Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has expressed his disappointment over the Blues’ approach in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, questioning the tactical decisions made by Enzo Maresca and his coaching staff.

The loss at the Emirates has intensified scrutiny on Enzo Maresca, with Gallas suggesting that Chelsea might have been in a better position had Mauricio Pochettino remained in charge.

“It was man-to-man everywhere on the pitch. I was surprised that Reece James played as a midfielder, and it was like being back in 1980,” Gallas said. “We are in 2025, how can you ask your players to do that?”

The former Chelsea defender was critical of the defensive structure and lack of modern tactical flexibility, implying that Maresca’s setup was outdated.

“Looking at the performance against Arsenal, you’d say that Chelsea would be better off with Mauricio Pochettino,” he added.

Pochettino left Chelsea at the end of last season, with many fans split over whether the club made the right decision. However, after watching Chelsea struggle against Arsenal, Gallas firmly believes the Argentine would have set the team up for better results.

With Chelsea’s season continuing to be inconsistent, questions over Maresca’s suitability for the role are growing. Is Gallas right—would the Blues have been better under Pochettino? Let us know your thoughts.