Watching the match against Wigan, I envisioned Mourinho setting up a similiar strategy against the Gunners. Lined up in a 4-5-1, Crespo as the lone stiker, implement a patient, possession oriented gameplan. Play a game of keep away and keep the Gunners from getting the ball and playing their style. Forsake the concept of the “long ball” and look to score on set pieces.
Chelsea set up with 4 fullbacks, who seemed to stay in one place and never moved past half. They set Essien in front and behind the midfielders. Though lined up as a midfielder himself, Essien looked like a fifth defender and was used to reset play when the MF got stuck. Duff, Robben, Cole and Lampard worked the ball to the outside, working alot of east-west movement. Crespo tried to hide in the middle and release as the midfield attempted to time his run. It worked to serve up more offsides than it did scoring chances. No bother, though, as Chelsea kept Wigan at bay and won off John Terry’s head, again. He has victimized two teams in two matches from the same left footed inswinger at 7 yards. I believe he did the same to the Gunners at Highbury last season.
Mourinho is a shrewd manager who believes in results. If he can keep the Gunners from holding possession and win another from a corner, than he is happy with the three points. The Gunners must be sharp on all set pieces and look to one of their own if they want to make up space towards the top.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Ever the Optimist!
66 Responses to “Chelsea- As simple as I can make it!”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
December 15th, 2005 at 8:40 am
I agree with everything but your optimism. At least in the short term.
But I’ll be fighting inside with every tick of the clock.
Up The Arse, kiss the crest, KEEP THE FAITH!
December 15th, 2005 at 9:31 am
For the first time in memory, I don’t know if I want to watch the game. Just over a year ago, we were still pretty much the Invincibles… I didn’t see HOW anyone could beat us. I didn’t think United were going to stop our unbeaten run when they did at 49… didn’t see it as possible.
Times and Arsenal have changed so much, that I am not sure we can WIN now, and I don’t want to watch us lose to Chelsea, it will ruin my day(s).
We don’t match up talent wise, especially in the center. We don’t have the character players that we once had, and still desperately need. And the injuries have mounted and made us even weaker. We COULD win this match. I don’t see it happening. I HOPE we manage a draw, but I think we lose our 3rd straight match.
Can anyone tell me when we last lost 3 straight matches?
December 15th, 2005 at 9:57 am
I agree with you, but its an 11 VS 11 game. Chelsea can’t play more. I think we have 11 good players to beat Chelsea. The LB is only place that is making me worried. Even against Newcastle we looked stronger, but its Newcastle ( a team who lost 4-1 against Chelsea).
I think the highly predicted result would be a tie, but I can see a late goal from Arsenal.
December 15th, 2005 at 10:11 am
Stag, at the past u believed Arsenal OWN Chelsea is not because we really own them in terms of quality. Even before Roman’s take over, Chelsea had always been a big spending team. Be it under Vialli or Ranierl, they always got a quality side with quality players all over their squad.
We beat them most of the time was down to one factor - we got more heart and character than them. A lot of victories over Chelsea at the past we did it coming from behind. I remember well one match at Stamford Bridge, we were trailing 0-1, and got one man sent off, my old man told me we were going to lose. I told him no, we would come back ‘cos Chelsea did not have the character to hold the win. And we did, through a late Kolo Toure equalizer.
Under the self-proclaimed SPECIAL ONE, not only now they got even more quality, but they also got plenty of character which had been surpsingly understated by the media and Chelsea bangwagon a*s-kissers.
YES, this Chelsea team now got character. As they had demostrated after each of their minor setback, they always bounce straight back the next game. It’s a significant improvement from their past.
That’s what makes it more difficult for us to beat them now. Nobody OWNS nobody in this game, it’s a matter of heart and desire, particular when two sides are close in terms of quality. To compete with them with depth, we don’t stand a prayer. But at the moment, we are almost having our full team availabe bar left back position. Quality wise, if we are not as good as them, we are not that far behind.
We can win, and we should win, particular with 30,000+ home fans cheering the team behind. Ppl can blame the manager as much as they wish, but when the match starts, it’s the PLAYERS who need to do the business.
Had our players got the job done the past few matches? And when thing were against us, where was our BIG PLAYER who’s supposed to rise to the occassion when things are against us?
They say BIG PLAYER play BIG in the BIG match. And there is no biggest match than Sunday’s match.
I dont’ mind even if we lose, but I hope the players would give their ALL.
December 15th, 2005 at 10:42 am
I believe we had a stretch of 17 out of 18 against Chelsea… that is OWNING a team. No two ways about it.
