Four wins, five games unbeaten, some unfinished business in Group E wrapped up - and now for Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling answered his critics, Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria - signed on loan from Juventus on September 1 but not seen since - introduced himself to Chelsea’s fans with a debut goal and Graham Potter avenged Thomas Tuchel.
All in all a decent night’s work for anyone of a Blue persuasion. Defeat away to Zagreb on September 6 cost Champions League-winning Tuchel his job.
But, so far, so decent under his European rookie replacement. Chelsea had won Group E before a ball was even kicked here at Stamford Bridge.
In response to the ridiculous suggestions of pressure on Potter, the Blues’ boss made clear pre-match that he has learned to shut out the noise, even though he appreciated that at a massive club like Chelsea “you are only 90 minutes away from a crisis”.
He looks to have been on the money when, after just seven minutes striker Bruno Petkovic headed in from close range, taking advantage of Potter’s shift from a back five to a four. After last Saturday’s shock 4-1 embarrassment in Brighton it was Chelsea’s worst possible start.
Wide man Sadegh Mohrammi crossed from the right, midfielder Arijan Ademi headed back across goal and
Petkovic had so much space around him he must have believed he was Matt Hancock’s brain.
But Chelsea took just eleven minutes to respond. A ball through the middle dissected the Zagreb midfield, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back-heeled to Sterling and the England forward angled his drive into the bottom corner.
The venom in his goal celebration, a defiant punch of the air, spoke volumes. Bizarre suggestions have done the rounds that his World Cup starting place could be under threat because of his run of just one goal in his last eleven. Thankfully Gareth Southgate, mindful that the former City man was his best player at the Euros, isn’t that stupid.
In fact, Sterling would have scored again, minutes after his strike, had his effort - from Kai Havertz’s low ball into the box - had not bounced off his ankle and over the bar.
By now, Chelsea were in control, their second goal only a matter of time. Zakaria swept it in on the half-hour, picking his spot with such power that Mohrammi on the line couldn’t keep it out.
Aubameyang would have added a third, six minutes after half time, had his powerful drive from just outside the box on the left not smashed against the crossbar.
Old foes Arsenal will represent a step up in class on Sunday. With the Premier League leaders ten points clear of Chelsea in sixth, the meeting is a must-win for Potter and his Blues brothers, who cruelly lost Ben Chilwell to a hamstring injury late on.
But Potter is moulding something new at Stamford Bridge. A model that has taken the handbrake off.
How they fare will be fun to watch.
