Eden Hazard joins 50-goal club for Chelsea faster than Zola or Lampard

Eden Hazard was deployed technically as a center forward against AFC Bournemouth, though he largely ended up playing as his usual non-center forward self. With Chelsea winning 3-0 and Hazard doing the usual Hazard things including getting on the scoresheet, there can’t be too many complaints (of the non-Michy kind).

Now in his fifth season at Chelsea, Eden has really stepped up his goalscoring efforts. He’s averaging almost a goal every two games (9 in 20), easily ahead of his 2014-15 pace (19 in 52). His 9 league goals (and only 2 penalties at that) already equal his total from his first season. Monday’s goal was in fact his 50th Premier League goal for the club. He’s the sixth player in Chelsea history to reach that mark (keeping in mind that the Premier League has only been in existence since 1992).

Not bad company. What’s even more impressive is that Hazard has gotten to this mark faster than either Gianfranco Zola or Frank Lampard.

With Chelsea breaking all sorts of team records — 12 league games won in a row is a new record; 9 wins in all competitions matches the team record — and the likes of Eden Hazard in supreme form and playing with great confidence, just how long can this winning streak go on?