That was about 1 1/2 ago. That may as well be 1 million years ago. The teams are different.
If you don’t have the horses to compete, day in day out, then its NOT down to the players.
With Lauren at LB and Kolo at RB, thats 2 guys playing out of position. With Cesc / Gilberto in the middle, we are lacking. These are just facts.
You can point at a lot of players. You can point at the manager and board. There is enough blame to go around everywhere. If you don’t feed your strikers the ball in a good position, then they have to do it ALL themselves. So Thierry is supposed to get the ball in midfield and dribble thru the 8 players defending against Chelsea? I don’t think so.
His conversion rate is fantastic, and he has scored amazing goals and made amazing attempts at goal. EVERYONE needs to step it up. Its not a one man match. There is only so much he can do. There is ONE STAR on our team. He’s the only one thats played like a star as well. Perhaps the REST of the squad should step up to his level. I don’t blame TH14 for our troubles. No way.
I mind if we lose. The fans are going to have little to do with the outcome. I don’t feel to confident. I PRAY they prove me wrong. It would make the entire EPL smile.
December 15th, 2005 at 12:00 pm
We won’t even have Gilberto in the midfield because of the red card. As poor as he has been playing, I think I would rather have him there than Flamini, or even worse, Song.
December 15th, 2005 at 12:06 pm
If we win, it’ll be because RvP doesn’t give a rat’s ass about any of this junk.
Humble them, Robin, and let’s have a party.
December 15th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
While I thought our “invincible” team of 2003-2004 was not as good as many around here would have you believe, I also believe our current team is not as bad as has been projected.
It is true that our current team lacks that vital ingredient to replicate our home form onto our away games. A lack of physical fortitude has been banded about as a reason for this however when one looks back at our dismal away performances of 1999-2000, and early 2001, and the physical players in our ranks such as Vieira, Grimandi, Parlour, Adams, and Keown, then it can be argued our lack of away form is an affliction as a result of our lack of mental fortitude rather than physical. With somwhat flimsy looking players that we have, this manifests itself in form of physical weakness when in fact it is a lack of confidence that seemed to take hold after the Chelsea loss.
At home we have had no such problems and I think we have a great chance of winning if, as Stag says, our revered midfielders step up and don’t leave it to Thierry to score the random and unlikely-to-happen-again goals that got a us a draw last year. We need Hleb, Ljungberg, Pires, and Reyes in the mood and if that is the case we can beat what I think is an decent team, with character, determination, and fitness being their best assets. Which makes it imperative that we keep going for the full 90 minutes.
December 15th, 2005 at 1:47 pm
I don’t even want RVP to start.
He will go anonymous.
He had his hot spell, he’s in his anon.spell now.
December 15th, 2005 at 1:49 pm
I like your assessment. I think its right on.
We need Hleb/Freddie/Pires & Reyes to STEP UP.
Which of them will start? Who knows.
We need full commitment for 90, AGREED.
It can be done, at least on any given day.
Let’s hope we rise to the occasion. We need it, and so does the rest of the league.
December 15th, 2005 at 2:22 pm
Sheesh. The kid gets 8 in 8, can’t get much of a look in for the next few, and he’s anon?
His goals are not flukey at all, and his attitude’s ace. Almost want to separate him from the herd until they get their collective heads together.
December 15th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
I know what you mean about watching the game.
That said, I’ll be sitting there with my jersey on, my scarf around my neck, song-less hanging on to every minute with glee or sulking with loss.
It was no easier with the Bolton loss, the Hot Spurs draw, etc.
December 15th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
I’m rooting for him to stir up the crowd.
December 15th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
When he goes quiet, I don’t even see him on the pitch. Yes, he was hot… now he’s cold.
I don’t remember him doing ANYTHING in the last few matches, other than whiffing on a kick.
How about the old COMPETITION for PLACES deal?
Or do we just anoint another one as the starter?
Its killed us, quite frankly.
December 15th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
The problem is who to start in his place? Reyes - we know he doesn’t work that well up front with TH. Bergkamp? Much as I admire him, I think he would be pretty anonymous.
December 15th, 2005 at 4:59 pm
If there is no competition for places, you get what we have had this season…
complacent players giving half ass effort.
I’d start Dennis Bergkamp.
I’d start Pires and Ljungberg as well.
Thats just me.
Going with the PROVEN players who have done this all before.
December 15th, 2005 at 5:20 pm
Champions League Draw tomorrow!
Should be VERY interesting, as Chelsea could wind up playing a Barcelona again!
I am hoping we wind up with the likes of Werder Bremen, PSV, Benfica or Rangers.
