seems like a steal for a 33-year-old who is a World Cup winner.
Robert Sanchez has departed as a result, paying for his opening-day error in the win against Fulham.
Xabi Alonso knows his team needs a big-game goalkeeper to drive a title push and Martinez is one of the most combative shot stoppers in the world. He adds to the experience Welbeck and Henderson also deliver.
In other areas of the squad, there’s been a thinning out of the attacking talent, with Nicolas Jackson going to Villa and Liam Delap moving to Nottingham Forest.
Shoring up the defence
While the attacking prowess of Chelsea is obvious, things are a bit shakier at the back.
They gave a three-goal lead away to Brighton before winning the game, and they’ve invited pressure and just about managed to survive in their matches so far this season.
The possession numbers are startling, as they conceded 61% of the ball to Fulham and 75% to Brighton, but still managed to create so many chances up front. This lack of possession will add up over the course of the season, so it’s not sustainable.
Defensive understanding does take time to build and the freshly assembled squad needs a few games under their belt to get familiar with one another.
If Alonso manages to get some solid time to reshuffle things during the upcoming international break, Chelsea could be in great shape in the run-up to Christmas.
The real test
Chelsea’s title credentials will meet their first proper examination when they take on London rivals Arsenal.
A trip to the Emirates against the league champions will definitely expose any frailties which exist.
Arsenal are heavy favourites for the title, so Chelsea aren’t really being given a chance.
However, if they somehow manage to beat the Gunners away from home, this turns title talk into a legitimate conversation.
If the defensive frailties get exposed against a side that’s clinical enough to punish them, there could be alarm bells ringing.
Outside of the Arsenal game, the fixture list looks quite kind to Chelsea, allowing them to build momentum.
They’ve a home game next up after Arsenal and then Brentford. Getting nine points from the first five games wouldn’t be a bad return and keeps Chelsea in the hunt.
The lack of European football also means that Alonso can keep players fit and chomping at the bit for their place in the team.
This can bring up the side’s entire level and make them extremely competitive every time they step onto the pitch.
Are they genuine contenders?
The honest answer is that it’s a wait-and-see type of approach with Chelsea.
Alonso has had a promising start to his time at Chelsea, which has churned through many managers over recent seasons.
He’s made some shrewd signings in recent months and got rid of some players who might be extremely talented, but not always the best team players.
Chelsea certainly have the attacking talent to hurt anyone in the division.
Palmer is a superstar with a chip on his shoulder, with João Pedro also with a point to prove after being left out by the England team manager during the summer.
The crop of young players have gotten a lot of exposure to top-level football in recent years, learning mistakes on the job. The manager’s blueprint means that there will be plenty of goals along the way.
However, titles aren’t won in August and Chelsea needs to shore up the defence if it’s to be seen as proper contenders. The shootouts will certainly go Chelsea’s way more often than not.
It’s when they come up against teams which are very defensively solid that they’ll need to find a different way to win.
It remains to be seen if Chelsea are equipped for these tactical tussles.
Fans will still be dreaming at Stamford Bridge as the football produced so far this season has been box office, so anything is possible.
Feature image: Umberto Andrini via Unsplash
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