Graeme Le Saux has claimed that Chelsea missed a trick not using Ben Chilwell more on Monday night in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
The Blues had to settle for a point in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge against Villa, who came from behind with an Anwar El Ghazi goal in the second-half.
Olivier Giroud continued his strong form this season with a headed goal for the opener, as he got on the end of a cross into the box from Chilwell.
Chilwell was a constant danger for Chelsea with his overlapping runs on the wing, something the left-back has been doing to great success all season.
He produced an inch-perfect cross into the path of Giroud for his goal, plus he nearly scored a breathtaking volley in stoppage time with an effort that whistled past the post.
The 24-year-old has arguably been the pick of the bunch in terms of the club’s summer signings, with his impact going forward a real highlight.
He’s now scored two goals and supplied five assists in just 19 games across all competitions.
Le Saux feels though that Frank Lampard’s side didn’t give him the ball enough against Villa and suggested he could’ve had a much greater impact with more possession.
“They should have given him the ball more and more and more,” Le Saux told Amazon Prime’s televised coverage of Chelsea against Villa (7:55pm, 28 December).
“I used to get so frustrated when you’re an outlet and people don’t give you the ball. I think he could’ve been even more dangerous tonight if they had just fed him the ball a little bit more through the 90 minutes.”
Chelsea usually attack so well with the full-back pairing of Chilwell and Reece James, but the latter wasn’t selected yesterday as club captain Cesar Azpilicueta started at right-back.
England international Chilwelll perhaps could’ve been given greater supply against Villa, but there has to be more creativity coming from other areas of the pitch as well.
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