Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Five talking points

An already enthralling week of Premier League football saw a midweek game between the title contenders Chelsea and a revitalized Aston Villa outfit. Aston Villa traveled to Stamford Bridge on a high, having got the better of Arsenal away on the weekend.

Chelsea, on the other hand, were eyeing a perfect start and looking to gain as much confidence, given the side travels to Old Trafford on Monday for their third game of the season.

Chelsea got off to a fairytale starting putting one in the net with help from the Villa keeper and defender- a goal nonetheless. The Blues continued applying pressure in the first half. However, their game went missing in the second half and Paul Lambert’s side seized the initiative and got back into the game, only to see an off-side goal snatch the much deserved point for the West Midlands outfit’s grasp.

For all the goals and excitement in the game, we put the perspective of the whole match into five talking points:

Chelsea yet again drop shoulders in the second half – A happy sign for Moyes and Co?

Benteke scores past Chelsea

Chelsea have been marred with shoulder dropping performances as the match progresses. With Jose Mourinho having taken over at Stamford Bridge, a change was expected. Though just two games into the season won’t be a right time to judge, but it seems like the same old Chelsea, only with a new Mourinho at helm.

Mourino was quoted on Tuesday as wanting Chelsea to destroy the opposition and kill games, netting four-five goals. But as it panned out on Wednesday night, the Blues missed on creating any glit-edged chances in the first half, only to see themselves dropping of the game in the second. If it was not for an Ivanovic goal, which was an offside, Chelsea would have lost out on two important points.

Chelsea next face United at Old Trafford. With what we have seen of Chelsea, they drop off with the game and Manchester United are known to strike late. So, if Chelsea continue in the same fashion, it could well be Monday Blues for Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Mata doesn’t look too comfortable; Hazard holds the key

Juan Mata was out of sorts all night

One of the key personnel for Chelsea last season and their most creative spark, ahead of Hazard, Juan Mata was looking out of touch throughout the match. Beginning with reports of Mourinho willing to sell the Spaniard, to a place on the bench in the pre-season friendlies, running into the first game, Mata seems to not befit Mourinho’s plans.

Mata was handed a start in the second game of the season against Villa. But the talisman looked nowhere near his best and was almost anonymous for most of the first half. As a result, Mouinho decided to swap him around the hour mark and to put it bluntly- Mata didn’t look to happy, on or off the field.

What Manchester United is to Rooney, Chelsea is to Mata – at least it seems.

Now, with Mata not looking at his best and the new signings yet to settle in, Hazard will definitely hold the key for Blues if they are to go all the way this season.

Hazard holds a pivotal position in the midfield, exchanging places with Oscar in the center time and again. Being the fulcrum of the side, Hazard can twist the game in either way and he’s well on his way.

Aston Villa are a revitalized unit under Paul Lambert, only hard done by the referee

Benteke celebrates his goal

After their first two matches last season, Aston Villa were looking down the barrel, placed at the bottom of the table and pointless. One year on, Villa have three points and more importantly, two brave performances against Top 4 sides.

Just what seemed a difficult start for the Lambert era, given the form of the club to go with the scary fixtures, the West Midlands outfit has risen leaps and bounds.

Despite a defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Villa has shown promising signs. The team that played second fiddle all throughout under former manager Martin O’ Neil, are now seen playing fearless football in wake of expressing themselves.

The side could have well got on to nick a result at Stamford Bridge, but a couple of refereeing decisions did them in. A probable offside for the Ivanovic goal; Ivanovic avoiding a red and a late handball not given – Villa would certainly feel hard done by the referee. But as Arsenal fans would like to put it, ‘Karma is a b*tch’.

But nothing should be drawn too early on. It’s a lot about consistency – top teams and coaches will tell you. While the early signs are promising, maintaining a similar run would be a challenge – but then, what is life without challenges.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Benteke will scare defences

Gabriel Agbonlahor had a lot to offer

After Aston Villa’s impressive opening day victory against Arsenal, Paul Lambert described Agbonlahor as “unplayable – as good a performance as I’ve seen from an individual in many a year”. Though Benteke made headlines for his brace, Agbonlahor was the real lively spark for the Villa outfit.

Come Wednesday, Agbonlahor wasn’t as good, but was a constant nuisance for the Chelsea defence on the left and it was his ball that got the equalizing goal for Villa.

On the other hand, Benteke looks lethal in front of goal. With a hammer left foot at his disposal and having already nicked in a good understanding with Agbonlahor, the Belgian could pose a real threat, as justified by his goal yesterday.

Though Aston Villa’s future remains uncertain, one thing is certain- the duo of Agbonlahor and Benteke are set to give sleepless nights to a number of opponents.

Ba can leave; another striker needed- SOS

Demba Ba was way off the mark

A cynic would argue that Ba’s selection had roots to the fact that Chelsea are ready to offload him and gave him a trial run for the other clubs to come calling. The Senegalese forward is rumoured to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer, with Roma and West Ham two clubs linked with his signature.

But a manager, even as wicked as Mourinho, would never field a team to put a player in the window, rather than to win the game. On that front, the former Newcastle star made little impact. Despite working hard, Ba was kept quiet by the Villa centre-halves with relative ease for most part of the game and was caught offside on several occasions, failing to time his run to perfection.

Barring one bright moment on the stroke of half-time, where the striker controlled the ball well out of the air before scuffing a low shot at Guzan, Ba was poor.

With Ba having fallen down the pecking order, beneath Torres and Lukaku, it is certain the striker would leave.

While even Torres is desperately out of touch and Lukaku only young, Chelsea need to add a quality striker to their roster if the Roman Abrahamovic side are sowing dreams of a déjà-vu of 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Notable mention:

Ivanovic loves Aston Villa

Ivanovic just loves scoring against Villa

Branislav Ivanovic has emerged as one of the best full-backs in the league. Ivanovic is of a rare breed of full-backs who are equally comfortable defending and going forward.

Ivanovic, on Wednesday, was a real spark on the right, on a day when Mata was quiet. The Serbian made surging runs and went on to attack at every possible opportunity and tracked back well.

It was him who got the all important goal for Chelsea and his fourth against Villa – the team he has scored most against.

Though he was lucky to be on the field after a couple of elbow-blows to Benteke, and his goal was marginally offside, it’s about making the most of the opportunity at hand and he did just that.