Wayne Rooney says Reece James ‘struggled all game’ against Arsenal and man-marking Declan Rice proved a ‘job too big’ for the Chelsea captain.
Mikel Merino’s towering first-half header proved the difference in Sunday’s turgid London derby, with Chelsea offering little or no by means of reply on the Emirates.
The Blues had seemingly turned a corner having won 4 games on the trot prior to the 1-0 defeat and the result meant Enzo Maresca’s men missed the possibility to increase their lead over fifth-placed Manchester City.
The Gunners, meanwhile, ended a three-game winless streak in the highest flight with the victory and reduced Liverpool advantage at the highest of the Premier League table to 12 points in the method.
Maresca opted to play Enzo Fernandez in a more advanced position after Cole Palmer was ruled out through injury, with Reece starting within the engine room alongside Moises Caicedo, tasked with containing England colleague Rice.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal on a regular basis
Get up to seek out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Enroll to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we will get football news tailored to you.
But it surely proved a difficult afternoon for the makeshift Chelsea midfielder, who spent much of the competition being dragged across the pitch, chasing shadows.
Highlighting James’ struggles on Match of the Day, legendary ex-Manchester United forward Rooney said: ‘I just felt that Reece James had a job to do today and he was man-marking Declan Rice which, getting back from injury, could be very difficult to do.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an online
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘I felt he struggled all game. He’s attempting to play the role the manager has given him but I feel he struggled with it.
‘If we’ve got a have a look at it here [screenshot below] and also you have a look at Reece James and Declan Rice, so Reece is staying near him.
‘He ought to be where I’ve moved him back to here [on the edge of the centre circle].
‘But if you happen to have a look at it here now, because it plays on, Reece James is at all times pondering of Declan Rice, no other thought in his head.
‘He’s not even taking a look at the ball [screenshot above], he vacates the center of the pitch and now Declan Rice could be very clever along with his movement, you’ll be able to see that he’s telling Thomas Partey to come back into the space where Reece James ought to be.
‘Thomas Partey comes into the space [screenshot below], receives the ball with nobody there but this was a theme all game. Nothing comes of this one here but, again, Reece James is just following Declan Rice around in every single place.’
Rooney pointed to a different moment in a while in the competition when James left Partey in acres of space after being lured out wide by Rice on the left flank.
‘In case you watch again here [screenshot below], Declan Rice is now pulling Reece James out wide. Thomas Partey again coming into the space which Reece James leaves,’ the ex-England striker added.
‘Now, you find yourself with Chelsea players getting moved everywhere in the pitch.
‘Thomas Partey gets the ball, turns, gets on the Chelsea backline. On one other day it’s an actual big opportunity for Arsenal.’
At one other point within the match, James sprinted 34 yards across the pitch to get near Rice, exposing Chelsea to an attack from Arsenal, which ultimately got here to nothing.
‘This one [screenshots below] was really interesting. In case you have a look at Declan Rice and also you have a look at Reece James and Jadon Sancho,’ Rooney explained.
‘Reece James, all he has to do is communicate with Sancho and Sancho can take Declan Rice.
‘But he doesn’t do this and Reece James follows him again, 34 yards he’s ran simply to try to stay near Declan Rice.
‘[Myles] Lewis-Skelly sees that, he comes into the space and Jadon Sancho has to do more work to get back into the space so Chelsea are rotated out of possession which is rarely good.
‘Declan Rice has dragged Reece James out wide but, again here, if you happen to watch Declan Rice… Reece James has done all that work to get near him but then switches off.
‘Declan Rice makes run forward which he has been doing so much over the previous couple of weeks. He gets in a dangerous position, gets turned, pulls the ball back and it’s one other good opportunity for Arsenal.
‘I just felt it was a job too big for Reece James.’
Despite Chelsea’s latest setback, Rooney is confident there have been enough signs from Maresca’s side to suggest they will return to towards the highest of the Premier League over the approaching seasons.
‘They’ve signed plenty of players and it’s still a really young team,’ he went on.
‘I feel there’s been some really good signs from Chelsea this season, there has just been that lack of experience as a gaggle. That’s probably catching up with them a bit.
‘I do think over the subsequent couple of years, we’re going to see Chelsea elevating themselves again to get towards the highest of the league.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Michail Antonio ‘didn’t feel protected’ in his Ferrari before ‘almost dying’ in horror automobile crash
MORE: What Jurrien Timber said to Enzo Maresca as pair clashed during Arsenal’s win over Chelsea
MORE: England star able to snub Chelsea and Tottenham to hitch Liverpool
