Olivier Giroud’s fine header was canceled out by Anwar El Ghazi’s equalizer in the second half as a strong turn from Chelsea by Aston Villa drew 1-1.
Giroud met Ben Chilwell’s cross at the near post to nod further than Emiliano Martinez in the 34th minute, after an equally equal first half hour in west London.
Chelsea were penalized for a slow start to the second half as El Ghazi went unnoticed at the back to shoot into the equalizer in the 50th minute.
The game became increasingly furious as it kicked off, with Christian Pulisic and John McGinn coming close before Chilwell grabbed almost all three points for the host with an added ointment.
But neither of the two parties could find the winner, as the points were shared between the two leading contestants.
Here are five talking points from Stamford Bridge.
1. Lampard turns to mixed effect
(Image: pool via REUTERS)
Frank Lampard made six changes to the starting XI that were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal for the visit of Aston Villa.
The Chelsea boss quoted the hectic match schedule as explaining his pre-match choices: “It is impossible to ask the same 11 to play at the same level again in two days, so the changes are natural anyway.”
But the revolution was also necessary after a weak run of three defeats in four Premier League matches.
The changes felt most in defense and offense; three of the first-choice back fours were rested, while Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham dropped out for Callum Hudson-Osoi and Olivier Giroud.
Lampard was quickly executed for his decision to start Giroud and Hudson-Odoi in attack as the former opened the scoring and the latter was Chelsea’s brightest player in the first half.
But the defensive changes did not produce the desired effect, and the Blues’ backline was caught while Anwar El Ghazi stabbed unnoticed in the back position early in the second half.
It was a characteristic sloppy goal for Chelsea to concede given their good defensive record this season – and it will likely spur the recall of the likes of Kurt Zouma, Thiago Silva and Reece James for the next outing.
2. Giroud makes good at the beginning
(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
At the start of the season, few would have expected Olivier Giroud to still be the number 9 Frank Lampard would turn halfway through the campaign.
Timo Werner showed up last summer for a hefty amount and it looks like Tammy Abraham is ready to build on an 18-goal campaign.
But the duo were on the bench for Aston Villa’s visit, and Lampard’s decision to drop them for Giroud was rewarded.
The 34-year-old man showed his instinctive movement and clinical eye for the goal when he opened the scoring in the first half with a header.
The goal was Giroud’s third in four Premier League matches, while Werner’s £ 47m forward is in the middle of a ten-match run without scoring.
The World Cup winner also shone with his strength and good play, which combined well with the naturally broad men Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic.
3. Smith takes on different branches
(Photo: Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
While Chelsea made extensive changes, Aston Villa made just one for their trip to West London, with Dean Smith being forced to replace Ezri Konsa as center-back in place of the suspended Tyrone Mings.
“There are two thoughts,” the Villa boss said before the game. “Turning and getting fresh legs in the team or continuing with momentum and confidence. And for me, the momentum and confidence stood out.”
Smith was rewarded for his confidence in his first XI regular players, which led the club to fifth place in the league after nail-bitingly relegation last season.
Rather than upset the balance with rotation, he fielded his in-form stars and Anwar El Ghazi scored his fifth goal in five games to score a well-deserved point.
There is a fantastic balance for Villa this season and quality runs through the team, from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to Ollie Watkins up front.
Another positive result against a ‘Big Six’ team leaves them running for a European place.
4. Chilwell shines again
(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
In just 13 games, Ben Chilwell has already equaled his best season best of four assistants in this campaign.
His delivery from the left flank was usually accurate, as he found Olivier Giroud at the near post, which gave the Frenchman a simple task of opening the scoring.
The English international continues to live up to the £ 45million Chelsea paid Leicester for his services last year, establishing himself as one of the key players in Frank Lampard’s squad.
Chilwell were a constant outlet on the touchline and looked the most comfortable member of a heavily-twisted backline, almost achieving a spectacular winner in extra time.
5. Top four consequences
Of course, it’s early in the season to talk at the end of the season about who finishes in the Champions League places.
But Frank Lampard will know full well that his team – which is sixth in the table – has dropped two more points in the highly competitive race for the top four.
Not only that, Chelsea drop points to one of their direct rivals at Aston Villa, who sit one place above the Blues on goal difference with two games in hand.
Lampard only responded a few weeks ago to questions about whether Chelsea are the title candidate. Now he finds his team outside the top four with just one win in five games.
There is no more talk of the title, and Lampard is under pressure to turn the Blues’ form on its head.
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