Real Madrid face the prospect of playing : Arsenal / AC Milan / Inter Milan / Juventus / or Liverpool.
Thats a fantastic match-up regardless of who it is!
On the JANUARY FRONT:
CANEIRA is apparently on our wish list as a January LOAN deal from Valencia.
I have never seen him play.
Anybody with info on him?
December 15th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
So much can change in a year. I remember last year on Dec 12, I was outside Highbury for this game. Unfortunately I could not get tickets, but I saw both teams arrive before the game.
When the Chelsea bus arrived, there was some boo’s, but it was very quiet as the Chelsea players made their way up the steps. However, a chorus of boo’s rang out when their manager stepped out. He simply smiled and waved to the ground. One chelsea fan shouted towards the arsenal fans something like ‘you can tell how nervous you guys are’. No one said anything to him. Yes there was nervous anticipation before the game. I went down to the Sports Bar near Picadilly to watch the game on their huge projector screens. The place was packed with majority of Arsenal fans (60% or so)
Henry quickly settled everyone’s nerves with that quick goal. However, everytime Chelsea had a corner, Arsenal fans were concerned. We were done in by set-pieces. But Arsenal should have finished Chelsea by a score of 5-2. Henry blasted over the gaping net in the 75th minute, Van Persie’s shot narrowly missed the goal and a penalty appeal was turned down. After the game, a lot of people felt Arsenal let Chelsea off the hook. However, everyone felt the title was still up for grabs. But those dropped points in the upcoming weeks really dashed all that.
Now a year and 6 days later, we are still chasing Chelsea. However, the gap is much wider than the 5 point gap last year. Yes so much has changed in this one year.
None the less, still looking forward to the game. I don’t believe it will be as open as last year. The only thing that can open it is a quick Arsenal goal. Then Chelsea will have to come out and attack. But an early Chelsea goal might change things completely.
Cometh the hour, Cometh the man..or something like that…
December 15th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
We could get Bayern.
Ideally, Rangers.
December 15th, 2005 at 6:36 pm
A big ask for Arsenal to win this game given recent results. We must at least draw this game to allow others put pressure on Chelsea over the coming weeks.
The only way we can win the league is if it becomes a four or five horse race and we come out of the pack in the last two months. If Utd. and Liverpool can put Chelsea under pressure and reel them in, we need to stay close.
For this to happen Chelsea need to drop points quickly and we need to stop dropping points.
December 15th, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Okay, enough of the malaise ? we?re all sounding somewhat despondent as of late.
We all know the mid-field needs to be fixed and I?m sure the Boss will do what he can come the transfer window or through switching positions. As for the EPL Champ Silverware it has slipped away but second or third hasn?t.
As Her Magicesty once said, ?It?s an anus horrebelus.? or was that ?anas
Horribilus?? Arsenal is going through an off year but not everything has run away from them yet. Arsenal is capable of placing in the top three and winning some Silverware in Cup Challenges.
We all know that Arsenal can beat Chelsea and I think that I?m going to start believing that instead of skulking around fretting over Sunday?s game. If the guys really want it and the rules of the game with Chelsea aren?t bent out of shape, they can win a great game of soccer at home to them.
You know I?m a lover of good soccer and the difference between supporting a club and just the ?beautiful game? is that you don?t always get to see ?good soccer?. By hook or crook the lads must want the win and exercise the tools of talent, they all possess to achieve their goal.
No one stuck out in that last game maybe ScottyUS is right.
Beautiful young woman and a man swinging pompoms (I?m biased thus only one token man on this squad). Damn some of them could even be psychiatrist cheerleaders in skirts for ScottyUS. Now, I would have paid even more money for that type of psychological help — an analist in a skirt, or is that analyst in a skirt.
Arsenal doesn?t just need a midfield player they need a cheerleader squad like in real football lol
Arsenal 1 ? 0 Chelsea
arsenalyst skirt?
:)~ UU ~(:
December 15th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
I’m hoping for two early Arsenal goals, if we acheive that we’re in for one hell of a game as Chelsea will come at us non-stop instead of sitting back and waiting for us to commit the usual suicide defencive play we’ve come to expect……Wooo! What happened? I think I dozed off and started dreaming…..So as I was saying Chelsea come at us from the start and score two early goals…
December 15th, 2005 at 11:36 pm
Crouch to score 10 and make the World Cup Squad…Not so far off now is it!
December 16th, 2005 at 1:10 am
PSV should be avoided. They are a dangerous team in the knockout stages.
