Chelsea drew 1-1 with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, and Pedro Neto scored his first Premier League goal. However, the Portuguese international seems to have given Enzo Maresca a serious problem in the process. With some clever movement, Neto found space inside the final third ten minutes after Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal. He then sent a left-footed strike past David Raya to record his first league goal since February.
After Noni Madueke was replaced by Mykahilo Mudryk, who caused the former Wolves player to transfer wings, Neto scored seconds after being shifted onto the right flank. Enzo Maresca is going to have a lot of trouble choosing just that. Would the Italian prefer that Neto score goals more frequently, or is he content with his inventive left-wing contribution?
Pedro Neto underlines Enzo Maresca’s biggest task
Before Enzo Maresca substituted Mykhailo Mudryk for Noni Madueke and altered the order, Neto had been ineffectual on the other side. The onus was placed on Neto because their star player was not playing at his best after being hurt by Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United a week earlier.
The fact that Maresca is still determining his best starting lineup and the structure of a lavishly skilled team was also brought to light by this. Talented forwards will be upset no matter who plays, as demonstrated by Joao Felix’s irate act of flinging a bandage to the ground upon realizing that Christopher Nkunku would instead receive a late cameo. Palmer is the only player who should be guaranteed a spot in Maresca’s starting front four.
