Enzo Maresca singles out 'special' Chelsea star for praise after Arsenal draw

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty)

Enzo Maresca singled out Robert Sanchez ’s performance in between the sticks as his ten-man Chelsea side earned a hard-fought point against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The Blues started the game as the better of the two sides at Stamford Bridge, but suffered a huge blow before the break as they were reduced to ten men following the sending off of Moises Caicedo.

However, while Chelsea have struggled on other occasions this season after having a man sent off, this time the Blues kept the pressure on their opposition following Caicedo’s dismissal.

The hosts even took the lead after the break through Trevor Chalobah’s header from a corner, although Mikel Merino soon equalised for the Gunners only 11 minutes later.

And while Arsenal struggled to create a host of clear-cut opportunities, it was the performance of Sanchez in goal which prevented the league leaders from snatching a win away from home.

The Spaniard, much maligned at points last season for his mistakes in goal, denied Gabriel Martinelli ’s effort from the edge of the box before the break.

And he produced an ever better stop towards the end of the game, getting down low to his left to deny Merino’s low drive before popping up quickly to prevent Viktor Gyokeres from sliding in and converting the rebound.

Robert Sanchez made a number of big saves for Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Asked about Sanchez’s performance at full-time, Maresca said: ‘ Robert was very good.

‘When you are with 10 players against Arsenal, for sure if you want to take a point or win the game, you need some special performance, like Robert, like Reece, as you said. So we are very happy with Robert’s performance.’

Discussing James’ superb, all-action display in the middle of the park , the Italian added: ‘Reece, now, his performance has been fantastic, top. Now, we have a game on Wednesday.

Trevor Chalboh headed Chelsea ahead (Picture: Getty)

Reece James was a monster in the middle of the park (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Merino levelled for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

‘For him, very good. We need to manage him, we need to control him, we need to control a little bit his situation. But he was very good tonight.’

Sunday’s result means Chelsea drop to third, but they remain six points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

And while keen to brush off talk of Chelsea’s title hopes until later in the season, Maresca suggested that a performance of this manner against Arsenal will only boost his side’s confidence heading into the hectic festive schedule.

‘If in February, March, we are where we are now, we’re going to be for title,’ he said.

‘But we are still, you know, end of November, December. Now we are weeks away. Wednesday, that is a very difficult game. So, you need to be there every time, every time, every time.

‘But for sure, you know, Arsenal tonight, Barcelona the other day, Liverpool, PSG, these kind of games, for sure, they give to the players, you know, the confidence to grow and to believe.’

Chelsea face a midweek trip to Leeds United on Wednesday as they look to extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all compeittions.