December 16th, 2005 at 1:16 am
The midfield has been lacking in goals. Pires has scored four, but three were penalties. Reyes has scored only one, a tap-in after rounding the gk. Ljunberg has scored only one, that in the CL. Hleb is yet to have a shot on target. Gilberto has one, a header in the CL. Fabregas has one, a great one against Blackburn. Maybe if the midfield was scoring goals, our problems would not have been this bad.
December 16th, 2005 at 2:57 am
Maybe Arsenal “owned” Chelsea in the past because they were better, physically and mentally, while Chelsea were only style and flair. In the same vein, ManU have been “owning” Arsenal in the past few seasons. If we lose on Sunday, Chelsea could start their own “own” sequence.
December 16th, 2005 at 6:49 am
It’s Real Madrid. Should be very interesting. We can beat them!!
December 16th, 2005 at 8:51 am
Talk of winning the league is absurd. Why delude yourself.
The league is finished, over! We could beat Chelsea 6-0, and it would still be over.
Chelse will not lose another 5 games this season. And Arsenal will have to win practically every single game to catch them.
Look at the state of Arsenal, it’s not going to happen. I’d be surprised if Arsenal won more than 4 away games this season - win the league? Don’t be soft.
December 16th, 2005 at 10:06 am
Crouch SUCKS!
December 16th, 2005 at 11:06 am
Oh I luv it!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:56 am
My heart says 3-1 to Arsenal!! But my head says a close 1-1 scoreline.
This is the type of game that makes the great players stand out and be great - Henry did it last year and was just denied a hatrick by a slight bobble of the ball which flew over the net around the 80th minute as we had Chelsea pinned in their half….
Passion will be as high if not higher this time around and mark my words after the defeat and mdeia criticsm we have taken following 2 defeats due to lack of strength well we might just see the likes of Lauren automatically taking matter into his hands and maybe hacking down a few Chelsea players…..no Gilberto but I guess that is not a bad thing right now…
My line up
Toure Campbell Senderos Lauren
Pires Cesc Flamini Hleb/Ljungberg
RVP Henry
December 17th, 2005 at 10:35 am
Arsene Wenger@ “We need to have a go at them and play completely the game we want to play.”
How can you play the game you want to play when the opposition has better players in nearly every position?
It’s this sort of comment that explains why Wenger not only overestimates the quality of the team, but makes no provisions for the quality of the other item.
It’s also why he has no tactics when we play a big team and invariably end up drawing or losing.
December 17th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
To be fair, it’s that philosophy that has made Arsenal what they are today and what has won them three titles in eight years. Alot of Arsenal’s undoing in these big games, apart from F.A Cup Final, have been individual errors by perennial calamity’s such as Toure and Lauren.
December 17th, 2005 at 6:10 pm
More likely SENDEROS and CAMPBELL than
Toure and Lauren.
And…
Reyes said he thinks the Arsenal are a better team than Chelsea!
He obviously has been drinking the Kool-Aid.
December 17th, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Reyes is a moron. Virtually since the day he came every time Arsenal have a big game he starts shouting the odds, and everytime we lose - and invariably he does nothing throughout the match.
It’s all talk, fluff. Talking up confidence that does not exist is not a good idea - you will only go into the match with a blase attitude. He needs to keep his piehole shut and concentrate on getting his own form back instead of making ridiculous remarks that fly in the face of facts.
December 17th, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Both pairs are as bad as each other but Lauren and Toure managed to make the final cut. Don’t worry Sendy and Sol, better luck next time, this time tomorrow you could be in the final two in the prize for Arsenal biggest calamity defender of 2005!
December 18th, 2005 at 12:18 am
Is the website gonna be fixed soon?
Should be lots to talk about after the Chelski match regardless of the outcome.
Thierry talks of trying to revive our title race? Well, start with an emphatic win on Sunday, and perhaps we’ll start to think the possibility is a little bit less remote than today!
I’ve heard Ash is fit? I’ve heard he’s gone to Madrid already… It will be interesting to see him line-up against his NEXT team in the CL!!!
We have been linked with a player that I think is excellent… but its always gossip, ain’t it?
Thomas Rosicky ( Borussia Dortmund)
I’d love to see that happen. How likely?
Gravesen was apparently spotted at Old Trafford recently. Doesn’t Everton have FIRST rights if he comes back to the EPL? Dontcha think they might need him for the relegation battle?
Clown face RonaldMacdonaldinho “CLAIMS” that Henry and Lampard are going to be joining him at Barca. Whatever!
I know there are more than a few Barcelona admirers on this site… I am NOT one of them. I personally hope Chelsea STUFF THEM AGAIN!
