Xabi Alonso's tactical approach to defending Arsenal's corners has become the talking point of Chelsea's weekend defeat, according to BBC News. The Spaniard suffered his first loss as Blues boss on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta's side coming from behind to win at the Emirates.
BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club panel dissected Alonso's setup for dealing with Arsenal's set-piece threat, describing the young manager's methods as "brave" and "fascinating" — praise for his willingness to think "outside the box" even in a losing cause.
Corners have long been an Arsenal strength under Arteta, and Alonso's attempt to counter that threat drew attention despite the result not going his way. The defeat ends what had been an unbeaten start for Alonso in the Chelsea dugout, but the discussion around his ideas suggests his methods are already making an impression among pundits, even if the scoreline didn't reflect it this time.