Bold Chelsea Premier League prediction made despite fierce criticism of Xabi Alonso's men

Chelsea suffered their archetypal decision nether the absorption of Xabi Alonso pursuing a tightly contested London derby against Arsenal astatine the Emirates Stadium.

The Blues initially took a accelerated pb done Morgan Rogers but were yet undone by goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, losing 2-1 to the Gunners.

The frustrating effect leaves the West London outfit reflecting connected a antiaircraft grounds that has seen them concede 7 goals successful their opening 3 Premier League fixtures.

Pundits and supporters alike are present heavy scrutinising the tactical setup arsenic the caller Spanish caput manager attempts to instrumentality his demanding philosophy.

Neville criticises "all implicit the place" Chelsea defence

Speaking connected his podcast, Gary Neville delivered a scathing appraisal of the antiaircraft operation deployed by Alonso during the Super Sunday clash.

The erstwhile defender claimed that the backmost 3 looked wholly disjointed and lacked the cardinal organisation required astatine the highest level.

"The backmost three, erstwhile I ticker them, it's astir similar their legs aren't connected to their hips and the hips aren't connected to their bodies," asserted Neville via Sky Sports News. "It's astir similar they're a spot each implicit the place.

"I look astatine the benignant of champion backmost 3 astir apt that I ever saw which was the Juventus and Italy backmost 3 with Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonnuci and Giorgio Chiellini - 3 existent giants.

"They worked unneurotic arsenic a three, they knew however to presumption themselves, they were large successful the air, they knew however to propulsion up and erstwhile to driblet deeper. They organised the radical successful beforehand of them.

Consequently, the pundit suggested that the nine whitethorn request to research caller antiaircraft signings implicit the adjacent twelvemonth to supply their manager with a overmuch much coagulated foundation.

Can Chelsea unafraid a top-three finish?

Despite highlighting their antiaircraft frailties, Neville remains remarkably optimistic regarding the wide trajectory of the nine nether Alonso.

The erstwhile right-back enthusiastically praised the attacking menace posed by wing-backs Pedro Neto and Jorrel Hato portion predicting that the squad volition decorativeness nary little than 3rd this season.

"I deliberation they tin decorativeness 2nd - 3rd is the implicit lowest I tin spot Chelsea finishing," said Neville.

"So that's truly good. If you said that to maine a twelvemonth ago, I couldn't spot wherever this task was going.

"I'm arsenic affirmative arsenic I person been for 3 4 5 years astir Chelsea due to the fact that I deliberation they're going successful the close direction. It's not perfect, they were ever going to beryllium [against Arsenal]. I wouldn't person expected them to triumph - but that was arsenic bully arsenic I felt they could person done successful the game."

Alonso openly acknowledged his disappointment with the effect but stressed that processing a balanced and objective broadside volition people instrumentality time.