Then maybe they can make some more idiotic comments about who’s coming to Barca and how all the English teams will be out of the CL.
I fancy Arsenal’s chances more against Chelsea than Barca, so I hope Chelsea take them out yet again.
Tottenham are linked with signing the 16 year old, Walcott, from Soton… I think I have sussed out there plans… just wait until Arsenal are interested in a player, and then try to beat us to signing that player. They’ve been doing this for over a year now. Must really save them some money on scouting!!
AC Milan are going to move for John Terry in the Summer… brilliant! I’d love to see Chelsea’s best players being poached! Just wouldn’t bet on it. They can pay more than anyone can.
Hell, Henry is alleged to be able to get 150,000 / wk. if he goes to Chelsea!!!!!
and finally… Glad we didn’t fall for Michael Owen! We couldn’t possibly use this guy in the squad! Who said Newcastle overpaid for him? I don’t think so… he’s the real deal. Always has been.
GO ON GUNNERS!
Claim that Chelsea scalp tomorrow.
I have hope for the match… I will watch after all!
December 18th, 2005 at 2:16 am
I don’t see anyway for us to win (unless we have the kind of miracle game that we had in last year’s FA Cup final). It’s a measure of how far we’ve fallen that it will be viewed as a massive upset if we beat Chelsea at Highbury
The only premiership-quality mifielder we have is suspeneded. I don’t think the partnership Flamini and Cesc would worry Sheffield United much less Chelsea. We can’t even experiment with Toure in the midfield because we are so short of defenders –
This is just hard to watch because we are wasting the rare opportunity of having (arguably )the greatest player in the world. That kind of a chance comes along once in a blue moon and the club is flushing it. In fact, the last few games Henry looks so frustrated and disenchanted, I think it’s going to be hard to keep him — whyshould he stay and put up with a bunch of unproven kids when he go to Spain or Italy and play with other world class players.
In the end, the scoreline will probably look pretty good — most likely 1 -0 to Chelsea — because of Mourinho’s conservative style. But I expect Lampard and Essien to have all day to dwell on the ball and pick our backline apart.
December 18th, 2005 at 2:18 am
That would be a great line up if Wenger can pull it off — but I think the “special one” might object to Arsenal using 11 players.
December 18th, 2005 at 8:31 am
That’s why I put a “/” between Ljungberg and Hleb - I am divided as far as choosing one of them to start.
December 18th, 2005 at 8:42 am
What is going on with this site man? This should be a time for irrational debate and live-to-regret predictions about today’s game but it feels like we’re being gagged. It doesn’t feel right talking about it on an old post, and judging by the ghost town feel to the site, nor does anyone else!
December 18th, 2005 at 9:13 am
Spurs locked the Walcott deal for 9 mil, I think.
And if you think the rumors were bad before the game, wait until after it if we don’t WIN.
Im my opinion, just because Owen is scoring for NUFC, doesn’t mean he was the right player for us. Everytime someone does something big in this league or another, Gooner are always ready to yell “sign him!”.
We’re in full desperation mode, both on the pitch and off of it.
December 18th, 2005 at 10:04 am
Scotty…
Michael Owen is an outstanding player.
We needed JUST that type of goal poacher. We’ve seen what he can do. If he’s scoring goals at NUFC, he’d be banging them in here, where we have players who’d much rather pass than shoot, after they’ve dribbled by 7 defenders.
He’d have been excellent here. We saved the cash. We didn’t spend money. We put it in the bank where its earning big interest, and while Rome is burning, we fiddle.
Not signing him, yet another missed opportunity.
December 18th, 2005 at 10:42 am
Oops, my bad
Personally I’m hoping that we start them both with Hleb playing as a #10 just off the strikers — aggressive, but I think today the best defense is a good offense — games about to start
Up the Arse!
December 18th, 2005 at 11:13 am
His decisions might be suspect at the moment, but Wenger had his reasons for not signing him. He didn’t fit. at NUFC he’s the man. We already have “The Man”. He signs, someone sits.
In my opinion it has nothing to do with the relatively little bit of cash he would have cost. This is old news.
December 18th, 2005 at 1:18 pm
I am not sure what to say but we sucked today. Beside the 2 chances that we had in the first half, we did not do anything.
One thing the commentator said about when Arsenal were 2- down against chelsea several years ago and Kanu scored 3 goals , ” Arsenal is a different team, and Chelsea is a VERY differnt team”. It made me sad …
Why the hell nothing is being made to fix this ..
