Pedro’s first half goal was Chelsea’s 8000th in all competitions since their formation in 1905. It was the ideal way to reach the milestone, with the Spaniard sweeping a curling effort past Gomes from 25 yards, even if there was a hint of fortune in the goal - the ball touched Eden Hazard last before rolling out of play, not that Chelsea will mind. Of the 18 Premier League goals he has bagged for the Blues, six have come from outside of the box, including both of his efforts this season. In Antonio Conte’s favoured 3-4-3 formation, the former Barcelona man is the ideal winger as one of two men flanking the lone frontman.
The 30-year-old has been directly involved in more Chelsea goals (21) than any other player in all competitions in 2017, though he is as crucial on the ball as he is off it. In the Blues’ setup, a grafting forward is required and Pedro provides that tenacity out of possession in abundance. An inclination to drift infield when Alvaro Morata pulls to the flanks allows for Pedro to exploit the space vacated by his compatriot, allowing for a more fluid Blues attacking unit.
Against Watford he popped up in all areas of the pitch to assist the defenders or in search of possession, while his versatility was required in the final quarter of the game, with Conte dropping Pedro to right wing-back before providing the assist for Michy Batshuayi’s header to level the match up. There is regularly ample praise thrust in the direction of a number of Chelsea players, but Pedro is often devoid of the plaudits. The underrated Spain international, though, was far and away Chelsea’s star man against Watford.
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