Editorial

Alex Dimond's Chelsea Special: Michael Essien Leads The Way As Gael Kakuta Delivers Quality Cameo

The win was expected, but still Carlo Ancelotti will savour many highlights...

Nov 21, 2009 5:15:31 PM

EPL: Michael Essien, Chelsea - Wolverhampton (Getty Images)

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EPL: Michael Essien, Chelsea - Wolverhampton (Getty Images)

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Chelsea

Before kick-off, this was billed as a clash between one of the league's prizefighters and one of its punch-bags. And that is what proved to be the case, as Florent Malouda and Michael Essien combined to provide a potent one-two that helped Chelsea knock out the woefully under-sized Wolverhampton Wanderers inside the first two rounds.

From that point on, the final scoreline was free for the home side to choose. With a few exceptions at the back, this was as easy a league game as Carlo Ancelotti's men will ever hope to face.

What, then, can really be made of a match that followed the script so precisely?

In terms of their title prospects, perhaps little.

But when Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn't believe he needs to add players in January, perhaps you had better believe him.

The Blues made six changes today from the side that edged past Manchester United two weeks ago, and yet the many squad players on display only served to provide the Italian with some welcome selection headaches.

Malouda, recently consigned to the bench despite some sparkling early season displays, slotted back seamlessly to the left of the diamond.

His goal, a 25-yard rocket that left Hennessey clutching at thin air, will grab headlines, but his all-round performance should at the very least ensure Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack — both absent today — will not take their places for granted.

Similarly, the absence of the two aforementioned midfield stalwarts allowed Michael Essien to play further forward, and the Ghanian celebrated such freedom with a performance of the highest quality.

His two goals (the first a header, the second a low drive that squirmed under Wayne Hennessey) were well taken, but it was his permanent influence in both attack and defence that really drew the eye.

He had three or four chances to grab a hat-trick that would barely have been a fair reflection of his command over the game.

It was a performance that will certainly give his manager something to think about.

The 26-year-old has been exceptional at the base of midfield all season, but after today's performance Ancelotti must be wondering how much he is losing by consistently restricting the all-action midfielder to predominately defensive duties.

I'm back | Cole celebrates getting amongst the goals

That might be just one of a number of pleasant problems he has to deal with.

In defence, Alex put in an impressive display on his return to the heart of matters, and his manager will now face a tough choice between the Brazilian and Ricardo Carvalho in future.

And Joe Cole got himself on the scoresheet for the first time since returning from injury, further increasing the competition between himself and Deco at the tip of the diamond.

But perhaps the highlight of the afternoon's action was Gael Kakuta's 30-minute cameo.

The much-discussed Frenchman came on around the hour to rapturous applause from the home faithful, and with his first few touches left everyone present in little doubt that he is a prodigiously talented player.

He can shoot, he can pass, he can run. Despite his diminuitive size, it looks like he can head the ball too. Considering he has spent much of the last two months serving his recently postponed four-month ban from competitive action, it was an incredibly impressive display.

With nearest rivals Arsenal losing, and Manchester City and Liverpool combining to remove what slim hopes of a title challenge they had, Blues fans will justifiably be delighted after Saturday's action.

Chelsea now have four away games on the spin to look forward to, and if a fatal flaw in their currently relentless march to the title is to be found, you imagine it will have been revealed by the time Everton become the next opponent to enter the fortress of Stamford Bridge.

Judging by the wealth of options on display against Wolves, however, the script surely reads that no such flaw exists.

Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK

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