December 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
2 cheap goals given away…But they did create more chances and better chances..Our defense needs work and needs to stop living by this stupid offside traps especially against speedy players like Robben and Drogba…Big tactical mistake.
Chelsea only had to shut down 2 Arsenal players to prevent us from scoring..TH and RVP…We have to shut down Drogba, Lampard, Cole, Robben…That is the difference in the threat level….4 of Chelsea’s players are capable of putting the ball in the back of the net with frequency, while we only have 2.
This game again exposed our weakness in scoring headers…We have nobody to meet a cross in the box, it has to get on someone’s foot. Fabregas played well but lacks the stature…He needs another 2 years to play with men..
We played the best 1st half I have seen this season except for the first 10 minutes or so. Unlucky about RVP goal, but still felt that Chelsea would have scored on us…They had the chances..Can’t blame TH since they always have 2 or 3 guys on him.
what a difference a year makes …Silver lining is that AW spends to get players in January even if it is temporary, because there is no realistic chance of winning the CL with this team if we have to face Chelsea again. We had 4 players around 20 or under at the end of the game, Senderos, Fab, Flamini and Quincy.
December 18th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
Not old news when we can’t score a goal to save our lives. How many in a row is this with no goals?
Old news?
No… NEWS, yes. We can’t score, and we passed on a proven scorer who is banging them in. More bad management from Wenger and the board.
Unacceptable.
December 18th, 2005 at 2:15 pm
what did fabregas do that was so good?
and… we didn’t get out of our HALF of the pitch for the first 15 to 20 minutes, yet you canlled our first half this season?
No way.
We simply are not good enough to beat Chelsea.
We could play them 10 times in 10 days and we’d be lucky to win one.
They are far superior defensively and just wait for our mistakes to capitalize.
Offside call against us was wrong.
Henry hits the post and it bounces OUT.
There first call got a no-call on a close off-side decision…(it was a fair goal)… and both their goals nestled in off the post and IN.
The game is a matter of inches very often. It can be a game of breaks. Its a cruel game at times. They are better. They got the breaks. They made the most of their chances. It was the same way for us 2 years ago.
We are 20 points off the top before the midway point of the season. ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
Wenger and the board are 100% fully responsible for the team on the pitch. Blame goes to them.
December 18th, 2005 at 2:45 pm
We didn’t play the beginning of the 1st half or end well..We had a stretch of 20 minutes in the 1st half that was very good with our players tackling hard and pressuring every ball..But after they scored the goal, we looked deflated..The confidence to come back is not there anymore and that comes from having an experienced squad..It is got to be frustrating for the older players.
I agree Chelsea is superior to us and there is no way we can beat them in the Champions league unless it is the final and we win like we did the FA Cup..We will not win over a 2 game match.
It appears none of our players except maybe Sol has the physical strength to hold the ball.
December 18th, 2005 at 2:56 pm
That’s quite a bit of hindsight, Stag. The old news is Wenger’s reasons for not buying Owen back when he was available. I don’t think its pertinent in any sense to blame him weeks later when Owen nets a hat trick.
We’ve got goalscorers that aren’t getting it done. That that includes Henry. You want to swap him for Owen?
December 18th, 2005 at 3:16 pm
Chelsea have raised the bar and Arsenal are being embarrasingly left behind. Then again that’s no surprise as they have spent two hundred million in a couple of years while we, through a lack of money and baffling decision-making from Wenger, who somehow thinks benching his youngsters will “kill” them, have relied on unproven youngsters and medicocre former-superstars who are over the hill.
Without doubt Wenger played into Chelsea’s hands by playing a 4-5-1, thus diluting the direct threat of Van Persie and handed the initiative to Chelsea. I understand he probably wanted to protect the defence but handing Chelsea the impetus only served to highlight the total shambles that our defence is- in my view the reason we lost the match.
Our central defenders, apart from Toure, are an absolute joke and as I said before, their ability on the ball undermines everything our team is striving for in terms of playing good football and putting pressure on the opposition. We can’t play that style of football with those clowns in defence, it is as simple as that.
December 18th, 2005 at 3:29 pm
I agree almost completely — There is a huge talent gap between us and Chelsea and, frankly, I think there is a significant gap between us and ManU and Liverpool, but I actually saw some reason for hope
I think that Cesc and Flamini played better in this game than in any other game this season — they defended more convicningly, won balls and played the ball more quickly.
Hleb had some good moments and Toure was particularly good on the ball (which makes me hope that he’ll be given a shot at central midfield when Clichy and Cole are healthy)
On the whole, I think if we play at the same level the res of the year, a Top 4 spot in the league is very doable
the most worrying thing I saw was the evidence of Lehman’s advancing age and TH’s frustration. Unless we do some major buying in January, I’m not convinced henry will stick around.
