Dec 17
Sorry all, I was out of town all weekend, and I guess Dan must have been too. Anyway, a great win for the Gunners yesterday as Captain Mohawk headed Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Chelsea. I’m sure you’re all post-match discussion-ed out, but if there’s any more left in you, have at it below.
34 Responses to “Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea”
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December 17th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Surprisingly very little discussion about such a big win. Contrast that with so much of discussion after the Boro game. Where is everybody?
December 17th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Looks like we’re done the tactics post-mortem on teh other thread, so let’s get onto the controversial stuff.
Loads of scum sites wailing about Eboue’s tackle on Terry - where’ the red card etc. We all agree Eboue is , ahem, a touch theatrical, but I’m not sure I’ve seen too much cold-blooded intent from. Ade’s tackle on A****y Cole was far more pre-meditated, as indeed were Terry’s tackles on Fabregas etc.
On the one hand, it’s great that this side can give as good as they get. Even Chelsea stoop to thug tactics - albeit very sneakily dressed as a “full-blooded commitment.” On the other hand, we usually lose our cool in such an atmosphere - especially Cesc when Lampard’s around - when it would SOOOO much more satisfying to simply, clinically put a second goal in their net.
The wonderful thing is that even if none of our players were British, it was still a great blood and thunder premier league match. The ugliness is the price of passion.
Meanwhile, Diarra needs a hug from Wenger and to be told to put a picture of Flamini in his locker for inspiration. Head down, mate, and double your work rate, your moment will come.
(his booking was for persistent fouling if you watch Wiley’s actions).
December 17th, 2007 at 10:40 am
It’s get better. Terry’s out for up to three months with a fractured metatarsal. Meanwhile, how’s this for manners:
Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou revealed that Eboue apologised to the defender for the tackle.
He said: “I was saying to Eboue that it was a red card because he did it on purpose - but he denied that.
“He said he tried to block the ball and it was not on purpose. He said sorry to John.
“He didn’t mean to do it but to apologise was a nice thing to do. John will be a big loss and is very important to the squad.”
December 17th, 2007 at 11:06 am
great win
I had to deal with a Man U. fan to the left of me, and a Chelsea fan to the right. Trash talking headphones from the opening of the Liverpool game through the 45th of the Arsenal game. After that it was silence.
Eboue looked as if he had tunnel vision most of the game. I wish he would let the ball go sooner.
Fabregas needs to relax. Lets the game get too personal. Tackle on A. Cole was rough.
Oh well, a win is a win.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Would just like to give a shout out to Almunia for yesterday’s performance. He made a couple of great saves. Since he’s a guy who has caught a lot of flak before about not being good enough or making big gaffes in big games (ManU a few years ago comes to mind), I was happy for him yesterday. He played very well.
And the same old song… Arsenal catch flak for not being sturdy enough or for getting pushed around in physical matches but when we do give it, it’s labeled as “dirty tactics.” A “more English” team like ManU or Chelsea or Bolton or Blackburn, etc. do it, it’s “being committed” & “giving effort” or “showing fight.” It’s all crap.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Terry deserved his injury. It may sound cruel. But taking into the fact before his injury, a few moment ago he could have sent Cesc back into the treatment room with an entirely unnecessary full-force diving tackle.
so based on the preceptive “tough guy” image of Terry, he should know the number 1 rule of being a “tough guy” is - take it as you give.
He gave, so it’s his turn to take. You wanna play tough? so we match them with some tough nail tackle. So how do they like playing tough ball now?
To me, there is no need for Eboue to apology. Nor do Cesc need to control his temper as well. If Cashley Hole wanna play hardball, why would we want to act like lamb and got slaughtered?
I, in fact, love the fact Cesc played and acted like an Arsenal fan on the pitch.
I don’t even mind for us to be called “dirty”. If anything, I think we have been too “nice” since the Keown, Vieira generation departed.
And in this football buiness, nice guys always finish last. So let’s give Chelsea, Blackburn the likes some “English spirit” of our own. See how they like being play against with their “own game”.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Couldn’t agree more about Terry, Andez. He was playing the hatchet man to the hilt, so live by the sword, die by the sword.
