“They would be frightened to death of you” - Gary Neville tells Pedro Neto what he must do more after goal for Chelsea in Arsenal draw
Pundit Gary Neville has issued a piece of advice to Chelsea forward Pedro Neto after his impressive display in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal (November 10). The former Wolves man scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues to help them secure a draw against their city rivals at home.
Having started each of their last two league games, Neto was entrusted with a starting berth on the left wing by head coach Enzo Maresca. The Portugal international delivered a class performance, showcasing his impressive versatility for the side and providing a reminder of why he was signed.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was on commentary duties for Sky Sports when he shared his thoughts on Neto. The pundit pointed out that the 24-year-old sometimes made it too easy for opposition full-backs due to his tendency to play safe. He also advised him on what to do to make himself more of a threat to the opponents.
“He is a fantastic little winger, Neto, but sometimes I just look at him and think, I wish you were more confident, I wish you had more belief, just went at players. They would be frightened to death of you. It seems sometimes he comes back and passes and makes it easy for the opposition full-back.”
Signed from Wolves for a reported £54 million in the summer, Pedro Neto appears to have fully earned the trust of coach Enzo Maresca. The tricky winger started against Arsenal on the left wing before moving out to the right in the second half.
Neto created two good chances in the first period with his excellent crossing, both of which were spurned by Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto. The forward did, however, manage to score his first league goal for Chelsea with a fine strike from range (70').
Chelsea prove mettle in draw against Arsenal
Chelsea proved that they are a very different team this season as they battled Arsenal to a standstill, playing out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were walloped 5-0 in their last game against the Gunners, one of only three defeats they have suffered since April.
Maresca's side went toe-to-toe with Mikel Arteta's and emerged with a lot of credit for their resilience and level of quality. Like against Manchester United last week, they went behind in the second half when Gabriel Martinelli (60') scored, but found the level required to work out an equalizer.
Chelsea have now lost two and drawn two of their four meetings against the traditional 'Big Six' sides in the Premier League this season. With 19 points in their kitty, the Blues occupy third place in the league standings, above Arsenal on goal difference.