December 18th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
No, I want him alongside Owen.
I wanted him alongside Owen when he became available. But ohhhhhhh no…. can’t bring him in, too much money, and we’d have to sit down all that wonderful potential talent.
RVP… Mr.Anonymous.
Please, he can’t carry Owen’s gym bag, especially in big matches.
December 18th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
What did Lehmann do that was wrong?
What has he done ALL SEASON except play solid in goal. He’s been our BEST player this year.
Toure was good today. He ran at Chelsea, went in hard and won the ball at times. He played with passion and grit. He will just get better and better.
Henry is going to leave, in my opinion. We are not up to his standards any longer. We are not going to make the top 4 with “THIS TEAM”.
We are in 8TH PLACE
8 Wins 6 Defeats 2 Draws
MEDIOCRITY.
I am pissed off, quite frankly, that its come to this level of football, in the last year at THOF.
In case your counting folks, thats 3 losses in a row for the first time in 11 years.
Haven’t scored a goal in AGES.
This is the Arsenal Football Club, December 2005.
How f’ng sad is that.
PATHETIC.
December 18th, 2005 at 5:23 pm
While I don’t disagree that we have been left in the dust, I am not sure you can blame the defense for us NOT BEING ABLE TO SCORE A GOAL in AGES!
That would be due to poor distribution and control of the ball and match in midfield.
We simply create few chances… and thats hardly the fault of the defense.
Our midfield is so weak is pathetic. I am not sure if you can turn over the entire midfield, but I’d think about it. We need at least 2 midfielders of QUALITY to add to this team… and not frail small finesse players either.
We’ve got an 18 yr.old whose got little help, and can’t be asked to do the midfield on his own. Freddie Hleb Pires Gilberto… nada from these guys in this stretch of losses.
NO GOALS, not the fault of the defense, for sure.
December 18th, 2005 at 6:09 pm
I think Arsenal is realy suffering from missing the LB (Cole or Clichy). We had to play Lauren there in other games we had to play Cygan, we suffered from there. on the other hand Toure is playing in RB and Sendy is taking Toure’s place. There is a mess in the back.
Beside this, we badly need a CM that is Physical and good.
I think that TH14 Captainship is not doing good enough. We should have someone in the middle to lead our team.
If TH14 leaves, then let him leave.. what a great thing he leaves behind him ” The great Captain that left his team suffereing and went to play in Baracalona”.
I am not ganna fear not finishing Top 4. Not cause we will do better, its just I cant see other teams beside Liverpool or Manu and of course Chelsea finish on top of us.
December 18th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Yes, blame Henry… because Arsenal were stupid enough to not bring in the proper players.
Funny how Arsenal SOLD the great Captain… and they will sell Henry too… and take that money and deposit it in the bank…
Don’t blame Henry for the teams troubles… try looking at Wenger and the board. They made the mess. They made their bed, now they must lie in it.
They should be quaking in there boots about NOT making the CL, and watching that big new stadium not draw sellout crowds.
December 18th, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Stag — I usually agree with you but on Lehman — truthfully I’ve never really been that high on him — not great in the air and slow as molasses. Today, neither shot was particularly well struck — well-placed but not well struck. To me he looked slow to react. Compare his reaction to Cech’s reaction to Pires’ shot. I’ll admit he is pretty steady when they hit them at him, but on the move …. well, it’s just one man’s opinion
As for 4th — I confess it’s infuriating to have to find solace in the fact that we are still in the hunt for a CL place, but since our main competition for those spots are Bolton and Tottenham, I think we have a chance to overhaul them.
It’s grim, but not hopeless
December 18th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
Lehmann is hardly the problem on this team.
He was not at fault for either goal, and I don’t know of ANY keeper that could have stopped either shot. No way.
The fact that we have to overhaul Bolton or the Totts to get 4th SAYS IT ALL. Thats HORRIFIC for a team that 2 season’s ago was undefeated and blowing teams off the pitch with class and style.
December 18th, 2005 at 10:58 pm
I see accusations of players that is unwarranted..I thought the effort was there from everybody…But, the person to blame is AW for his offside trap tactics..
Think about it…Both goals and the several opportunities they had was due to Robben and Cole getting behind the defense and us ending up with a foot race with 2 of the speediest players in the EPL..Kolo is the only one who has the speed to catch upto those players in a offside trap..Even when Cole dispossessed Lauren, Sol had to scramble back…Do you remember Chelsea giving us any chance to lob into Henry and try to get into a foot race with Henry? Also, are our defenders any slower than Liverpool’s? But in the 2 CL matches between Liverpool and Chelsea, do you remember Liverpool facing the offside dilemma? No.
