Two things would make Chelsea “much better” says Sky pundit – they need to copy Arsenal | OneFootball

Sky Sports took an interesting look at Chelsea’s progress under the new ownership today ahead of the game against Liverpool.

Chelsea’s policy hurting their long term success

“The insistence of not signing players above 26 or 27 – I struggle to think of many teams in recent football history who haven’t had one or two players over the age of 29, 30,” Dougie Critchley pointed out.

“Look at PSG last with Marquinhos or Barcelona with Lewandowski. Like Real Madrid with Modric and Kroos and Sergio Ramos before that. It’s such a unique strategy to basically go ‘we’re all learning on the job.’ Levi Colwill is now seen as one of the leaders in this side. [Missing him] is now seen as a massive defensive issue, which I do agree with.

“He’s probably Chelsea’s outstanding centre back. But he’s still relatively young as well. I don’t know how you don’t look at this squad and think ‘they would be so much better with an experienced goalkeeper and one experience centre half’, even if it’s Marc Guehi.”

You can see them making this point in the clip embedded here:

Arsenal strike a better balance

Noni Madueke completes Arsenal move.

There was also a comparison to the way Arsenal have done things – working to get a younger group but then sticking with the players who come in and letting them mature:

“I don’t mind the policy in and of itself – but you’ve got to let that squad grow together,” the other pundit said.

“You compare it to Arsenal – they’ve kind of had that policy, they’ve brought that squad age down massively under Arteta. But then they let that squad grow together. Wheras at Chelsea, if you’re not firing after 12 months there’s a possibility you’ll get sold next summer.”

Or even worse if you do do well, Chelsea will consider selling you too. Just look at Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson, who we bought, improved and have now moved on.