Arsenal expose flaws in Chelsea’s game-plan
The Chelsea-Arsenal games this season were always going to be more important than Arsenal-United or Chelsea-United.
Not because those are the top two teams - no.
But because while United could still win the title if they lost to Chelsea, Chelsea would find it very hard to gain ground on United if they lost points to Arsenal.
The last thing Chelsea need on their backs is an Arsenal team that thinks they have a chance to win the title. As things stand, Arsenal are 18 points behind United and all but out of the title race, but they are 10 points behind Chelsea and look like the team most likely to catch up if Chelsea slip.
Chelsea - plodding and limited
Since August people have blasted Chelsea for being plodding and slow and relying on force rather than speed to win games. Andriy Shevchenko has had almost 4 months of straight playing time in the Chelsea starting 11 but he hasn’t helped Chelsea. Adding Robben or Joe Cole in his place would totally change Chelsea’s style of play and give them the guile and pace they need.
The only reason Chelsea ended up as group winners in the Champions League and are comfortably 2nd in the Premiership is thanks to their amazing never-say-die spirit. They showed it against Manchester United at Old Trafford, they showed it at the Nou Camp against Barcelona and they showed it at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal.
This team will die before they accept defeat, and you can’t ask anything more from your team than that.
Arsenal are a big-match team
Arsenal rose to the occasion, much like they had risen to it against Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were outmuscled and outgunned, but they battled and the credit has to go to Wenger’s general on the pitch, Gilberto Silva. That man plays like a king when he’s given the responsibility and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in the middle of a spate of Arsenal wins in the coming month.
Flamini and Hleb had really good games as well. I told Rocky he was nuts to talk up Hleb before, but he really has turned his game up a notch this season and looks in good form.
Despite the 5-man midfield they didnt really have too much width, and that could have been because they had a central midfielder (Hleb) and a striker (van Persie) playing in the wide positions. What difference Walcott could have made instead of Ljunberg…
Match Incidents
Senderos pulled down Drogba - should have been a penalty.
Cole’s tackle on Hleb that wasn’t given a foul - led to the Essien goal, but to be honest that does not take away from the quality of Essien’s strike.
The clash between Drogba and Lehmann was comical and pathetic.
Drogba and Eboue went down easily, but you expect that from them.
Chelsea fans would have been left thinking that if Cech (or even Cudicini) had been there, Flamini’s shot could have been parried away.
What really matters
Manchester United are now 18 points ahead of Arsenal (6th), 16 ahead of Portsmouth (3rd) and 8 ahead of Chelsea (2nd). I would have preferred an Arsenal win but I couldn’t muster the strength to support Arsenal during the game - a draw was the fair result, and fortunately that means we have an advantage (as well as the much-needed rest) going into the next set of games.
Come 1st January (Monday), we’ll have a much clearer picture of who’ll win the title.
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The Senderos\Drogba penalty immediately preceded the Lehmann\Drogba incident. The latter was a consequence of the former. As you say - a surefire penalty, then Lehmann gets involved with Drogba. So Drogba was abused twice before he did anything. How many times does he need to be taken out, off the ball, before the right decision is made? He also got taken out by Lehmann after he touched a ball past him. That makes two penalties, but all people talk about are that he goes down too easily? Bizarre.
Not taking him out in the first place might solve that one, but I don’t think anyone’s thought of something so obvious yet. It may come in time, but I’m not holding my breath. Senderos took him out in the first half too, but a free kick and nothing more. Strange, isn’t it. Almost like it’s decided in advance.
Chelsea had arsenal pretty much all game! Yeah i admit man u got a nice cusion now, but they have to keep it up! I think chelsea know they cant slip up anymore now. I do think chelsea should have easily beat this lot hitting the woodwork 3 times, arsenal only had a few chances but as u say, had chelsea started robben and not sheva i think they would have won with ease.
Carvalho is good, but he lacks the pace to cover the back four if one of the others makes a mistake.
Arsenal’s goal was a clear case of what happens with lesser teams - Arsenal play keep-ball and knock it around until the opposing defence makes a mistake, and then they pounce.
Oh well
Chelsea’s goal, despite the foul, was class.
In al earlier thread “How Arsenal can beat Chelsea”, i had raised my doubts over Arsenal’s ability to win the match and had expected them to at max salvage a draw.
And had hoped that chelsea would do a favour by hitting the post twice, Chelsea crossed my expectations and hit the post thrice
Arsenal were plain lucky to come out of the match with one point.The result is good for us and a 5 point gap is good ,considering we still have to visit the bridge, emirates and anfield.
We do not give Chelsea team, the respect they deserve and I was one of the many among the chelsea hate bandwagon, but the way they rallied themselves after going a goal down, was just awe inspiring.
With the problems of Roman dollars and Jose’s portugese bites and kenyon’s global top claims, there is a very talented team, which gives it all to win and that will eventually earn a lot of respect.
Having said this, I am confident that this will be our year and United are poised to win the league, but i won’t bet against Chelsea’a chances in the champion’s league.
I don’t think, if chelsea had started robben and not sheva they would have won with ease. I guess, all teams, rather their managers have a playing philosophy, which suits them.
Mourinho believes in gaining midfield superiority and uses the wing attack only inn bursts and for a small time. He has been largely successfull doing that, and if he changes his philosophy against top teams , he might expose his defence a bit too much, which will create a not too sure situation.
Let the portugese manager say that he goes into every game to win, no , he goes in every game to “not get beat”.And at times they look like a fashionable , more quality loaden Bolton side, but it works and that is good enough for Jose.
Chelsea won simple becasue Wenegr removed RVP who was keeping Essien, Chelseais best player out of the game when he had shifted to right back. The momment RVP left Essien returned to teh heart of action with a goal. IT’s that simple. Moving Essien to rigfht back has really bean Mourinho’s secret weapon f late and it also forced teh drwa at OT.
Where’s Azar….I told him chelsea could fail to win…….
Jose seems to have forgotten the reason they had great runs in the past two seasons was because of fast wingers. Arsenal questioned his lineup once again as they were quick on the breaks and held the ball for long spells.
Once again Lampard is AWOL in a big game and I wont be shocked if the blues have a terribly blue season