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Chelsea weathered a late storm to down Brentford 1-0 at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday to return to the top of the 2021-22 Premier League table. Ben Chilwell scored the only goal of the match as the Blues hung on to a win amidst intense pressure from their hosts.
It was another night of missed chances for the reigning European champions, with Romelu Lukaku particularly wasteful in front of goal. With the Bees putting up a strong fight, it took 45 minutes for the visitors to get in front when Chilwell lashed home a stunning volley.
That seemed to spur Thomas Frank's side on, who were the better team in the second half. They created numerous chances, pushing the Blues on the back foot with their high press.
However, Edouard Mendy made some excellent saves to keep them at arm's length, despite Bryan Mbeumo hitting the post twice. Brentford kept Chelsea on tenterhooks in the final quarter, but eventually, their efforts counted for nothing.
On that note, here are the five talking points from the match:
#5 Ben Chilwell makes it three in three for club and country
Ben Chilwell is experiencing the best goalscoring run of his career. He scored the only goal for Chelsea on Saturday, his third strike in as many games for club and country.
And it was quite a goal, too, an unstoppable volley thumped into the far post on the stroke of half-time. Much to his delight, that was enough for Chelsea to claim all three points on the night.
Chilwell was also on target against Southampton before heading into the break, where he scored for England in their 5-0 drubbing of Andorra. Now the ex-Leicester City defender has scored another one.
With Marcos Alonso witnessing a renaissance, Chilwell's position in the starting XI came under threat. But since his return to the fold, Chilwell has been mighty impressive.
His ruthless streak in front of the net is further evidence of the attacking threat he brings to Chelsea.
#4 Bryan Mbeumo's wretched luck with woodwork continues against Chelsea
Bryan Mbeumo must be the unluckiest player in the Premier League right now. He has hit the woodwork not once, but six times this season already. That includes two shots against the post against Chelsea on Saturday as the Frenchman's wretched luck in front of goal continued.
He rattled the post in the first half after latching onto a knockdown by Christian Norgaard. Mbeumo. Mbuemo endured the same misery late on when he struck the right post after finding space to make a shot at the Chelsea goal.
The 22-year-old has struck only twice in the league, but has been denied by the woodwork six times.
#3 Lukaku's goal drought is becoming a concern
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.
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.
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.
However, scoring goals is his main job, and he has been struggling at it for a while now, something that should worry Chelsea.
#2 Brentford are entertaining to watch
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.
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
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.
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.