In a way, all this Chelsea aggro is the perfect warm-up for thug with highlights Robbie Savage and co. on Tuesday, who will hopefully still be reeling from their 5-3 thrashing.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Like Andez said, Cesc’s tackle on Cuntley Cole was for the Arsenal fans. It made me laugh that on top of it Cole might face punishment from the FA for his reaction. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
The best part of the game though was seeing RVP back. He changed the game almost from the moment he stepped on the pitch. The team is going to need him for the holiday crunch.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I don’t agree with you guys ; Andez and macmac … the live by the sword bit is fair enough. But that doesn’t mean that you have to kick someone around. terry kicking someone is bad enough; no reason to kick back. As AW says so often thre is “commitment” ala Aston Villa and Boro … and there is ridiculous aggression like at Blackburn n Bolton. I don’t want to fall into the second category. Yes go in hard…likein the second half and keep pressing Chelsea back like Flamini did so many times. but crap like what Eboue’s been doing or the Cesc kick at the end are totally unwarranted.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Alumnia was MOTM IMO. Gutsy win by the lads. Good turnout at Maggie McGarrys in San Francisco. Handed out the Cashley pound notes to all who attended. Good fun!
December 17th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Good solid win for Arsenal and I love the aggressiveness shown by Fabregas…………….Curtisimo took the words “write” off my keyboard. I agree 100 % with Curtisimo when he states that when teams like Chelsea, ManU, Bolton, and Blackburn are playing physical and dangerously with flying tackles, these teams are perceived as committed and hard working. As soon as Arsenal shows any similar “bite” or stands up physically for themselves, the Arsenal play is viewed as dirty. Rooney got away with a couple of illegal hits yesterday on Liverpool. Where is the outrage? Need I say more?
There is a bias against Arsenal when they employ physical tactics. I loved Vieria for his physical play but he was hated by other competitors for his style of play. It was great to see Fabregas push back and not take the nonsense. Like my mother would say, ” if you are going to dish it out, be prepared to eat what you serve others.” Fabregas pushed the physical play and tactics right back into Chelsea’s face and they did not like it. It was good to see that. If Henry was still with Arsenal, Henry would be apologizing to the Chelsea captain and giving his own team-mates dirty looks. In sports, you take no prisoners. Fabregas was right to play physically hard.
Eboue was being massacered physically when he was on the pitch (no protection from the referee), and I am glad he latch-out…..no love loss for Terry because he pulls the same crap, but viewed as Mr. Wonderful for England.
Finally, the refereeing was crap!!!!!!! Ade’s goal was good. It is ironic how the referee misses Alex holding Ade back, but catches Ade trying to untangle Alex from him. Total nonsense. The correct thing would have been to let Ade’s goal stand or blow the whistle for a free kick as soon as Alex wrapped and held onto Ade. Think of it this way, if Sendros had done what Alex did to Ade, the referee would be blowing the whistle for a free kick.
Hail to Arsenal physical play and kicking ass!!!!!
David, the Arsenal fan NYC (Riverdale)
December 17th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
If you support a top team then players will get overly-criticised by the media because it makes headlines. They will also get overly-criticised by opposition fans because successful teams and successful players are more disliked than everybody else. If Terry was on our side you would be backing him, and if Fabregas played for Chelsea they would be backing him - it’s all bollocks really.
All you need to do is concentrate on your own team - and hope the ref does his job, which he did for the most part yesterday. The Adebayor disallowed goal was a little harsh, but not unsurprising. In a big game like that refs usually only give clear cut goals.
Eboue’s challenge on Terry was probably deliberate - I don’t believe a word he says and an apology from him doesn’t really mean much. It was a bad late tackle and revenge for Terry’s tackle on Fabregas. Last week Eboue should have been sent off. He is becoming a liability and his reputation is going to start counting against him, he is incapable of controlling his temper - and when he can control it he is often a persistent cheat - he’s 24 not 18 so I doubt he’ll ever change. I only hope Wenger gets fed up and sells him, as Eboue’s continual antics are beginning to reflect badly on the manager.
It’s very very rare that a player is actively disliked by their own fans, so blind is supporter loyalty - but everyone I know thinks Eboue is a complete wanker, bar none.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Yep Danny…100% spot on.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
@nipuna#1: It’s actually normal again. People like to moan rather than find solutions to problems. Moaning also helps people get rid of their frustrations. And its easier than keeping a calm head. Hence …umm..people moan
December 17th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Would have posted after the win but there was no thread so I thought something was wrong with the site.
Indeed, live by the sword, perish by the sword; that’s why I have a gun. Seriously though, I guess that’s why Eboue was stretchered off after Terry was.
I wonder if Cashley Cole will get an FA investigation after both his V sign or his stranglehold on Cesc? What does that V mean in England? It means pussy to me, if your tongue is between your V’d fingers anyway.
