This is an Arsenal team with balls of steel
So, Arsenal proved themselves as a better team than Chelsea last night - a feat accomplished only by Manchester United so far this season, and it is a measure of Jose Mourinho’s legacy that you find it awkward to accept that Chelsea are not capable of winning the Premier League title.
Chelsea’s decline can be attributed to a number of reasons - Mourinho’s departure, the strengthening of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and the league in general (look at how far teams like Everton, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Manchester City have come along in recent years), opposition learning how to play against ‘Chelsea-football’ and their inability to find able deputies for key players (an area that Arsenal and to a certain extent, Manchester United, have excelled in).
It’s quite interesting to see how top teams change their strategies when playing against other top teams - even Arsenal, a team often criticised for not having a plan B, are seen shifting gears when the go up against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal’s playing strategy against Chelsea is worth mentioning - they have learned, from the Carling Cup final at the start of this year to the clash at the Emirates last night (and, I believe, from watching Chelsea’s last two encounters at Old Trafford), that getting under Chelsea’s skin by standing up to them physically and giving them a taste of their own medicine is winning 50% of the battle.
It’s not easy but with players like Fabregas and Flamini (both feisty fighters, a characteristic that Silva and Denilson lack and Diaby cannot channel properly) in the middle, Eboue and Clichy (again, two strong-willed characters) and Gallas (a egotistical bastard but one who responds to big challenges) leading from the back, Arsenal have undergone a transformation in the last two seasons that goes far beyond ‘getting over Henry’s loss’.
This is an Arsenal team with balls of steel, and while they’re not invincible (as recent matches have shown), they are a damned improvement over the Arsenal side of the last 2 years, and for that Arsenal fans will feel that they have an excellent chance at the title (and in the Champions League) this season.
And Chelsea? Chelsea are too good a team to be outside the top four at the end of the season and will do well in the Champions League one feels, but Roman’s refusal to let Mourinho run Chelsea his way coupled with the improvement of their main rivals means that they are, as far as the Premier League is concerned, third-best.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Yup this arsenal side look strong.
I am actually very surprise to see Arsenal being so physical and I think it shock Chelsea players too. Anyway, good for the EPL.
Amana, Arsenal were physical long before Chelsea. I mean, you know about Patrick Viera, Martin Keown, Lauren, Tony Adams et al right? But those boys were huge tough mother******s and the current lot are more like average sized players who combine well, move the ball around together and play with much more physical presence than we would expect from their appearances. No complaints though……………
A very good baised article. just wait buddies season is not over yet …
and what u can expact from Ahmed .
gunners didnt deserve to win though
draw would be fair
Manager -
A win is a win is a win is a win. You think Man Utd deserved to win after all the chances Liverpool had? Think twice before you state what’s ‘fair’ & what isn’t. This is professional football, not a kick-around at the school playground…
Us Blues were missing Drogba, Malouda Essien and Carvalho - a pathetic excuse to be sure, but definitely a major factor in the loss yesterday.
A draw would have been fair, but the offensive side of the game went to Arsenal, even though the Blues blistered them in the second half, as they usually do against clubs after the half time break.
Chelsea is only 6 points back and definitely has a chance, but with Drogba and now Terry being out and the ANC fast approaching, Chelsea are definitely looking challenged to fight for that top spot. As a supporter I know they can do it, but it will come down (again) to the health of the pplayers and who we can bring in during the January transfer window to help us shore up some weak spots.
Right on Spiral Architect. We were definitely the better team. We were at home(which is an important factor anyday), and I think everyone (including Petr Cech who claims his team were definitely the better one) forgets that we got the ball inside their net thrice. Rosicky was slightly offside agreed, but Ben Haim couldnt handle Adebayor and lost him and the ball and the referee calls a foul on Ade.Now I’m not Ade’s biggest fan (far from it) but yesterday was one his better days and it was cruel to rob him of that goal. The referee gave them a freekick towards the end in a dangerous position(I dont know why) and should have shown Terry a straight red early on(which would have ensured that he stayed injury-free). On top of all this, we did score thrice and they didnt even hit our net even once. Still those retards claim a ‘draw’ would have been a fair result. Dont agree manager, no way. Go get your head (and possibly eyes too) examined…………
Chelsea were gutted as soon as Terry went off injured. Lampards no captain and Ben-Haims terrible. Also big up too Flamini. Lovin those big challenges.
Chelsea are nothing without Drogba, Terry and Essien. Pizarro and Sheva aren’t in the right class. Ben-haim isnt up to it at all. John Obi Mikel is a farce
Orgie, which game were you watching. Mikel is good now and could be great. But you are right that Chelsea without it’s spine of starters is not Chelsea. Sheva had a good first half but he really just needs to go back to Italy.
And just so there is no confusion…Arsenal dominated that game. Even with the pace dictated by Chelsea in the first half Arsenal was still able to get flowing attacks going. Then with Chelsea out of their shell, being down a goal in the second half, they played right into the Gunner’s hands and the chances abounded for Arsenal.
At the end of the day though I never would have thought my man of the match vote would go to Almunia, but it did.
Arsenal is doing pretty well but not strong enough mentally or physically to maintain this all season.Whine all u want but it’s the truth & u’ll c @ the end of the season.(remember i said so).don’t get me wrong though they’ve a 1derfull crop of young players & will be a very strong force to reckon with in Europe very soon but not just yet.
Man U is the best. YA DIGG???!!!???!!!????!!!???!!??
Arsenal was a shell of its first half self after the halftime break yesterday, I don’t know how anyone in their right mind could say Arsenal won the second half. Of course they were going to break with 8 and 9 chelsea players in the Arsenal box, and they got NO goals out of it - some real beautiful flair football there *sarcasm*.
Terry did not deserve a red. He cleared the ball away accidentally hit his own guy which made him slip and fall. How is that a red card?
A deserved red card should have been given to Fabregas. Anyone in their right mind cannot defend that challenge on Ashley Cole at the final whistle.
Arsenal were the better team overall, but saying that they dominated it hilarious and misguided. They scored one goal, on a keeper mistake, and couldn’t muster anything else. Granted, Cech made some great saves, but if Gunner fans are going to point as the final result as 1-0, then I will say being only 1-0 it was anything but a dominating Arsenal performance.
See you Gooners in March at the Bridge - should be a helluva of a game that day, unless both of our squads are in the infirmary from injury.
Were Arsenal… and we’ve got Balls!!!! COME ON ARSENAl
Sour grapes Brian. The Blues were beaten and soundly. One goal and it could have been more. Both keepers made good saves but we had Adebayor’s goal called back by an idiotic call against him.
We will be all the more confident and healthy at Stamford in March and will beat you again.
2-0 to Arsenal in March
Yo Brian, every Gooner in their right mind will defend and support Fabregas’s challenge on Cashley Hole.It should have been to his balls though…………..
According to Brian, Arsenal “They scored one goal, on a keeper mistake, and couldn’t muster anything else”. Which game were you watching?
Yeah, When I saw the game on Sunday morning at 1.30 )AU Time) we did very, very well; I think Manuel Almunia had probably the game of his career, the deflected shot taht Sheva had was saved beautifully in the air from Manuel.
Good on Cesc for letting Ashley Cole have it after that accident, and when the 60,000 strong at Emirates hissed and booed Cashley C**t, I think it did get too him.
Great Game!
I wonder - had Eboue been sent off and Terry not have to come off the field after that disgrace of a challenge (or intent to injure, which is what it was), whether this article would have been quite so dismissive of Chelsea’s chances. Alas, they aren’t meant to compete this season as has been evidenced on many occasions so to heck with it.