Pizy

This seems like the sort of team that we struggle against the most. Teams that play highly technical, quick passing style. They pop the ball around and bypass our midfield easily.

Hate to be so negative in preseason but man was Alonso awful today. Poor in the first half and roasted about 3 times by Kingsley Coman in the second half. Like I said earlier, clear to spot the weaknesses in our team. Wing backs, CM, and Cahill. Edit: It's crystal clear that we must play Cesc in a midfield 3 only if he plays against good teams. He cannot cut it in a midfield in these sorts of games. His lack of mobility also effects Kante and makes him play poorly.

As I expected and predicted several times here, a midfield of Kante and Cesc in a 2 is absolutely disastrous against great sides. They passed rings around them and Cesc has zero recovery speed if the ball is passed beyond him. We desperately need Bakayoko fit or we're fucked against anyone in the top 6 or so in the PL or anyone good in Europe. This match is also the perfect advertisement for Conte to show the board on why we really need upgrades at both wing back positions. Agains, they're good enough for most of the domestic sides, but will get exposed badly against great teams. We NEED to splash the cash even more because there's still a gulf in class between us and the very best.

I was confident earlier in the summer that we could get him but the longer it goes the less likely it is. They won't be able to buy a replacement of similar quality in time. Not only that, but even if they did identify a replacement they'd be held to ransom due to the enormous sum they'd have just received. Just think this is impossible now.

I think he'll kill it there. I predict he'll eventually knock Bale out of the side who will then be sold to Man United for about £100m next summer.

Really hope he's fit and integrated in the side before we play Spuds.

He's been decent most of the time I've seen him but nothing special or stand out.

He'll have plenty of time to stake his claim since who knows how long it'll be until Bakayoko is fit.

The exact opposite sort of profile we should be after. He's 30, will only decline from here, and isn't even as good as what we already have.

Terminate his contract. No chance here anyways.

Sounds like he's happy with what we've brought in so far but isn't close to satisfied yet overall. I hope we're in for at least 3 more players of high quality. Conte knows he won't be able to use the same players week in and week out for a entire season in multiple competitions. He's putting a load of pressure on the board by saying this publicly and I'm sure he wouldn't have signed that new contract if they didn't agree with his vision. We need signings at both wing back positions, a CM if Matic goes, and some sort of attacking player that can play in multiple positions across the front 3.

I really, REALLY hope Conte has a say in all of our transfers now. Because on the surface this seems like yet another board signing that the manager has no clue about. Djilobodji, Miazga, Kenedy. Players Mourinho had never even heard of before we signed them. Hope this isn't that again.

Arsenal fans saying "it's only their first preseason game, they're wayyy fresher than us!" Yeah, it's your 3rd preseason game so you should be much sharper and further ahead than us. Idiots!

Michy, Willian, and Moses in particular were excellent that half. Kante looks sharp as well. We look significantly sharper than Arsenal and they're deeper in preseason than we are. Also, did anyone even know Lacazette was on the pitch? Don't think he had a touch in the final third.

So that's the 2 best LB options out of the equation now. Surely we have to be signing someone to compete with Alonso and provide depth. We have a couple of players who can play on the right side in case Moses is out. No one for the left.

Likely the team we'll see for the first part of the season until Hazard and Bakayoko are fit. With Morata for Bats, obviously.

I don't think we'd spend £50m or more on him. City will pay whatever it takes because they simply don't care.

Don't like it one bit but £50m would be daylight robbery.

Wenger would probably let you bang his wife before he'd sell Chelsea a player. Would be a great signing, though.

So still no update on his situation? I see him in what I assume is the rehab center at Cobham with Hazard in those pics with Morata.

Here to post on the 1st page so that I can hopefully look back in 5 years time after he's scored 100 goals and remember this day.

No squad number confirmed?

Highly doubt we're still in the market for a CB. Especially not one that'll cost £50m or more. Think he only wants Liverpool anyway for some strange reason.

Unlike Mata, Matic isn't a vanity board signing. Mourinho is clearly desperate for him which tells me that he sees him as key. We need a minimum of 4 midfielders for this season.