Great game and a happy day for me.
OT
Again my version of Setanta commentators sounded like I was listening to Chel$ki TV. Even my pimp commented on it and they don’t watch football at all.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
No LDE. AW has often called for referee “protection” to his players. but let’s face it, it will NEVER happen. In English football, a dangerous tackle, they call it “100% commitment”, “no-nonsense approach”, “aggressive”.
And the referees in England, in general, let the game FLOW. That’s the way it is. Get Blackburn to play in Series A, they would be lucky to finish every game with 11 men.
So let’s face it, players will never get the “protection” from referees in England.
some wonder why Rosicky and Hleb often get injuried. Just look at their size, and the amount of dangerous tackles aimed at them every game, I personally believe they are very lucky that none of them hasn’t out for a lengthy injury.
So it’s either you take the matter into your own hand, or just let the opponent get the better of you with their “physical” challenge.
And the more you stay silence, the more you will earn a reputation of being ’soft”. And the more opponents will come back with the same physical game on you.
So we gotta give some back as we take. Just look at when Vieira and Keown were here. Did anyone call us “SOFT” at those days? Did referees offered us more protection those days?
NO. But no one dared to mess around with Paddy and Martin.
I am not suggesting unfair play. If oppositions play fair, we play fair. If they want to mess around with us, we should never allow ourselves to act like a bunch of sissy, and just stay quiet or complain to the referee, or the media afterward.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Bad tackles would otherwise be inexcusable, but we play in a league with no consistency - even within the same game. The Pizza defeat at ManUre was an example where we got booted (and cheated) into submission. If the refs can’t clamp down on it, and you can’t outplay the opposition, the choice is losing or resorting to similar tactics.
So yes it degenerates into playground rules - “they started it” is the best excuse we can offer. I actually didn’t think Eboue’s tackle on Terry was that bad - he kind of caught his foot with his eyes averted. Ade’s tackle - studs up towards the knee - was worst.
But in the face of Chelsea and Terry doing the same thing, without the ref clamping down immediately, what can you do but go to the mattresses? The worst thing for us is losing our cool and getting involved in mass brawls.
They lost Terry in retaliation. We lost Eboue in retaliaton. I call that a bargain!
December 17th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I don’t think there was any intent in Eboue’s challenge. Didn’t really look like he left his foot out long either. I might have to go back and look at it. But I do think Diaby should have been in in place of Eboue. Over all a great hard fought win though. Should have been 2 - 0 though. Good bounce back from the last few games. We needed that!
December 17th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I don’t believe Eboue’s foul was malicious. It looks like he tried to block Terry’s clearance. It was unfortunate and it happens. What are you going to do?
Cashley may be in double-trouble for slapping Fabregas and gesturing to the crowd. What an assclown.
Did you guys see how much more dangerous we looked when we put two strikers on? Sure, you guys know I love our fantastic RvP but just having two strikers allows Adebayor to be so much more dangerous. It’s like I’ve said since last season, there are very few CB’s who can cope with this guy one on one. It’s what makes him un-droppable.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Very tough match - very physical. Too bad for JT out, but Eboue wasn’t being malicious at all, just playing hard and going for strong.
The matches against Chelsea seem to be getting more physical than out days against ManU.
Great match this weekend - cable was down for the first half - but came back, so I watched the first half on delay, but did listen live on ATVO.
Almunia showed that he’s still playing tough and really making it hard for Lehman to win his spot back.
Gallas played well, Cesc controlled the mid well - something we’ve been missing for the last couple weeks.
RvP is really close to being back - give him a couple more matches and he will be on again - as for Ade - that was a goal! 2-0 should have been the score.
Great match - let’s keep it up!
December 17th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
You english boys…. what does the “V” mean?
December 17th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
That was a great game to watch… but only because Gallas got a fortunate goal. Lets face it, who would have ever thought Cech would go up for the ball and miss it?
In the first half, Chelsea absorbed the pressure beautifully and didn’t look like they would ever concede. They were happy to sit back and let SWP and Cole try to hit us on the counter.
We just dont have the capability of ever sitting back and absorbing pressure like Chelski. Even ManU, with all their attacking talent, know how to sit 2 midfielders deep and mop up everything. We only know how to attack. I couldnt believe how many times we sent 4, even 5 guys up on the counter (when 3 would have been sufficient), and when we were repelled, we opened ourselves up at the back.
