Set-Piece Kryptonite: Chelsea’s Aerial Frailty Undoes Estêvão’s Masterclass

London — If Enzo Maresca hoped to ring in the New Year with a statement of defensive solidity, those hopes were extinguished by the simplest of weapons: the long throw-in. In a chaotic final fixture of 2025, Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth, a result that leaves the Blues languishing in 5th place on 30 points and raises fresh questions about their defensive architecture under the Italian manager.

The Achilles Heel: Aerial Paralysis

For all of Chelsea’s heavy investment in technical brilliance, their undoing came from an old-school weakness. Bournemouth’s game plan was ruthless and effective, bypassing Chelsea’s sophisticated midfield press by launching aerial assaults directly into the box. David Brooks capitalized on this as early as the sixth minute, reacting fastest to a loose ball from a long throw that left Chelsea’s six-yard box in panic.

The pattern repeated disastrously in the first half. Just moments after Chelsea had clawed back the lead, Justin Kluivert leveled the score at 2-2, again profiting from the chaos of a long throw. Bernardo Cueva, Chelsea’s set-piece coach, will likely face intense scrutiny in the video analysis sessions this week. The data is damning: Chelsea’s Expected Goals Conceded (xGA) from dead-ball situations has crept up significantly in December, a trend that savvy opponents like Bournemouth are all too eager to exploit.

Estêvão Willian: The ‘Messinho’ Spark

Amidst the defensive gloom, the performance of summer signing Estêvão Willian offered a blinding ray of hope. The Brazilian teenager, nicknamed ‘Messinho’, was the catalyst for Chelsea’s attacking resurgence. His low center of gravity and rapid direction changes terrorized the Cherries' defense, eventually forcing Semenyo into a desperate foul inside the box.

While VAR deliberated, the outcome felt inevitable. Cole Palmer, maintaining his icy reputation from the spot, converted to restore parity. But it was Estêvão’s underlying numbers that stood out—leading the match in progressive carries and fouls drawn—proving that the £51m investment is rapidly becoming the team’s most potent creative engine.

Midfield Milestones and Transfer Triumphs

The match also highlighted the evolving chemistry of Chelsea’s expensively assembled squad. In the 23rd minute, Enzo Fernández thundered a strike past the keeper to briefly give Chelsea the lead. The goal was significant, marking what analysts flagged as his 100th appearance for the club—a milestone he celebrated with a finish of pure conviction, assisted by Alejandro Garnacho. The connection between the former Manchester United winger and the Argentine midfielder hinted at a developing understanding that could be pivotal for Chelsea’s top-four ambitions in 2026.

The Palmer Substitution Controversy

The mood at Stamford Bridge soured visibly in the 63rd minute when the fourth official’s board showed number 20. Maresca’s decision to withdraw Cole Palmer for ‘tactical reasons’ was met with a chorus of boos. With the game delicately poised at 2-2, removing the team’s primary goal threat seemed a gamble that backfired, as Chelsea’s attack lost its cutting edge in the final third. While Djordje Petrović—facing his former club in the Bournemouth goal—made crucial saves to deny the Blues, the lack of a clinical finisher in the dying moments was palpable.