Jamie Redknapp has admitted he doesn’t think a single Arsenal player would get into Chelsea’s team.
Despite fighting back to 2-2 from 2-0 down, the Gunners lost 3-2 to their bitter London rivals after Marcos Alonso bagged a late winner.
That result leaves Unai Emery without a point after his first two games at Arsenal and, writing in his column for the Daily Mail (via Goal), Redknapp didn’t hold back on his scathing criticism of the north Londoners, picking out Arsenal’s central defenders in particular.
He said: “Looking at the Arsenal team, not one of their players would get in Maurizio Sarri’s best XI. At the heart of defence, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis don’t look a partnership.
“At full-back, Cesar Azpilicueta is both more solid defensively and more creative in attack than Hector Bellerin while Marcos Alonso has been impressive since his debut in 2016.”
Redknapp also felt that Chelsea’s new £71.6m goalkeeper, Kepa, could have done better for Arsenal’s first goal, but would still rather have him between the sticks than Arsenal’s Petr Cech.
The former England international added: “Kepa Arrizabalaga could have done better with Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first goal but I would rather have a young goalkeeper who is confident playing out from the back than Petr Cech, who is struggling. There was no contest between the two midfield enforcers.”
It is still early days for Arsenal and Emery, who has had an admittedly tough start to life at the Emirates, and their next few fixtures could see a turn around in form.
But Arsenal’s turn around will need to happen quickly for Emery, as their next game is another London Derby, this time against West Ham at the Emirates on Saturday.