It makes for breathtaking, edge of your pants watching, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to play a defensive, close everything down kind of game. I guess Gilberto was supposed to help in this regard, but the guy has no legs anymore. Obi Mikel totally had his number. Football is becoming more and more a young mans game.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
The V-sign in England is basically the equivalent of giving the finger in the US.
To get really specific:
Giving the finger means screw you.
While the V-sign means “f*** off” (unless there’s some double-penetration bowling ball grip I missed!)
December 17th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
thanks macmac for the “v” explanation.
for everyone praying for the arrival of a left winger… i just heard sid lowe from the guardian podcast who said carlos vela was by far the best player on the pitch in the real madrid / osasuana(sp?) match. i’m going to download that and watch it asap.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
One thing I do agree is the lack of maturity Arsenal showed yesterday in trying to get the second goal. It’s why, in my opinion, Arsenal do not have a cat in hell’s chance of winning the Champions League - and probably won’t win the Premier League.
Against well organised defences we will struggle to score, against the best attacking teams we’re probably not good enough at the back to stop them scoring more goals then we do. In a way, I am less confident now than ever of winning the Champions League, because Wenger has had to rebuild the team and it’s now one of his youngest and least experienced at that level.
However, it is a cup competition, so if things go your way you always have a chance, but generally speaking there’s no such thing as an easy road to the final - unlike perhaps other cup competitions.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I can’t think of a champion team that didn’t have an element of deterrent. Ref’s can only offer so much protection. A team needs to protect itself. We all know Wenger’s Arsenal comes first to play football. If the opposition want to play rough we need to have the capacity to respond. We now have that in - Gallas, Sagna, Flamini, Fabregas, Ade and RvP. They all have a bit of mongrel in them. I’ve also seen it in Diarra & Diaby.
Critically, with Gallas as captain the team is losing its soft reputation.
I think this team has demonstrated a growing patience in its game. True it is not evident in every game, but it has been there. That’s why we can and have won in the last qtr in a number of games….we all remember how Arsenal Mk II used to either blow a team off the park inside 30 mins or was vulnerable.
This team isn’t like that. They have a more rounded game and approach. It’s for this reason ironically I feel more confident about our chances in the CL this year and going forward than I ever have. Arsenal Mk II had almost no patience. They had ooddles of experience, skill, quality, pizazz, but patience wasn’t in their DNA. And I think that was largely due to the midfield make-up and Vieira. The ball went quickly thru the midfield and the pace of the game was frenetic. Now with Fabregas as the axis we are comfortable to retain possession in midfield - this suits the CL.
But hey, we’re a work-in-progress so it’s good to temper our expectations.
December 17th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I thought the fluffing of our counter-attacks was more due to ring-rust than immaturity. A fully sharp VanPersie would have tucked away one of his two chances. Ditto Cesc, especially that last-minute pile-up where he took an extra touch letting them recover.
Our immaturity flares up in other ways at times - getting sucked in brawls etc. Also letting the game go slow when we need a high tempo to make a breakthrough, and conversely letting the ball fly about, when it would suit us better to take the sting out of things.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Does anyway know the cumulative yellow card status of Ade, Eboue, Flamini, and Kolo? Obviously, Cesc is starting over at 6(1). Anyone else approaching the 5 yellow limit? Kolo would be the biggest loss amongst the 4.
Amazing how this win, the collective return of our midfield talent, and especially the immense spark of RVP, have put us back in the frame of mind where 3, 4 or more goals are likely against typical EPL squads….. I like this feeling! Let’s get Blackburn out of the way and then start growing our goal differential!
December 17th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
That was an emotional game. And I am glad to see the guys show some fight and not back down. It just felt like a completely different response than what last years team would have given. I think that is mostly due to the leadership of Gallas and the fight of Flamini. Gallas is playing on a different level now that he is healthy and he provides great leadership, both by example and with his words. Flamini fights for 90 minutes. He has always been a fighter but now he has added some skill to his game (who knew..definitely not me). Having Flamini instead of Gilberto out there just gives us a lot more toughness.
The game was a bit frustrating because the team looked very rusty. But that should be expected with so many players coming back from injury. On another day, we could have played Chelsea off the pitch. But they will also be better when they get Drogba, Essien and Carvalho back. I wouldn’t count them out yet.
