1. CESAR AZPILICUETA (6.5)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 80
Passes: 38/48
Shots: 1*/1
Take-ons: 1/4
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 2+2+4
Clearances: 3
Aerial duels won: 7

Better late than never, here are the community player ratings from Tuesday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal. I had actually forgotten about these amid my efforts to immediately repress the result, and when I remembered, the last thing I wanted to deal with was further undue bashing of a certain goalkeeper who could do nothing on the two goals he conceded, but then I remembered that there were a few good things during those 90 minutes, too, and maybe those shouldn’t be forgotten, so let’s try to highlight them.

Chief among the good things was Cesar Azpilicueta, who had to play right back this time due to Reece James’ injury. We all know by now that right back is, at best, Azpi’s third best position (center back in a three, left back, right back, in that order), but the true highlight was his late goal, which looked to be the winner and should’ve been the winner. It was his 4th goal of the season, a career high, and that’s not including the 2 goals that he’s had harshly chalked off by VAR (a probable winner against Ajax and a game-tying goal against Liverpool). The man doesn’t score inconsequential goals. For a team lacking direct contributions from defenders on the scoreboard these days (Tomori is the only center back to have scored all season), Azpi’s come up big repeatedly, celebrating each of them with the passion fit for a club captain indeed.

2. CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI (6.1)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 77
Passes: 40*/46
Shots: 1/1
Take-ons: 2/6
Tackles: 3

The other good thing was Callum Hudson-Odoi’s contribution, especially in the first half, when he looked to be the only Chelsea player who posed any consistent danger to the opposition. He eventually set up Azpi’s winning goal, too. Hopefully, the more he plays, the more he continues to move beyond his big injury and towards his ridiculously bright future.

3. JORGINHO (5.8)

Minutes: 90
Touches: 87
Passes: 60/68
Shots: 1*/2
Take-ons: 1/1
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 6+4+1
Clearances: 2

If the team played like Jorginho took penalties, we’d never lose.

vs. ARSENAL (PL, H, D 2-2)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): —

GOOD (7.0-7.9): —

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Azpilicueta (6.5), Hudson-Odoi (6.1)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Jorginho (5.8), Kovacic (5.4), Christensen (5.4), Abraham (5.0), Rudiger (5.0), Willian (5.0)

BAD (4.0-4.9): Barkley (4.8, sub), Kante (4.6), Emerson (4.3), Mount (4.3, sub)

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): Arrizabalaga (3.3), Batshuayi (3.0, sub)

OVERALL

(update pending)