Chelsea smashed Stoke yesterday at Stamford Bridge, and showed Antonio Conte that they can still be trusted to get the job done even when Eden Hazard is rested.
The Belgian was given a break and there were fears that the team that has been so reliant on him in their recent run would struggle to create chances without him.
In fact, the 343 functioned smoothly, and the Blues were three goals to the good before half time. After so many games where chances had gone begging, Conte’s team found the finishing they’d been searching for, and got the job done with no fuss.
Resting Hazard will a huge boost in the Arsenal game, and adding the cushion allowed the manager to bring other first teamers off early too.
The only shame was that there weren’t some true youngsters on the bench to blood in the second half when the game was won.
