Joe Cole identifies Chelsea weakness that Arsenal could expose | Football

Joe Cole says he hopes Chelsea have ‘addressed’ their frailties at defending dead-ball situations ahead of their clash with ‘set-piece kings’ Arsenal this weekend.

After a run of 5 straight wins in all competitions, Chelsea have stuttered of their fight for a top-five place, dropping points in each of their last two Premier League matches against teams battling for survival.

Rosenior’s men seemed to be cruising at home to Leeds as goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer gave them a healthy cushion on the halfway stage at Stamford Bridge.

However the visitors fought back and salvaged a draw as Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor struck in a frantic second-half period to place a dent in Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

And there was a sense of deja vu last weekend as Joao Pedro once more put the Blues in front with an early goal, just for Zian Flemming to move home a late James Ward-Prowse corner following Wesley Fofana’s sending off.

It means the west London giants find themselves languishing down in sixth place ahead of today’s high-stakes derby, three points behind each Manchester United and Liverpool within the table.

However the Club World Cup holders know they’ll get their season back on target – while damaging Arsenal’s title ambitions in the method – with a resurgent performance on the Emirates this afternoon.

After the slip-up against Burnley, Rosenior received his justifiable share of criticism for sending on 4 defenders within the closing stages, relatively than trying to increase the deficit.

Nonetheless, on Rosenior’s tactics, ex-Chelsea winger Cole told Paddy Power: ‘I can understand why Liam would bring on defenders, they’d already had [Wesley] Fofana sent off.

‘Ultimately, as a manager should you win the sport you’re right, should you don’t you’re flawed.

‘The goal was a little bit of quality from Burnley but I feel Liam will admit, and the players will admit, the performance was wanting what was vital for where Chelsea wish to go.

The last ten minutes and the way they conceded was almost by-the-by because you must give you the option to place Burnley away at home.

‘They didn’t defend the set-pieces well for many of the game and that’s something that may should be addressed [before Arsenal].

‘Whenever you’re making that many subs, the organisation needs to be spot-on. The lads coming on need to be ready.’

In keeping with Cole, the players need to take a specific amount of ‘responsibility’ for what went flawed after twice throwing away leads of their last two contests.

‘It’s not only the set-piece coach or the coaching usually, the players need to take responsibility as well because with that many changes, you might have to sort it out yourselves on the pitch,’ he added.

‘You possibly can’t just stop and look over to the bench.

‘It’s about maturity and responsibility and that’s what cost Chelsea the sport against Burnley.’

Cole says Chelsea can sick afford to place development ahead of winning matches in the event that they are serious about lifting major silverware under Rosenior within the near future.

‘In relation to clubs like Chelsea, that are going for the massive honours, you possibly can’t be pondering of blocking progress, because meaning you’re putting development above wins,’ the previous England international added.

‘Without being disrespectful to groups like Bournemouth and Brighton – who develop players and sell players – Chelsea are the team that buys players from these clubs.

‘Chelsea are going to go and take a look at to win trophies.’

It has proven an immensely tough debut season for Liam Delap at Chelsea, with the striker managing only one solitary goal within the Premier League following his £30million arrival from Ipswich.

But Cole is confident that Delap ‘will only improve over time’ if he continues putting within the hard yards together with his ‘incredible attitude’ each on and off the pitch.

‘Liam just has to maintain improving,’ the three-time Premier League winner explained.

‘He’s a great player that to start with must outperform anyone else that would play within the number nine, like Joao Pedro. Then you definitely can start comparing him to the opposite number nines across the league: Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, [Hugo] Ekitike and [Alexander] Isak.

‘You possibly can’t even take into consideration comparing him to Erling Haaland in the mean time, nevertheless it’s step-by-step.

‘Whenever you sign for a club like Chelsea, being “developed” has gone out the window. You’ve got to deliver and step up.

‘I do think he can improve and he’s got a incredible attitude, in order that tells me he’ll only improve over time.’

Off the pitch, there was mounting speculation surrounding the long run of star man Cole Palmer, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United – the team he has supported since childhood.

‘It wouldn’t be a wise move from a football standpoint,’ Cole said, addressing the recent rumours.

‘Perhaps it’s a wise move from a business standpoint.

‘I suppose business all the time has to take precedence over football, because obviously should you don’t have a business, you don’t have a football club.

‘We’ve seen teams go into administration recently so I’m attempting to think logically, you might have to marry the 2.

‘I can’t in any world view think that selling Cole Palmer sends out the best message. Unless the lad is pushing for a move, which I don’t think he’s, you might have to maintain him.’

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