LONDON (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku described his second Chelsea debut as “dominant” after scoring his first Premier League goal for the Blues as the European champions outclassed Arsenal 2-0 early yesterday.
The Belgian has returned to Stamford Bridge for a club record GBP97 million as the missing piece of a proven goalscorer to turn the Champions League winners into English champions.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have made a formidable start towards that aim with six points, five goals scored and none conceded from their opening two games of the Premier League season.
Arsenal, by contrast, have yet to register a point or score a goal as the gulf between Mikel Arteta’s men and the title contenders was exposed.
“I would say, dominant,” said Lukaku on his performance. “We knew this was a big, big game for us, everybody was watching us, and we did well.
“As an individual, I tried to help the team. I said that I wanted to add something different to the team, hopefully I did and I want to keep doing that.”
Arsenal’s miserable start to the season continued even before kick-off with GBP50 million signing Ben White becoming the fifth positive case for coronavirus among Arteta’s squad in the past 10 days.
And things could get even worse for the Spanish coach with a trip to defending champions Manchester City next weekend before an international break.
“I think that’s why they are the Champions League winners. They demand so much to match that level over 90 minutes,” said Arteta.
“This is one of the difficult moments you have to go through. The circumstances are really difficult, but feeling sorry for yourselves doesn’t help. You have to face the criticism which is going to come.”
Arsenal’s signings of Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale this week took their spending in the transfer window above GBP130 million despite a fifth season without Champions League football.
But whereas Chelsea needed to fill just one position to complete a squad already stacked with quality, Arsenal appear to be starting from scratch.
A bright start in front of the first full house at the Emirates for 17 months quickly dissipated once Chelsea found their rhythm and began to play to Lukaku’s strengths.
The former Inter Milan striker received the ball with his back to goal on 15 minutes, shrugged off Pablo Mari as the ball was worked to Reece James on the right and then stayed onside to tap home his 114th Premier League goal for four different clubs.
“He gives something to our game we did not have,” said Tuchel of his new signing.
“You cannot start better and we have to improve from here.”
