Maurizio Sarri has skills to avoid AVB failings as Chelsea embark on high-wire act

Chelsea's new boss told us, following the 3-2 win over Arsenal, that we had seen glimpses of the football he wanted to show us. And he was also quite candid about some things he never, ever wanted to see from his Chelsea again.

The high press which is the key ingredient of Sarri's model of football is, it is fair to say, an acquired taste. As carried out by him at Napoli, it can deliver excitement and drama in impressive quantities. But it takes time to get right and, as we saw this past weekend, in its less polished forms of delivery it can produce something akin to basketball: where any team that can get into the final third of the pitch might reasonably expect to add another goal to its growing tally.

Many feel duty bound to recall the early stages of the 2011-12 season when Chelsea, under the guidance of yet another new boss, last showed signs of such altitude sickness.

Andre Villas-Boas (for it was he) promised excitement and, in small doses, he was good to his word. The early season 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford was seen at the time as a harbinger of something – the problem was, nobody was quite sure what at the time.

The game lost, Chelsea put in a fast-rushing performance late in the day, which saw them time and again carve through Manchester United's defences. Arguably, with somewhat improved finishing, any score could have been possible.

It was exciting, it was exhilarating, but did it win games?

With that version of Chelsea, the answer was ultimately 'no': though the reasons for the familiar trudge into interim-manager-land (and the remarkable end to the season which followed) had more to do with Villas-Boas's lack of man management, than his tactics.

But Sarri is a very different character. Though the acquaintance is very fresh, we are already seeing signs of a man who is better equipped to carry his troops along with him on such a journey.

He was clear that it would need plenty of work to ensure the picture which emerges of Chelsea, following this period of development, is the one promised in the opening 25 minutes against Arsenal – rather than that in the 'horrible' 15 which followed.

Sarri is far more experienced in football (and in life) than the green Villas-Boas was. He knows just how much discipline a side needs, in order to truly play with freedom. And we saw glimpses of that more organised form of chaos in the second half: particularly after the introduction of Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic.

Chelsea can feel both delight and relief that Hazard is staying put (for now). But there should be almost equal positivity about the Croatian, taken on loan from Real Madrid as part of the sale of Thibaut Courtois. He was a cut above, in a final half hour which was far more settled, and which ultimately delivered a deserved three points for Blues.

Alongside the deep-lying playmaking abilities of Jorginho, there is potential for a very impressive midfield unit. That will require hours of practice on the training ground to get right: just as Chelsea's defence will have to put in the work to ensure N'Golo Kante's more advanced role doesn't leave them as exposed as was seen in that nightmare quarter hour this last weekend.

Sarri's staying-power, and the success of Chelsea's season, relies upon manager and players' ability to find a way to make it work, without the bickering and negative fallout now indelibly inked on Villas-Boas' Chelsea copybook.

Goals will come: that much is very clear. At which end of the pitch – the months ahead will gradually reveal.