It is time to say it... Nicolas Jackson is really good

It is not too late to jump on the bandwagon

A forward is played through one-on-one with the keeper, he confidently strides with the ball, controlling it with care, not fazed by the onrushing keeper as he carves a chilled finish with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner.

Since the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season, this forward also boasts 16 open-play goals. More than Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer and Dominic Solanke.

This forward also boasts 4 goals and 3 assists from an xG of 4.66 from 466 minutes played.

All these numbers reflect a very effective striker. That striker is Nicolas Jackson.

12 months ago, the conversation was very different. Jackson after six Premier League games only had one goal, coming as the third in a 3-0 win over Luton. Chelsea only had one league victory as well, adding to the concerns early on.

Jackson’s raw ability was harshly exposed in a cruel miss that prevented a late equaliser at home to Nottingham Forest. It would take until early October away to Burnley for his next league goal to arrive.

So far under Enzo Maresca he has as many league goals as he did by the beginning of November 2023.

It is hard to grasp the severe disconnect in the perception of Jackson versus his actual output. The reference point of last season was Rasmus Hojlund, bought by Manchester United for significantly more money and fanfare, the Dane was crowned as a new star boy.

Though reality soon hit as Erik Ten Hag’s side massively struggled. It took Hojlund until Boxing Day to register his first Premier League goal.

But listening to analysis of both, you would assume Jackson was one the one who had taken half a season to find a league goal. When you ask people why there is this assumption the Danish forward is superior, you will usually be referred to “ceilings” which are almost always entirely subjective and aesthetic in preference.

It is even Jackson’s own supporters who have remained as brutal and skeptical. Even as, by any recent metric, his maiden season numbers were anything from acceptable to impressive.

For some historical comparison, Jackson now has two more goals in his first 40 Premier League games than Didier Drogba did. That is also more than Luis Suarez and Robin Van Persie in the same time.

These numbers in isolation are impressive, although they cannot guarantee what is to come for Jackson or how he will be viewed when he leaves Chelsea, but it should be a point for his harshest critics to contemplate.

Kai Havertz, the player Chelsea sold before signing Jackson in 2023 has been hailed as being “transformed” by Mikel Arteta. But the reality is, he still trails behind Jackson for open-play Premier League goals. Despite Havertz moving to a side who competed for a Premier League title last season.

The finishes against West Ham showcased a composure that was severely lacking at times last term, in the first case using his speed down the flank to comfortably outpace Edson Alvarez, picking the right shot choice to calmly slot his effort through the legs of Alphonse Areola.

The second goal proves his instinctive and effective movement. Moving towards the ball before turning and darting into space behind Alvarez again.

This choice is more impressive, using the outside of his boot to curl round Areola and double his tally for the afternoon.

Compared to last year, similar opportunities might have prompted frustration from his supporters as he scuppered a golden chance or taken a shot when a pass was a better choice.

This was best proven for Chelsea’s leveler against Brighton this past Saturday, pouncing on a short back pass by Adam Webster, luring Bart Verbruggen out of his goal before laying it off for Cole Palmer to net his first of four.

This selflessness was also evident for Chelsea’s third against West Ham, laying the ball off to Palmer when early on in his Chelsea career, he may have kept going and looked for goal.

Palmer and Jackson have found a strong kinship since both signed in 2023. Now combining for 11 Chelsea goals and both showing a great understanding of each other’s movement and positioning.

There is also proof of the Senegalese’s decision making in similar areas getting better.

Looking at the West Ham game, where in the first instance he went towards goal and took a shot, in the second Jackson cuts inside and finds Palmer inside the six-yard box, who given his finishing prowess, should have scored.

Compare that to a similar dilemma for him against Brentford almost 12 months ago, he does not look up and wildly takes a poor shot, missing the opportunity to find Palmer in a promising position.

His hold-up play too is something worth appraisal, showing it to good effect on the opening day against Manchester City.

Being pressed aggressively by Manuel Akanji, by no means a small player, but shrugging him off, turning and executing a brilliantly weighted pass around Rico Lewis to set Christopher Nkunku away.

If Palmer, Enzo Fernandez or any other midfielder played this pass, it would be replayed ad nauseam. It is the sort of technique a lazy media perception of Jackson would make you believe he is not capable of. However, those who have watched him closely at Stamford Bridge have seen his all-round game vastly improve.

Even if he fails to get on the scoresheet, Jackson’s tireless running, pressing, movement, link-up and decision making is still enough reason to have him in the starting lineup.

In the victory over Brighton, Jackson won both of his aerial duels, amassed a non-penalty xG of 1.37, created Palmer’s first and recovered the ball twice in the final third.

There are still ways for Jackson to improve. When you are living in an era of Erling Haaland, nearly every other Premier League striker is going to fail in comparison to the monstrously clincical Norwegian. Also, added to that barometer when one of his close peers is breaking records and scoring four goals in one half of Premier League football.

Though for what Chelsea paid for Jackson from Villarreal, along with the brutal criticism he has continued to face across his first year in English football, the reality of Jackson is highly positive. He is scoring a respectable number of goals, his all-round play is impactful, and his ability to connect with Chelsea’s best player cannot be discounted either.

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