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  • Brentford 0-1 Chelsea: 5 talking points Ben Chilwell strike takes Blues top of the table | Premier League 2021-22
Chelsea soaked up a barrage of Brentford attacks.

Brentford 0-1 Chelsea: 5 talking points Ben Chilwell strike takes Blues top of the table | Premier League 2021-22

#3 Lukaku's goal drought is becoming a concern

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Lukaku has now failed to score in six consecutive games for Chelsea in all competitions.
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If it wasn't already the case, Romelu Lukaku's barren run in front of goal for Chelsea is becoming a concern. He has now failed to score in six consecutive appearances for the Blues after netting thrice in his first four games.

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He was on the receiving end of numerous chances against Brentford, but the former Inter Milan hitman couldn't convert any of them. In one instance that he did, his effort was rightly ruled out for offside.

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Romelu Lukaku has gone six games without scoring for Chelsea ❌❌❌❌❌❌
11:49 AM · Oct 16, 2021
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Make no mistake, the Belgian didn't have a poor game by any stretch of imagination. He played a big role defensively, making some key clearances while also linking up excellently with Werner.

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However, scoring goals is his main job, and he has been struggling at it for a while now, something that should worry Chelsea.

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#2 Brentford are entertaining to watch

Brentford are so good it's impossible to believe it's only their first Premier League campaign.
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Since their stunning opening day defeat of Arsenal, the Bees have been entertaining to watch. That perception was only reinforced on Sunday, as Brentford produced another eye-catching performance.

Despite the loss, the promoted side were nowhere near poor, testing Chelsea all night with their attacking intent. In fact, they mustered 17 shots on goal, more than thrice that of the Blues (5), seven of which were on target. The visitors, by contrast, had only one.

Bryan Mbeumo, Saman Ghoddos, Ivan Toney, Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen all came agonisingly close to scoring. Mbeumo, as mentioned earlier, hit the post twice.

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The Bees fought with incredible valour, and played with much speed and energy to rattle Chelsea. They just don't fear the stature of their opposition, just as they did against Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolves and West Ham.

It's rare for a side in their first-ever top-flight season to play with such vim and vigour in the Premier League. It's the league that is much better for it.


#1 Edouard Mendy is Chelsea's real MVP

Sky's the limit for Chelsea goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy.
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Kudos to Ben Chilwell for a fabulous strike. Lukaku and Werner also deserve plaudits for keeping the Brentford defence busy with their attacking intent. But the real MVP of Chelsea's victory was none other than Edouard Mendy.

The Senegalese produced a couple of big saves in the second half which protected Chelsea's lead, and prevented the Bees from getting back into the match. He made key interceptions to deny Ivan Toney and Saman Ghoddos, while Mathias Jensen and Christian Nørgaard were left frustrated by Mendy.

20 - Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy kept his 20th Premier League clean sheet in this game (38th start) – only Petr Cech (26), Pepe Reina (32), Alisson (36) and Roy Carroll (37) have needed fewer starts to reach 20 shut outs in the competition’s history. Saviour.
12:03 PM · Oct 17, 2021
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Mendy denied Jensen from point-blank range, using his face to stop the Swede. He then made a finger-tip save on Norgaard's spectacular bicycle kick in the 93rd minute.

Blessed with incredible reflexes and awareness, the 29-year-old shot-stopper mustered his A-game to keep out Brentford, securing all three points for his side.

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Edited by
Bhargav
 
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