Chelsea 2-2 Burnley: Blues fail to exploit Arsenal and Man Utd defeats - 5 talking points

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a man in a blue shirt
© Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea missed out on the chance to cement their place in the Premier League top four after a frustrating draw with Burnley .

The Blues did managed to leap frog Arsenal and into fourth, with a Champions League spot on the horizon, but failed to overtake Tottenham - and have now played a game more than their rivals.

Jeff Hendrick opened the scoring in a topsy-turvy opening half an hour with an eye-catching volley from the edge of the area.

But the goal galvanised the Blues as N'golo Kante and then Gonzalo Higuain struck back with classy finishes.

The Clarets then equalised in the 24th minute through Ashley Barnes to complete a crazy opening section of the game.

Neither side could find a way through again as the visitors grabbed another vital point in their relegation fight.

Here are 5 talking points from Stamford Bridge.

1. Top four hoodoo
No one seems to want to take a big step in confirming their place in the Premier League top four.

Tottenham and then Manchester United and then Arsenal all had the chance to pull away and qualify for next season's Champions League over the weekend.

a person standing in front of a crowd
© Action Images via Reuters

All failed to pick up a point.

So it came as no surprise when Jeff Hendrick smashed Burnley into the lead at Stamford Bridge, and then the subsequent highs and deep lows of the first half.

2. Eden Hazard is the new assist king
Chelsea's talisman Hazard is the dream teammate to have.

The Belgium international recorded his thirteenth assist of the season when he set up Kante, which has seen him move ahead of Christian Eriksen at the top of the table.

a man with a football ball on a field
© AFP/Getty Images

His control, footwork and most importantly vision has been exceptional all season.

In this game he made more passes, more dribbles and more touches than any other attacking player on the pitch.

Just don't mention the words Real or Madrid in west London.

3. Burnley's survival
Sean Dyche is a magician.

The Clarets should have no right to fight season in season out with the money bags of modern football like Manchester City and Liverpool .

But they do and that is why the Premier League is so special.

a group of people standing in front of a crowd
© ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX

In fact if the Premier League was contested over the last 15 matches then Burnley would be knocking down the door on a Champions League place - having amassed 27 points out of 45.

Ashley Barnes netted his 11th goal of the season - more than any other Clarets player has managed in a single campaign.

It is a great achievement and their survival is testament that the smaller clubs up and down the country and hang on in there.

4. Hudson-Odoi crooked
Oh Callum, you were finally getting a run in the team and then your body lets you down.

Winger Hudson-Odoi has been desperate for action all season - giving Sarri dirty looks when sat on the bench and everything as his backside went numb.

a man with a football ball: Hudson Odoi injured his knee
© Romena Fogliati/Focus Images Ltd Hudson Odoi injured his knee
His patience has been rewarded by four Premier League starts on the trot.

But it all went wrong for the teenager just before half time when he was forced to limp off, with Pedro replacing him.

Could this be the last time we see Hudson-Odoi in a Blues shirt?

Bayern Munich's interest is hardly a secret and with limited time left this season any sort of layoff could terminate his season.

5. Does Sarri deserve a second season?
Two months ago, after that 6-0 defeat to City, it looked like Sarri was walking on a sacking tightrope - another poor result and his head would go the way of Anne Boleyn.

Since then the Blues have only lost to Everton and Liverpool, both on the road, and stuck themselves firmly in the mix for a top four spot.

a man standing in front of a crowd
© AFP/Getty Images

But will it be enough to give the Italian a second year in west London?

This kind of result doesn't help his cause, a bottom percentile side at home should be three relatively simple points.

At the same time a draw against a side fighting for their survival at this stage of the season is also not terrible.

Sarri's future may well come down to if they either qualify for the top four or win the Europa League.


source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/04/chelsea-2-2-burnley-blues-fail-to.html

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