'Like being back in 1980' - Enzo Maresca slammed for 'boring' tactics in Arsenal defeat as Chelsea told they should have stuck with Mauricio Pochettino

Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s first-half header, at the Emirates on Sunday. The win solidified the Gunners’ second-place position, while Chelsea’s ambitions of securing a top-four finish took a major blow.

Chelsea’s uninspired performance has become a recurring theme in recent weeks. Despite boasting a squad valued at over £1 billion, the team has been struggling for consistency since the turn of the year. Their poor run of form, which includes just four wins in their last 13 league matches, has raised serious questions about Maresca’s tactics and decision-making.

One of the biggest criticisms of Chelsea’s approach under Maresca has been their possession-heavy style that often fails to translate into meaningful goal-scoring opportunities.

Gallas did not hold back in his assessment of Maresca’s system, describing it as a throwback to a different era. He was particularly baffled by the decision to play Reece James in midfield, likening the approach to something from decades ago.

Speaking to Spin Genie, Gallas said: "It was man-to-man everywhere on the pitch, I was surprised that Reece James played as a midfielder and it was like being back in 1980. We are in 2025, how can you ask your players to do that? The defenders Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill looked scared on the ball and with more pressure from Arsenal they might’ve scored the second goal, the goal they did score was from a corner.

“For me, it was boring, especially for a London derby. I played so many of those games and it was more intense. Fans want to see the players fighting, running, and challenging, but nothing happened."

Gallas believes that based on Chelsea’s recent performances, Mauricio Pochettino might have been the better option to lead the club. Pochettino was sacked in the summer of 2024 after he guided the Blues to a sixth-place finish.

“Looking at the performance against Arsenal, you’d say that Chelsea would be better off with Mauricio Pochettino," the former defender opined.

“What I saw of Chelsea against Arsenal, the system and how they played, I was a little bit disappointed. But right now I think Enzo Maresca is on the right path, they are still on course to qualify for the top four. Sometimes owners at big clubs are not patient.

“The new owners have made a lot of decisions until now when they don’t see results, now it’s up to Maresca to show that he is the manager Chelsea were looking for.”

Although Chelsea are still in contention for a Champions League spot, their form away from home has been a major issue. The Blues have not won a league match on the road in over three months, a statistic that does not bode well for their top-four ambitions. However, Maresca’s side will have a chance to bounce back when they host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on April 3.