Barkley on target as Blues punish Saints
MAURIZIO Sarri has got little wrong in the three months since he was appointed Chelsea head coach and the Italian was in credit again after starting Ross Barkley in a 3-0 Premier League victory at Southampton yesterday.
Barkley has operated as understudy to Mateo Kovacic in recent weeks but, having been selected ahead of the on-loan Real Madrid man, the England international responded by setting up Eden Hazard’s 30thminute opening goal before adding the second — his first for the club — just before the hour. Alvaro Morata came off the bench to complete the win at St Mary’s in added time.
Hazard’s goal was his eighth of the season, seven of which have come in Chelsea’s opening eight Premier League games, and continued his outstanding form since Sarri succeeded Antonio Conte as Blues boss.
But Barkley’s performance was also a major factor in Chelsea’s victory that ensured they maintained the pressure at the top of the Premier League immediately before fellow title-contenders Liverpool and Manchester City met at Anfield in the late Sunday game.
This was only Barkley’s fifth league start since his 15 million pound (US$20 million) transfer from Everton in January. But having shown promising signs earlier in the season, the midfielder offered compelling evidence at Southampton he is nearing a return to his best.
Kovacic has performed excellently since arriving at Stamford Bridge but Barkley’s display suggests the options available to Sarri are increasing as Chelsea look to build on their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Chelsea were always expected to beat a Southampton side who have so far failed to reverse last season’s woeful home form.
Yet while this initially looked as though it would be a stroll for the visitors, Southampton could easily have made it a more uncomfortable afternoon had they made the most of a number of good chances.
The confidence and belief that has grown within Sarri’s side during the opening weeks of the season was evident in the way Chelsea overwhelmed Southampton during the opening stages of the game.
Resolute, desperate defending by the Southampton back five together with Chelsea’s tendency to over-elaborate denied the visitors the early lead. And had Danny Ings not somehow managed to lift the ball over the bar after meeting Ryan Bertrand’s left-wing cross when just four yards out of an open goal, Chelsea would have been playing catch-up.
The missed opportunity drew a swift response from Sarri’s side. Barkley moved quickly to close down Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg inside the Saints’ half before delivering a well-weighted ball into the path of Hazard who finished with ease. Barkley capped a well worked free-kick routine to effectively secure victory.
Willian floated a ball towards the far post where Olivier Giroud acrobatically volleyed back across the face of goal, allowing Barkley to add Chelsea’s second from close range. Morata wrapped up the points with a chipped finish in added time.
Arsenal swaggered to a ninth successive win as Alexandre Lacazette’s double and a goal of the season contender from Aaron Ramsey inspired a 5-1 rout of Fulham yesterday.
Unai Emery’s side turned on the style on the banks of the River Thames, recording their biggest win of the season as the resurgent Gunners moved into the Premier League’s top four.
Lacazette was at the centre of Arsenal’s powerful show at Craven Cottage, with his superb second-half strike restoring their lead after Andre Schurrle had cancelled out his opener.
Ramsey’s audacious backheeled goal put Arsenal in complete control to cap a stunning move. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice in the closing stages as Arsenal won six consecutive league matches within a single campaign for the first time since 2016. They have also recorded three consecutive away league victories for the first time in two years.