Two Chelsea players come out of Arsenal defeat looking worse as concerning trend continues

It was quite telling that Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho were singled out by a journalist in Enzo Maresca's post-match press conference on Sunday afternoon.

In the aftermath of Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the Blues head coach was asked about two of his attacking players in particular. Nkunku and Sancho had gone missing in north London in another underwhelming display in front of goal from the two attackers, but Maresca was quick - and wise, probably - to jump to the pair's defence: "First of all, we score many goals but they don't concede many goals.

"I think they are the first or second [best]. It's not easy to create chances against them. For sure, when you have important players injured, it's not easy. Jadon did quite well, Christo also. I didn't have the feeling they can do something better. For sure, we can create and attack better as a team."

In the defeat to the Gunners, Sancho had no shots, made no key passes and attempted one dribble. He simply could not get involved in the game. Up against the much less experienced Myles Lewis-Skelly, Sancho did not once look as if he was about to pop into life and cause the teenager any sort of problem.

It was not much better for Nkunku, who once again was anonymous - something that is becoming a concerning trend for the Frenchman. Nobody has quite figured out the 27-year-old's best position yet. Maresca believes it is in the No.10 role but whenever we have seen him there, we have not quite been given the evidence to back the head coach's claims up. With someone like Nkunku, too, it makes it even more frustrating to watch performances like this because there is undeniably a serious footballer in there somewhere.

Trying to get that out, though, is the challenge Maresca has on his hands. In Nicolas Jackson's absence, which has been the last month-and-a-half, there was a real opportunity for Nkunku to capitalise and cement himself as a starter under Maresca. Instead, it has left Chelsea with more questions than answers. With Jackson's return set to come after the two-week international break, we could start to see less and less of Nkunku in the Premier League again.

In the Premier League this season, the France international has scored just three goals in 25 appearances. Granted, he has only started in eight of those games, but the statistics are pretty damning for a man that prides himself on his goal scoring ability and the threat he poses in the opposition box.

"Christopher Nkunku is ready to start afresh. The Premier League has been warned," read the final line of Chelsea's interview with Nkunku in August 2024. After a debut season of consistent injuries, there was certainly a "fresh start" sort of feeling for the Frenchman but he has been unable to replicate the level of quality that made him one of European football's most sought-after talents at RB Leipzig.

Sancho, meanwhile, has been very quiet since the turn of the year. After a really promising start to his loan spell at Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old has tailed off massively recently.

Thursday evening's win against Copenhagen saw Sancho's first shot on target, quite remarkably, since the Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. More than 780 minutes had passed for Sancho, who has been criticised for his lack of end product by supporters online. For his last assist, you have to go back to the draw at Crystal Palace at the start of January where Sancho set up Cole Palmer to give Chelsea the lead at Selhurst Park.

Not long after his last assist for the club, Maresca came out and heaped praise on Sancho, claiming he was exceeding expectations. However, there have been murmurs over his future in recent days, with reports suggesting there is a way around the £25million obligation to buy the winger from Manchester United once his loan contract has expired. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea take the financial hit or stick their trust in the talented winger.

Either way, Sancho and Nkunku are out of form. They look remarkably out of sorts at the moment. This international break has been a long time coming, with the last stoppage in the Premier League coming way back in November. Both Sancho and Nkunku have not been called up by their respective national teams, England and France, and have a more-than-two-week rest ahead of them before Chelsea welcome Tottenham to Stamford Bridge on April 3.