Chelsea Triumph Again

The Worst Match Up Ever?

October 2nd 2010

Chelsea: 2 vs. Arsenal:0

Drogba 39

Alex: 85







There will be a time in the near future when this Arsenal team will get the better of Chelsea. sadly it wasn't today. The moment the Alex free kick went in I turned off the set. There was nothing on evidence today that we can and will win the League this season. After a bright start to the season the wheels have decidedly come off the wagon. A stumble against Sunderland followed by a face plant at home to West Brom has been rounded out by a trampling at the Bridge. It beggars belief that a team so full of verve and skill can be simply out muscled to defeat every single time. The possession game that we played today gave us everything in the middle of the park but nothing in front of goal. Would Cesc, RVP and Thomas made a difference? I suppose but the only way it seems to fight the industry of the Chelsea midfield is with the like, something desperately missing from the entire team sheet today. We started with Diaby for some reason playing in behind Chamakh while Nasri was wide and Wilshere playing deep in a transitional holding role. The selection wasn't much of a surprise considering the injuries we have sustained but a fairly lightweight team nonetheless.

We had started very brightly and nearly had a goal inside the first three minutes as a Nasri corner came in off Molouda. By the time it had reached the head of Koscielny he was too far under it and he headed it over. The game became a bit cagey as the half progressed both sides trying to counter attack but not really getting the movement needed for such. It was a bit troubling though as you could see that Arsenal just seemed to back off their markers a bit when Chelsea came forward. A slight hesitation was apparent as Chelsea began to dominate the possession, their running from midfield was causing us problems especially out wide. Midway through the half Arshavin had a shot tipped around by Cech, it was our only real shot we had during the whole game. Five minutes before the stroke of half time Chelsea made us pay with a bit of industry and a heap of skill. Sloppy possession in our own third allowed Ramieres to push it wide to Cole who crossed it for Drogba to flick it near post. Poor from us as we deserved to go in level at the break but you simply cannot allow yourself to be dispossessed so easily and not chase the ball down. The moment the goal went in it was over.

The second half was more of the same. Chelsea you could see were quite content to allow us the possession while hitting us on the break. It was something that Arsenal fans have seen for the last 5 years to be honest, we press, they concede territory, we manage to do fuck all with the ball. Our crossing was poor as well as the set pieces but perhaps that was because Nasri was taking all of them. Its infuriating to say the least. When something s clearly not working why not have someone else give it a go? The only things of note in the second half were all about Chelsea. Squillaci failed to control a back pass, slipped and fell over and let in Anelka one on one who thank fully slotted wide. Three times Chelsea were clean through only to be denied by the assistants flag. Every single time the entire back line of Arsenal was ambling forward in no particular order. Praying it seems that their opponent would be off, Vermaelen can't come back soon enough. Rosicky came on for the rather shite Diaby in the last twenty minutes and produced the only chance we had during the half. His left sided cross found Chamakh only for him to place it around the near post. Five minutes from time Alex stepped up to seal the game. Once again a sloppy pass out of the back nearly set Chelsea free and Koscielny had no choice but to foul. Drogba tapped the free kick into the path of Alex and the Brazilian center half powered in an unstoppable shot past Fabianski.

So our possession failed to get us the goals we needed and worringly the back line produced some very untidy moments. It must be noted that our only clean sheet this year has come at home to a Blackpool side reduced to ten men for 60 minutes. Clichy in particular seems to be unable to cope with the demands that the Wenger system demands. If our outside backs provide the width then surely they must be able to cross and get back to cover. Clichy can do neither and as far as I can tell is oblivious to this fact. Squillaci also had a horror moment as he slipped with a back pass. He's better than Senderos but I dunno about being better than Gallas, time will tell.

On the balance of the game I felt Arsenal played quite well and in terms of chances we had just as many as Chelsea. But as in the past 5 seasons it is not the balance of play that won the game today. Chelsea continued their ruthless run against us and we once again leave the Shed End with no points. I would have been surprised if we had taken anything from the game as I simply don't think we are physically able to penetrate this Chelsea side. Our superiority comes in the form of Cesc and Van Persie, both whom we won't see for some time I fear. Disappointing day I must say but not the end of the line for us and in many ways we're fortunate that the match came early enough in the season. As we've seen so far Manchester United aren't the force they were, it going to be up to us this season to run Chelsea close. Come May I have no doubts we will.