Enzo Maresca’s bravery is keeping Chelsea in Premier League title race – his tactical tweak stifled Declan Rice from dominating

It was only ten weeks ago that Enzo Maresca was slated by Wayne Rooney for his substitutions after Chelsea were reduced to ten men in their defeat at Manchester United.

By taking off Estevao, Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer at Old Trafford, Maresca handed the initiative to United and blunted his attack once the hosts themselves had Casemiro sent off.

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Chelsea fans could have been forgiven for fearing history was to repeat itself when Moises Caicedo paid the ultimate price for a dangerous challenge on Arsenal star Mikel Merino in the eventual 1-1 draw.

Caicedo is the sixth Chelsea player to be red carded this season – seven if you include Maresca himself for over-celebrating their win at home to Liverpool.

While that ill-discipline is an issue Maresca needs to sort, this time around, and faced with the daunting prospect of taking on the runaway leaders a man light for more than 50 minutes, he did not wilt and showed bravery matched by his ten on-field Lions.

Maresca did not flinch and instead of opting for pragmatism, the Italian threw caution to the wind, bringing on Alejandro Garnacho at half-time and turning to Liam Delap before the hour mark.

The brave approach paid off as Chelsea unexpectedly opened the scoring through Trevoh Chalobah’s excellent near post header from the excellent Reece James‘s corner in the 48th minute.

It was the tenth goal Chelsea have scored from a set piece this season – second only to their visitors.

If you cannot beat them join them!

Even if the Blues’ lead was wiped out by Merino’s header just 11 minutes later, by keeping Garnacho and Pedro Neto on the pitch and with Delap as the focal point, Arsenal were never able to rest or overcommit in search of the winner that would have taken them seven points clear at the top of the table.

In the end, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was as pleased as Maresca to come away with a draw at the end of a potentially-season defining week for the Gunners having already beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

Chelsea were never going to be the pushover neighbours Spurs were in last weekend’s north London derby.

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In fact, Joao Pedro set the tone for what Arteta later described as ‘a proper London derby’ by clattering into Cristhian Mosquera seconds after kick-off.

From that moment, Arsenal were never allowed to settle into their usual rhythm, even with their numerical advantage.

On a day when the battle between Caicedo and Declan Rice was expected to be central to the outcome, it was captain Reece James, again deployed as the heartbeat of midfield, who led by example.

James was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch, stopping Rice dictating the game as he has for most of the season and providing a threat on the counter with his wonderful range of passing.

It was James’ pin-point corner that set up Chalobah for the opener.

No wonder England boss Thomas Tuchel is so desperate for his former Chelsea right-back to be fully fit for selection for next summer’s World Cup.

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If he can maintain this level of performance after three injury-plagued years, then James is going to have a massive part to play not just for his country, but his club as well.

James’s display of defiance and refusal to lay down epitomised all that was good about Maresca’s emboldened Blues, who will feel the can at least keep Arsenal honest on the title race.

What a difference ten weeks makes.