The issues around poor defensive technique continued to haunt Chelsea in this F A cup London-derby final.   After a promising start and utilising a carefully managed pressing technique they took a well-deserved lead courtesy of an audacious piece of skill from Pulisic.

Chelsea like to play a high line and such a tactic requires applying pressure to the ball-carrier and, if this is not possible, the backline need to be on red alert.   Unfortunately, Azpilicueta was not and his lack of pace was exposed by the long ball played by Kieran Tierney into the path of Aubameyang.   Arsenal’s talisman was able to keep Azpilicueta on his back and was duly brought down in the box to concede a penalty.   1-1.

I posted a detailed analysis of the goals Chelsea conceded in the thrashing they received from Manchester United on the opening day of the season.   It would seem the same mistakes are still being made.

The second and winning goal completed a brace for Aubameyang who found himself with an easy one-on-one with Zouma inside the box which he finished in style.   Jacob Steinberg writing in the Observer makes reference to a lack of tactical organisation where defenders end up making bad decisions.   Lampard has rotated between a back four and a back three.   Yet the weaknesses have not gone away he’s noted.

A long-term solution that might be of interest to Frank is to be found in an upcoming Ted Talk that I am giving entitled “Football’s Neglected Defence” which will feature on Youtube and the full manuscript will be published here.