As for the tackles being discussed, I am shocked that people think Eboue’s tackle had any intent. I have watched it several times now and never once did look like anything other than a player trying to block a clearance. It happens to defenders on clearances all the time. I thought he had a decent game and it is unfortunate that he probably won’t be back until late February due to recovery and the AFCoN. He is a great backup wide player. It is a shame so many people give him so much stick. I’ll admit, he had a bad year last year with some antics but he has improved this year. And he has bags of talent. A classic AW find.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
If Terry had made the same tackle that Eboue did, he would have been called committed, but Eboue is called malicious. What about Terry trying to kick at Cesc who was down on the ground? What goes around, comes around. Terry got his due and so did Eboue. Let’s move on.
Almunia did have a good game. The problem with him is consistency. He will do decently in 3-4 games and then not in 1-2. I guess he remains neither very good nor very bad. By the way, ManU eakest link appears to be their Gk - van der Saar.
If Gilberto’s mind is really in Italy, Wenger should sell him in Jan. That will settle down Flamini and Diarra. We will need a CB, otherwise when Toure is gone, our season may fall apart.
Now that Eboue is out for a while, we can return to our strongest team with Hleb on the right and RvP up front with Ade. The need for a winger just got a bit more urgent with Eboue’s injury.
I wish Wenger takes the plunge and signs a CB and winger in Jan. The Gk decision can be postponed to the summer.
December 18th, 2007 at 5:17 am
I don’t think Juventus is interested in Gilberto anymore. I’ve read stories linking them with Liverpool’s Alonso instead. We’ll see.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:53 am
I wouldn’t be interested in Gilberto either the way he’s playing - but no doubt some cheapskate manager will pay £5m and get half the player Gilberto was for his final 3-4 years.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:36 am
It was a poor game but games involving the top four always seem to be very cagey these days. Luckily Cech dropped a clanger and it made the game more interesting in the second half with Chelsea actually bothering to play.
I was at the game and I always interpret the game differently at the match compared to on T.V. The one thing that struck me was that Chelsea seemed alot more physically powerful compared to our players. More powerful and more sharper, especially in the second half. It must be a pre-mediated tactic for them to do feck all in the first half against us and then come on strong in the second half. Their technique also seems to improve immeasurably as the game progresses and they are irritatingly hard to subdue, even in the tightest of areas. Joe Cole especially seems to be impossible to dispossess in the last twenty minutes of games.
Although we were clearly not at our best we genuinely showed great desire and work ethic and still kept true to our principles by making Chelsea pay for pushing so high up the pitch. We couldn’t convert those chances but at least we didn’t look like a bunch of mugs by letting them get away with bossing us about.
All in all an absolutely massive three points considering the mental hold Chelsea have had over us recently.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
We looked so rough and tough in this game that ol’ sparky is crying about referees being influence before our CC match. Arsenal ha shown its ability to master the “black art’”of ‘fully committed’ football this season. Just another reason why I’m glad that we got rid of Thierry “Mohandas Ghandi” Henry.
Kalou is saying that Eboue’s foul on Terry was a deliberate attempt to injure. Kalou should shut the f**k up. Of course the foul was deliberate (to block the clear and ‘catching’ Terry’s foot) but Eboue has never shown malicious behavior (petulant behavior, yes) before unlike friend Terry not 10 minutes before. Not only was Terry carded on the Fabregas assault but Lampard as well. I’ve never seen two players getting cards both for fouling one player at the same time. The Terry injury was the pivotal moment in the game. As much as we may criticize Senderos, I’d take him any day over Ben-Haim who can’t jump and can’t run.
I’m glad that Almunia is getting the credit he is due. The two saves on Schevchenko were game changers.
I must confess that I’ve never liked Fabregas’s floated corners because I prefer the driven balls of Denilson. I’ve changed my mind. Who would have have imagined the “best goalkeeper in the world” missing a floated ball. Wow!
I won’t be asking all those who people who have asked us to buy SWP to confess and give a show of hands.
Was Capello at the game? Could he or any of scouts find a certain England mid-fielder in 90+ minutes of play. At least he showed up on the line up card and in the referee’s book.
I was quietly confident that we could win this game. No Drogba, Essien or Mourinho will do wonders for your confidence. We matched up well with Chelsea last season but lacked that je ne sais quoi. Now Chelsea have no goal scorers, no Terry and no hope of winning the title. Now one down and two (ManU, Liverpool) to go.
Flamini wants to play the waiting game on a new contract. Don’t let your head or your eyes or your balls get to big, mon ami.
Vela’s Osasuna lose to Real Madrid 2-0. He was Osasuna’s the best player but its too bad that no one could help him. My mouth waters in anticipation of his arrival.