Chelsea have spent a lot of money over the years and it would be unrealistic to expect Arsenal to better them on a consistent basis. They have built a formidable side largely through the transfer market, although their outlay does not inevitably bring success, as the years when Manchester United – who spent less – proved between 2007 and 2009. However, in Carlo Ancelotti they have a very decent manager, and success does seem assured this season. So Arsenal’s failure to take anything from this game was hardly a surprise. I’d like to see a better result when Chelsea visit north London in the return game, but frankly, I expected a defeat in this match.
I suppose the one criticism you could level at Arsenal was that the defeat was a consequence of the way they play. Plenty of possession but – at times – a lack of ability to make it count where it hurts. Combine that with some defending which betrayed a lack of concentration and a side of Chelsea’s quality are going to exploit the situation. I don’t blame anyone for the first goal. It was simply clinical attacking play of the sort we have seen quite often from Chelsea, especially in the matches against Arsenal. Ashley Cole knocks spots off Gael Clichy as an attacking defender and Didier Drogba is one of the world’s best forwards. However, the second goal was a direct consequence of possession surrendered cheaply. It was a sloppy and thoughtless ball from Nasri that led to an unstoppable free kick. Fabianski had a mixed game, but was at fault for neither goal. Arsenal’s defending needs some work, but surely, twas ever thus, or at least since the move to the new stadium.
What we, as fans, rely on is that Arsenal can simply outscore the opposition. Often, against sides of established quality, this doesn’t happen. And so it was against Chelsea. The first half saw chances created, and Koscielny’s header over the bar was the one unforgivable miss. Arsenal were very much in this game until the score was 2-0, but you always feared they would not get that breakthrough goal. The dominance for large sections of the second half was encouraging, but haven’t we seen that before in this very fixture a year ago? Then, the visitors outplayed Ancelotti’s team, but lost the game. It was a more even contest this time around. Yet Chelsea had the better chances even after the interval and Anelka’s miss was almost criminal after Squillaci’s error.
The selection of Squillaci as skipper was a surprise. You’d have thought it would be Arshavin, who I am sure has captained the team before. But in a sense, the decision exposed the lack of natural leaders at the club. Any one of the whole spine of the team that was absent – Van Persie, Fabregas, Vermaelen and Almunia – would normally have taken the armband, although in fairness I’d consider Vermaelen the only natural captain amongst them. I’m not sure it was leadership that Arsenal lacked today really, just a cutting edge and defensive discipline.
What also struck me was that Diaby was chosen to play in the Fabregas role, with Wilshere moving back to partner Song. It spoke volumes for what the manager thought of Diaby’s display alongside Song against West Brom, as Wilshere’s creativity proved significant against Partizan Belgrade as the attacking midfielder.
Koscielny returned to the side and was the latest in a long line of Arsenal centre backs to fail to cope with the strength of Didier Drogba. This was always going to be a huge test for the new signing and neither he nor Squillaci came through with flying colours. But it is not only Arsenal defenders that find themselves outmuscled by Chelsea. The visitors tried manfully but were not quite at the same level as their opponents. The reigning champions were simply more clinical, more determined in defence. It’s a familiar story in the games between these two sides of late, and it’s difficult to envisage anyone overtaking them in the table between now and the end of May. Wenger’s team gave it their best shot, shorn of a number of their best players, but were not quite good enough. No real surprises, and perhaps a reason a more credible attempt should be made to win one of the domestic cups this season.
When the UEFA financial fair play restrictions kick in, Arsenal will be well placed. But the waiting is starting to hurt. At the moment, there is, sadly, little debate about who London’s top team are. Roman Abramovich’s decision to buy a club on the edge of ceasing to exist in the summer of 2003 has proved a painful one for Gooners. No-one would expect Wenger to attempt to match Chelsea’s spending, but it would be nice if the defenders that were purchased were a little stronger, the team discipline greater. But today is not the time for criticism. The odds are stacked against Arsenal right now, and today’s result was entirely in keeping with expectations. Last weekend was far more soul destroying, this was just business as usual.
Source: Kevin Whitcher, The Online Gooner on 3 Oct 10
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