Overview

Despite a lot of huffing and puffing, Chelsea could not find a way beyond Tottenham’s bus resolute defence. This was by no means a bad performance, nor was it a negative one similar to the Manchester United game. Chelsea defended well, got into some nice positions but could not find the final pass to make the difference.

Spurs started the game well and created some promising transition opportunities, especially in the zone between N’Golo Kanté and Reece James. It is to Chelsea’s credit that nothing came of those opportunities and eventually the threat of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min faded away.

Chelsea then created a few half-chances, mainly through the crosses of Reece James, but Spurs packed their box with bodies and made it very difficult to find space. Tammy Abraham moved well in the box to get on the end of those chances and could have perhaps done better with his finishing, but they were by no means easy chances.

Olivier Giroud still had one last chance to win the game after an error from Joe Rodon but could not capitalize on it. Just like with Tammy’s chances, this was harder than it looked. We would of course want every chance to be converted in games as tense as these, but at the end of the day, the chances were nowhere near easy.

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Match statistics

Statistics from fbref and understat.

Note: xG statistics from fbref seem to be a bit inaccurate for this game and it would not be a surprise to see them corrected retroactively. For instance, there is no chance Aurier’s shot (saved by Mendy) had a post-shot xG of 0.0 as indicated here.

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Individual ratings

Frank Lampard

Had a fairly straightforward selection to make and did not tinker too much. His in-game changes were mostly on point too. Sure, he could have brought on Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz sooner, but they both looked off-the-pace as one would expect from players who were recently injured.

The team was set up very well to neuter the threat of Spurs too. It was a well-balanced performance that on another day would have produced a win. In terms of how the team was set-up and modified in game, there is not much Lampard can be blamed for.

RATING: 7

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Édouard Mendy

His save off Aurier was harder than it looked and he did very well to parry it into a safe area. Made a crucial intervention late in the game to deflect a cross beyond the reach of onrushing Spurs attackers.

RATING: 7

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Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

Reece James

Was the team’s primary creative threat and did excellently from the right flank despite Ziyech’s night to forget. His ability to whip accurate crosses from seemingly difficult positions deserves a lot of praise. Was diligent in keeping track of Reguilon and Bergwijn too.

Stats of note
3 passes into penalty area - 1st among Chelsea players
3 key passes - Joint 1st
4 aerial duels won (5 contested) - 2nd
16 pressures - 2nd
2 tackles - Joint 3rd
3 shot-creating actions - Joint 3rd

RATING: 7.5

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Kurt Zouma

Made a big error late in the game and was almost made to pay for it. Besides that isolated incident, he was largely solid and did well to prevent danger before it evolved into something serious.

Stats of note
13 passes into final third - 1st
4 clearances - 1st
13 loose-ball recoveries - 2nd

RATING: 6.5

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Thiago Silva

Was not called into action often defensively but like Zouma, he did well when necessary. His ball progression was not as good as it usually is, although it was not necessarily bad.

RATING: 6.5

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Photo by Matthew Childs - Pool/Getty Images

Ben Chilwell

Was tasked with keeping Son quiet and his athleticism was a major reason behind his success. His ball progression was terrific too. After a few tired displays, Chilwell elevated his performance for a big game. It is now time to give him some rest.

Stats of note
12 progressive passes - 1st
3 clearances - 2nd
2 shots - Joint 2nd
3 touches in the penalty box - 3rd
3 aerial duels won (6 contested) - 3rd
11 loose-ball recoveries - 3rd
2 tackles - Joint 3rd

RATING: 7

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N’Golo Kanté

Had a rough start to the game, mainly due to Ndombele’s excellent dribbling ability. However, after the initial 20 or so minutes, Kanté exploded into life and ran proceedings from there on. He was tasked with managing both Ndombele and Kane and did a thoroughly good job of it. Kane had 0 shots, just 4 touches in box and 2 weak key-passes. Kanté was a big reason why.

Stats of note
14 loose-ball recoveries - 1st
3 key passes - Joint 1st
17 pressures - Joint 1st
3 tackles - 2nd
4 shot-creating actions - 2nd
10 passes into final third - Joint 2nd
7 progressive passes - Joint 3rd

RATING: 7.5

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Photo by Justin Tallis - Pool/Getty Images

Mason Mount

Should have had a goal from a rasping shot late in the game but was denied by a terrific save. Otherwise, he was his usual self — excellent at progressing the ball and taking part in final third play; diligent defeznsively.

Stats of note
3 completed dribbles (3 attempted) - 1st
17 pressures - Joint 1st
9 progressive passes - 2nd
2 shots - Joint 2nd
3 shot-creating actions - Joint 3rd

RATING: 7.5

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Mateo Kovačić

Was of great help to Kanté in stymieing Kane on and off the ball. His ability to use his dribbling skills to get out of pressure was particularly useful too. Could have done better in the final third, that is his main role in this system after all, but it was a very good performance regardless.

Stats of note
4 tackles - 1st
3 interceptions - 1st
1 blocked shot - 1st
2 successful dribbles (3 attempted) - 2nd
10 passes into final third - Joint 2nd
7 progressive passes - Joint 3rd

RATING: 7.5

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Hakim Ziyech

Had a night to forget. With Werner double-teamed on the left flank, Ziyech had the perfect stage to find space and wreck havoc. However, he did not try enough incisive passes. Whatever risks he took did not pay off and he had a largely anonymous display.

Stats of note
5 shot-creating actions - 1st
2 key passes - 2nd
2 passes into penalty area - 2nd
2 shots - Joint 2nd

RATING: 5

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Photo by Justin Tallis/PA Images via Getty Images

Tammy Abraham

He was good at overall play — winning plenty of duels in the air and on the ground, retaining the ball in the final third and moving well off-the-ball to get on the end of chances.

The chances he received were not easy by any means, with fbref the only xG system (among the five systems checked) rating those chances as reasonably easy. Could he have done better at finishing? Yes. Did he a bad game overall? No. Should he be dropped indefinitely after this performance? No. The hysteria around him is unwarranted.

Stats of note
6 aerial duels won (out of 8) - 1st
8 touches in the penalty box - 1st
4 shots - 1st

RATING: 6

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Timo Werner

Another below-par display, his third in a week. It is not entirely his fault, with tiredness a major reason why he has looked so poor. He needs a break as soon as possible so that he can recharge his batteries and come back stronger.

Stats of note
4 touches in the penalty box - 2nd

RATING: 5

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Substitutes

Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Christian Pulisic (74^th minute) - Looked very rusty and did not do enough to impact the game.

Olivier Giroud (79^th minute) – Could have won the game with a late goal but the chance was difficult.

Kai Havertz (83^rd minute) - Nothing of note.