Thursday, December 29, 2005

Arsenal FC 0 - 2 Chelsea FC

I somewhat expected this result. Not meaning to sound negative but merely being realistic considering how Arsenal were outmuscled in the past two games.
Chelsea started with Lampard, Makelele AND Essien in the middle of the park so no prizes for guessing who won that battle...
The team huffed and puffed but could barely get past the two defensive midfielders.
Apart from the two chances in the first half, there wasn't really anything Arsenal could do to trouble the well organised visitors.
One of those two chances created, and finished, was the talking point of the match - Robin Van Persie's disallowed goal.
It was a perfectly good goal but the officials got it wrong. Had it stood, the match might have ended differently, though I'm not too convinced of it.
However, I don't fully blame for the linesman for getting it wrong. It was clear enough on the replays but officials often get those wrong because they've got their eyes on the man who was offside - who in this case was Henry.
I don't condone it but I don't blame the loss on the bad decision. If Arsenal were really a team destined to win the Premiership or come really close, they would have picked themselves up, like many times in previous trophy winning seasons, and worked something else in.
But they didn't and the title race is definitely over for us.
Lehmann could have perhaps done a little better on the first goal but I can't really blame him because Chelsea were a bit fortuitous though still they worked the chance well.
Both our fullbacks are not accustomed to playing in the positions they were employed in that match.
Arsene Wenger decided to put Lauren at the troublesome left back position and he screwed up against Joe Cole to gift Chelsea their second goal.
On right back, Wenger played Toure. As good as he's been for us in the heart of defence (apart from the match away to Bayern Munich last season), he's just got cut to play on the flanks. He should always play central. Even if in midfield.
Senderos did relatively well in central defence but Campbell barely did anything to pressure Cole on the second goal. Then, it was lights out.

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