Against Chelsea I would have preferred 4-1-3-2 with Eboue in Right Back and Kolo in front of the defenders…kind of like Chelsea with Makelele in front of defense..I am getting very disappointed in AW lack of tactical options..Don’t know whether he has what it takes to win CL.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:09 am
Easy to second guess Wenger after the match.
We all do it.
I had no problem with Kolo at LB and Lauren at RB. That was not the problem.
We didn’t create much of anything.
I don’t know why are blaming anything on defense or Lehmann, as we haven’t scored a goal in how many matches? 4?
You can’t win if you don’t score. We didn’t. We haven’t in 4 matches… and we would have needed a spectacular goal from Henry to bounce IN instead of OUT in this one to get a goal.
Lauren lost the ball, then Cole was one on one with Campbell and the Keeper. Sol didn’t stop him.
We are short on REAL answers to this dilemma… because the best answer is new players coming in. We could play any tactic you wish…. 4-1-3-2?
How about 5-2-2-1, or 3-5-1-1-1…?
Please, they are better than we are. They have better players. They outplayed us AGAIN. We are not good enough. Its not tactics. They come to play football against us, and they beat us playing football. Its not like Blackburn or Bolton.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:49 am
Some of the negatives of having a thin squad and beside not having players to fill injured ones, is not having a player to fill out the players that are moraly distroyed.
Since we lost against Bolton and I could feel our 11 are just destroyed. When u have enough players, u can blend players that did not play in that game that u lost, blend them in the team and the morals would go up.
3 defeats in 3 weeks is a very high number, and boosting up again is very hard. Its very hard to get back the winning attitude to the players. The need for new players in Jan is mostly for moral boost.
I hope that AW would move fast and get us a CM and a Defender.
I dont want the title, but I would be happy if we finish with a Silverware, Top4 and far in CL. … we need a larger squad !
December 19th, 2005 at 1:34 am
- We were outclassed by a better team. Period. At times, I felt we were playing like Bolton trying to ruffle Chelsea. But did they buckle? Of course not. They took everything and hit us back. That’s the mark of a true champion. We had all these attributes in our title winning seasons but not anymore.
- I disagree strongly that we were unlucky that our shots hit the post and went out, while Chelsea’s went in. Shots which hit the post and go in are termed “on target” and others not. It just means that their shooting accuracy is better than ours. Yes, the difference is wafer thin, but it can’t be put down to luck. If their shot was going off target and bounced of a player to go in, that’s lucky. Drogba’s goal at Stamford Bridge was lucky. But not this. Remember Lehmann’s save of Joe Cole which hit the post and went out? Is that a good save or were we just lucky?
- RvP’s goal was good and it may have decided the fate of the game But AW accusing the referee and linesmen of bias is just too much. Sometimes tight decisions go against you and you have to live with it. It was not like Rooney’s dive at OT. Champions get more decisions in their favour than against. ManU did in the 90s and so did we when we were champions.
- Reyes must learn from Joe Cole. When Cole signed for Chelsea, he was just another over-priced and spoilt British player. Look at him now, he looks so good and scores such crucial goals. When Reyes signed for Arsenal, some (and I was NOT one among them) thought he was the next greatest thing in Europe. Now he is just an over-priced player who can’t even control his mouth, let alone his feet.
- Whoever said we don’t need Michael Owen should have seen the West Ham vs Newcastle game. Is Newcastle’s midfield is better than ours and are they creating more chances for Owen than our team? Owen scored a hat-trick by just being at the right place at the right time. His second goal came of his back!!! We could have done with a player like that.
- David Dein has said that the cheque book will be opened if AW needs players in Jan. While I totally agree that the market will be inflated, I feel that we must look and look hard. These are desperate times and we just cannot risk not qualifying for the CL next year. The team needs freshening up. If we find a good player and he costs a few million more, then so be it. We have saved up enough money in the past, it’s time to spend some.
December 19th, 2005 at 8:23 am
That’s some strong words against a guy who had a goal against one of the toughest defenses in the league disallowed.
Just wrong. And presumptious. Owen and Henry may have run into each other all year.
Slagging Wenger for not signing Owen is some of the most bitter conjecture in which a Gooner could participate.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:28 am
Its high time for bitter conjecture and slagging Wenger and the board.
20 points behind before Christmas.
UNACCEPTABLE.