Arsenal Firing Blanks On Sodden Afternoon

Arsenal 0 – 3 Chelsea

0 – 1 Drogba (40)
0 – 2 Vermaelen (44)
0 – 3 Drogba (85)

A scoreline which did not reflect the match but a result with which few could argue. It is a defeat that is damaging but does not end the quest for the title. The gap is notionally eleven points. Once the home fixture with Bolton has been played, the true gap is known. Until that time, nothing is determined. Winning matches against any opposition is important but losing against the current league leaders does not decide a season’s outcome. Unless of course, at the end of it you trail in up to three points behind.

Prior to kick-off, the question was whether or not Arsenal could compete in midfield; they did so. Neither side dominated that area of the pitch for the whole of the game. The final third proved to be the difference. It is this which may cause concern for Arsene.

Two matches out of the last three against typically English defensive sides, irrespective of the quantity of foreign players, has seen the forward line collectively fail to breach the back four. It is too simplistic to challenge the squad and call for signings in January. Too simplistic to say Eduardo failed to do this, Vela failed to do that, Arshavin the other. They all did not do their things.

The absence of van Persie for several months is something that has to be dealt with. Perhaps tweaking the formation is required to exploit the talent that Arsene has at his disposal. Reacting now by demanding that Arsene must sign another forward in January is kneejerk; nothing more, nothing less. That is not to deny the failings in front of goal, an issue that will be worked on resolving in training. If by the end of December the problem is not solved, two things are certain: one, Arsene will sign someone in January and two, all hell will have broken loose, particularly as the fixtures in that time require victories.

Unquestionably, the pivotal moments in the match came in the five minutes before half-time. Questions were raised about the defence, a big centre back begged for pre-season. The clodhopping monster craved would not have prevented either goal. Twice Cole crossed from the left, playing the ball into an area of the box rather than at the man. Twice Chelsea scored. Once is an avoidable error, twice is carelessness. Having failed to close the opportunity for Cole to cross previously, the expectation quite reasonably is that the midfield / defence block the next occasion it arose. Arsenal failed to do so.

Vermaelen may have been unfortunate in that his clearance flew into almost the same spot as Drogba’s first effort but more at fault was the communication between himself and Almunia. There was no imminent threat from Drogba and the Spaniard would have collected the ball comfortably had Vermaelen not interceded. Was a shout made? If so, why was it ignored? If not, why not? Almunia had a perfect view of the cross and in those situations, it is not an unrealistic expectation for the goalkeeper to issue the commands.

The outcome might have been different had Arshavin not had a goal chalked off minutes after the restart. A loose pass from Drogba to Cech was charged down and the ball broke to the Russian. Time was not on his side yet he required that to shoot home from twenty yards. The ensuing passage of play found the ball on the right and hoisted into the area. Eduardo raised a boot, chest high on Cech, the rebound swept home by Arshavin. A good goal? Seemingly so except that Andre Marriner was entitled to deem Eduardo’s foot as being dangerous play. Alas the absence of malice in the challenge is no excuse to call an exception to that rule.

Other chances were created but not incisive ones. Nothing improved particularly in the second half with the introduction of Walcott for Song. Pairing the Cameroonean and Denilson in the midfield gave more solidity, indicative that Wenger wanted to offer Cesc freedom to roam whilst having the Brazilian there to augment defence and attack. It did not work out that way with little threat from the playmakers.

That is something Chelsea were effective at yesterday, disciplined in denying opportunities. There was no outmuscling, simply outsmarting on the pitch. The third goal sealed the win, flattering to some extent but well-taken nonetheless, power defeating Almunia, who must accept some criticism for positioning since the ball passed almost where he was initially stood before the ball was struck.

There is much to dwell on and no doubt that there is much food for thought. The first team has a week before the visit of Stoke to The Emirates, a well-disciplined side this season. A visit to Eastlands may prove a welcome relief with the Carling Cup squad shorn of first team players.

’til Tomorrow.

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