Wayne Rooney says Chelsea star ‘struggled all game’ in defeat to Arsenal
Wayne Rooney says Reece James ‘struggle all game’ against Arsenal and man-marking Declan Rice prove a ‘job too big’ for the Chelsea captain.
Mikel Merino’s towering first-half header เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา prove the difference in Sunday’s turgid London derby, with Chelsea offering very little by way of reply at the Emirates.
The Blues had seemingly turne a corner having won four games on the trot prior to the 1-0 defeat and the result meant Enzo Maresca’s men misse the chance to extend their lead over fifth-place Manchester City.
The Gunners, meanwhile, ende a three-game winless streak in the top flight with the victory and reduce Liverpool advantage at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points in the process.
Maresca opte to play Enzo Fernandez in a more advance position after Cole Palmer was rule out through injury, with Reece starting in the engine room alongside Moises Caicedo, taske with containing England colleague Rice.
But it prove a difficult afternoon for the makeshift Chelsea midfielder, who spent much of the contest being dragge around the pitch, chasing shadows.
Highlighting James’ struggles on Match of the Day 2, 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, coming back from injury, is very difficult to do.
‘I felt he struggle all game. He’s trying to play the role the manager has given him but I think he struggle with it.
‘If we have a look at it here [screenshot below] and you look at Reece James and Declan Rice, so Reece is staying close to him.
‘He should be where I’ve move him back to here [on the edge of the centre circle].
‘But if you look at it here now, as it plays on, Reece James is always thinking of Declan Rice, no other thought in his head.
‘He’s not even looking at the ball [screenshot above], he vacates the middle of the pitch and now Declan Rice is very clever with his movement, you can see that he’s telling Thomas Partey to come into the space where Reece James should be.
‘Thomas Partey comes into the space [screenshot below], receives the ball with no one there but this was a theme all game. Nothing comes of this one here but, again, Reece James is just following Declan Rice around everywhere.’
Rooney pointe to another moment later on in the contest when James left Partey in acres of space after being lured out wide by Rice on the left flank.
‘If 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 adde.
‘Now, you end up with Chelsea players getting move all over the pitch.
‘Thomas Partey gets the ball, turns, gets at the Chelsea backline. On another day it’s a real big opportunity for Arsenal.’