
To get news directly on the go, download the Real Chelsea Fans App
The Premier League has been suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and with the league set to resume in less than a week’s time, clubs have been trying to get back their fitness ahead of the season’s resumption, by engaging in closed door competitive friendly matches with other teams.
For the Blues, Chelsea beat Reading in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Cobham. Pedro Rodriguez was the only scorer in the game as Chelsea won 1-0.
For Arsenal, the Gunners lost 3-2 to Championship side Brentford in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday, exactly one week before the Gunners head to Manchester City in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Liverpool beat Blackburn 6-0 in a friendly game at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.
Other clubs have been engaging in intra squad friendly matches.
“We’re trying different things,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports when asked about the shock defeat to Brentford.
“We’re trying to give minutes in their legs to all of the players, obviously you have to change a lot of players through the games.
“Getting adapted to playing in an empty stadium as well, not having that energy from the fans.
“It was good, we played two friendlies, we’re getting a bit of rhythm, we haven’t played for a while, we tried to make is as close as possible to a real game.”