Mario Melchiot believes Chelsea should have done more to target ‘unstable’ Ben White during their 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s side but Pedro Neto capped an impressive performance by netting the equaliser in the 70th minute.
Neto started on Chelsea’s left flank but was switched to the right side of Chelsea’s attack shortly before his low strike from distance beat David Raya.
Melchiot, however, believes Enzo Maresca should have kept Pedro Neto on Chelsea’s left, claiming that White had become ‘irritated’ after coming up against the Portuguese winger.
‘Even Chelsea I felt like they should’ve taken more advantage of the situation with Neto and White,’ Melchiot said on the Kelly and Wrighty Show.
‘Because Neto tested White. White didn’t like that when he was testing him.
‘We’re not talking about the way he crossed the ball for Gusto’s header, but also before that he was taking him on and he [White] was unstable.
‘I think Chelsea should have really jumped on that situation and said, ‘leave him there’.
‘Don’t get me wrong, the scored the goal being on the other side and coming in and scoring, that was a great thing what he did. And that was a mistake from Arsenal by all dropping back and not picking up in the midfield because the two midfielders were playing on the line of the centre-backs.
‘But, for me, in that moment when you see the right defender and the left defender being tested and not as confident then you’ve got to punch in that situation, you’ve got to go for that.
‘I felt that Chelsea needed and I felt that Chelsea needed to go for that moment and really go for them and let them know if they are weaker on that side.
‘Normally, White doesn’t have a problem with anyone who is quick or whatever they are, he can handle it. But yesterday I felt he was unstable and he even got irritated. They should’ve gone for it.’
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