Chelsea's new £7.5m goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made his debut in a chaotic 4-3 win over Brighton just hours after his signing was confirmed, but the result exposed that Chelsea's defensive problems run deeper than the man between the posts. Manager Xabi Alonso threw Martinez straight into the starting XI, yet Chelsea have now conceded five goals in two matches, relying on an in-form attack rather than defensive solidity to maintain their 100% start to the season.

Martinez, a two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper winner who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup and Aston Villa lift the Europa League in May, was not blamed for any of Brighton's three goals, unlike predecessor Robert Sanchez, who was at fault for goals in Chelsea's earlier 3-2 win at Fulham. Sanchez, signed for £25m from Brighton in 2023, has fallen to fourth choice despite last season's underlying statistics favouring him over Martinez, who made three errors leading to goals at Villa compared with Sanchez's one. Alonso praised Martinez's "charisma" and "aura" but admitted "tough decisions" lie ahead over Sanchez's future, with Chelsea facing a testing trip to Arsenal next.