Why Romelu Lukaku could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Chelsea this season

Has Romelu Lukaku evolved into the complete striker that could fire Chelsea to the Premier League title this season?

One aspect of Lukaku’s game that has never been doubted is his natural ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

As we’ve seen during his previous spells in England, no matter what system he is deployed in, he’s a striker that is not only the focal point of the attack but also one who can be relied on to carry the burden of scoring goals. Whether it was for a struggling West Brom side, where chances came at a premium, or at Manchester United with the pressure almost intangible at times, his numbers were always admirable.

Lukaku may not have been viewed as someone who was aesthetically pleasing to watch, but he was certainly effective. The Belgian’s robust style often meant that he could bully opposition defenders, in one of the most physical leagues in the world, and his clever movement turned him into a player not many teams wanted to face.

However, perhaps the biggest defect which was holding him up from becoming the complete striker was his capability to bring others into the game through intricate passes and link the midfield to the attack.

The 28-year-old’s journey hasn’t always been the smoothest in the Premier League, but the valuable lessons which he learned at a crucial period in his development, will undoubtedly mean that he reaps the rewards during his second spell at Chelsea.

For all the positives these experiences gave him, there’s one that cannot be underestimated. His Belgium national team coach, Roberto Martinez, is convinced that his time in Italy with Inter Milan has played a huge part in his growth as a player.

If one statistic could signify the improvement he’s made in the weakest facet of his game, it’s that nobody made more assists from open play in the Serie A last season. Granted, out of his 11 assists, a number of them could be seen as passes which any striker is expected to make, but it’s the reasons behind why he’s now creating so many chances which are fascinating.

Italian football is renowned for its slow pace, with many sides favouring a possession-based style, therefore it’s rare to see a free-flowing counter-attack which we’ve become so accustomed to in the Premier League. As a result, having players that are secure with the ball is vital, and this would have been something that Lukaku worked religiously at under Antonio Conte.

This skill is harder to master than it may look, as being assured in possession could result in playing the simple pass every time, but chances often can’t be created without taking risks. It’s finding that balance which Lukaku managed so effectively during his time at Inter and one which will undoubtedly see him continue to improve in the years to come as this attribute becomes more refined.

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The emphasis on the tactical side of the game could be seen as more important in Italy as well, with regular viewers of the league often relating fixtures to a game of chess. Throughout his two seasons there, it’s helped to enhance his understanding of the position not only in an attacking sense but a defensive one as well which is crucial in order to have an impact in the Premier League.

Despite a successful first six months under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, in which the Blues won the Champions League for only the second time in the club’s history, there was one glaring weakness within their system.

Chances were being fashioned on a regular basis, as the likes of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz were given the freedom to thrive in the final third, due to the security which playing with an extra centre-back provided. The addition of Lukaku will only mean Chelsea improve in this aspect, however, last season they didn’t have a consistent source of goals.

Thus far we haven’t had the opportunity to watch the Belgian over a long period in his new team, but if his performance against Arsenal is anything to go by, the Blues could go all the way in the Premier League this term.

When tasked with the role of occupying Arsenal’s centre-backs, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding, he acted as the perfect springboard for Chelsea’s counterattacks with his decisiveness in the final third standing out. Whether it was firm, first-time passes into the other attacking flair or if he decided to turn and run towards goal, everything was done with authority.

He looked like a player confident in his own ability and executed the game-plan with an air of arrogance about him. During the first 15 minutes, the away side weren’t completely in control of the game at the Emirates, but the deadlock was swiftly broken after Lukaku showcased his new blend of awareness and movement.

A quick one-two with Mateo Kovacic opened up the picture and allowed the midfielder to find the onrushing Recce James on the right-wing. The Englishman took the ball in his stride and had the simplest of tasks to roll his cross into the unmarked forward for an easy tap-in.

Although the finish may well turn out to be one of the most straightforward this season for Chelsea’s new man, the buildup to that point will fill the supporters with hope, as it looked as if Lukaku had been a part of the team for many years.

Later in the half, Tuchel’s men doubled their advantage, and despite his impact not being as influential in this goal, it was still vital. The Belgian’s willingness to drop deep and suck the defenders out of position was causing confusion along the Arsenal backline, as they weren’t sure whether to follow him into the space.

In turn, it gifted Mount the freedom to operate in the pocket behind him, along with all the time in the world to pick out James again down the right. This time, the 21-year-old didn’t look up for a pass and smashed his effort high past Bernd Leno into the top corner to put Chelsea out of sight.

Lukaku quickly noticed Mari’s reluctance to follow him and often pulled away to the right-hand side in the second half, in order to create an overload, and exploit the space. By making his runs so varied, it nearly lead to him getting on the scoresheet again, if it weren’t for a wonder save by Leno.

After cutting in from the byline and finding Mount on the edge of the area, he acted off the instinct to get into the box between the two centre-backs. The ball was perfectly weighted onto his head but Arsenal’s shot-stopper pulled off an incredible save to keep the score at 2-0.

His performance was everything that Chelsea would have expected from their new £97.5 million striker and he looks to have added another dimension to their already talented team.

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