LONDON — Xabi Alonso said Chelsea must resolve their defensive frailties after a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal took their goals conceded tally to seven in just three games this season.
Goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard sent Chelsea to their first defeat of the campaign after Morgan Rogers had put the Blues ahead after just 78 seconds.
But after conceding twice against Fulham and three times against Brighton last week — albeit before winning both games — Chelsea’s defensive issues resurfaced at the Emirates and Alonso admitted that his team will not succeed if they fail to tighten up at the back.
“My priority is to win games and for that normally it is easier when you don’t concede,” Alonso told reporters. “So for sure, it is something we must address. We must be tighter, more clinical, more balanced. But this takes time as well.
“We’re not happy. It hurts, we are disappointed for sure, but it’s the first defeat, we have a long way to go and it doesn’t have a big impact on our mood. It needs to hurt, but hurt in a positive way. It’s game three, so there are lots of games to play. I want to compete and to win.
“This is where we are, game three of a new phase, but I am happy with the players. They tried and fought really hard.”
Chelsea were without midfielder Moisés Caicedo after the Ecuador international failed to recover from an unspecified injury sustained in last Sunday’s 4-3 win against Brighton.
– Ødegaard, Havertz strikes give Arsenal statement derby win over Chelsea
– Arsenal vs. Chelsea Premier League reaction as Arsenal maintain perfect start
And while Alonso said that Caicedo was not a long-term concern, he admitted that the player was rushed back into action too soon last week having missed a significant part of preseason training.
“He [Caicedo] is not longer term, but it was about assessing the risk,” Alonso added.
“We probably took him too early last week and I don’t want to make the mistake again. To have all the players available for all games is impossible, but we need them because we are a better team with them.”
