By: Osabuohien Imuetinyanosa
Chelsea missed the chance to capitalise on Arsenal’s setback in the Premier League title race, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez producing a standout display in a goalless stalemate at Bournemouth. After Arsenal succumb to a dramatic 2–1 defeat to Aston Villa — a match in which Matty Cash put Villa ahead, Leandro Trossard levelled for the Gunners, and Emiliano Buendía snatched a stoppage-time winner — Chelsea failed to spark in attack despite Cole Palmer returning to action for the first time since mid-September.
Enzo Maresca’s men had an opportunity to trim the gap to the leaders to six points, but a third consecutive league match without a win leaves them fourth, eight points adrift of the summit. Sanchez was ultimately the main reason Chelsea emerged with a point from the Vitality Stadium, where Bournemouth briefly thought they had struck in the fourth minute. Evanilson was deemed offside in the build-up to Alex Scott’s delivery, with VAR intervening to rule out Antoine Semenyo’s close-range finish.
Semenyo and Scott both forced superb saves from the outstanding Sanchez during a dominant first-half spell for the hosts, while Chelsea improved after the interval and saw Alejandro Garnacho’s header clip Djordje Petrovic’s right post. Enzo Fernandez and Palmer later worked Petrovic at the other end, while Sanchez remained alert to beat away another fierce Semenyo effort deep into the second half. But neither side could muster a decisive breakthrough, leaving Andoni Iraola frustrated as his team extended their winless stretch to six league matches.
Bournemouth’s continued struggles in front of goal marked the third time under Iraola that they have gone back-to-back Premier League matches without scoring — the previous occasions coming in September 2024 and October 2023. Their failure was not due to a lack of endeavour: Bournemouth recorded 13 attempts worth 1.37 expected goals, their most shots without scoring in a home league game since facing Liverpool in February. The dour contest also halted Chelsea’s run of 13 straight Premier League matches with a goal — their first blank since drawing a blank against Crystal Palace in August.
Chelsea’s 11 shots produced an xG of just 0.88, their lowest from an away game this season in which they have finished with a full complement of players. Still, Maresca may reflect positively on a fourth clean sheet in five away league fixtures — surpassing their total of three from the previous 19 on the road.
