Morning everyone.
Our curse of not being able to overpower Jose Mourinho's Chelsea continued yesterday, as we suffered the first loss this year. Little actual football happened during the ninety minutes, so instead of describing how each half went (as I usually do), I'll just present to you other points of interest.
Our squad and set-up
There was only one change compared to our midweek game: Wilshere for Oxlade-Chamberlain. We also reverted to 4-1-4-1, but, surprisingly, not Cazorla was asked to play on the flank. Instead, Ozil did, and the question of whether the German would have performed better under the striker is an open one. However, thanks to 7amkickoff, we know that, statistically-wise, Ozil fared better than Cesc. The fact that Ozil doesn't run around as Sanchez does, doesn't mean he's contributed less.
Hazard, Cahill and Mourinho
We played some very decent football before conceding. Sure, the moments were few and far between, but we looked well-organised and disciplined, with Flamini rocking the midfield. And then, I'd say against the run of play, we conceded. Hazard picked the ball some 30 yards from goal, breezed past Cazorla, rounded off Flamini and then stormed into the box, wrong-footing Koscielny in the process. The Frenchman had little choice, but to foul the Belgian. Eden converted calmly from the spot.
This forced Arsenal to take more decisive action. Wilshere was one-on-one after a good move, but the Englishman's clumsy first touch allowed Cech to claim the ball. Minutes before that, a scuffle on the sidelines broke out and with good reason to back it: Cahill two-footed Sanchez. Arsene demanded red and thus entered into a conflict with Mourinho, pushing the latter. Wenger later stated he didn't regret this decision:
Oscar, Cesc and the second goal
Cesc was booed. Simple as that. The three thousand fans supporting Arsenal were heard loud and clear when the Spaniard received the ball. Of our players, only Wilshere (understandable) and Welbeck showed their contempt towards Cesc. Wilshere just turned away when Fabregas wanted to talk to him and Welbeck two-footed the Spaniard late in the game, knowing full-well he won't get the ball. Two knighthoods, please.
However, it didn't stop Cesc from making a decisive contribution. When we lost the ball some fifteen minutes from time, our former skipper clipped an inch-perfect pass over our defense and Costa chipped Szczesny. Game over and we were in damage control mode since that second goal.
On a side note, we should have been given a penalty when Fabregas clearly stopped the ball with his hand, but I think it was already 2-0 at that point.
Oh, and Oscar. Almost as despicable as Mourinho. He committed these nasty fouls when the ref wasn't looking, but only received a yellow very late in the game, when in fairness he could have been sent off for these antics in the first half. Disgusting behaviour. He's a true Chelsea player in that regard.
Thoughts on performance and result
A loss leaves us with ten points after seven games, however, and you really start to lament these dropped points against Tottenham and Leicester. 14 points is a much more respectable number. Let's not forget, though, that United, LIverpool and the likes, who now boast how good they are, still have both City and Chelsea to play. And if they get four points combined from four games, I'd be really surprised.
Now we have a bit of a break before our next game. I don't think the players should beat themselves up because we lost to a probable champion. We had a good, committed performance, and been as organised as it gets. So play for the national sides, return and carry on as usual. It's not pleasant to lose, but we've lost only just and given our everything.
So don't feel too down. Have a good week and I'll be back with you in a couple of days.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)
Our curse of not being able to overpower Jose Mourinho's Chelsea continued yesterday, as we suffered the first loss this year. Little actual football happened during the ninety minutes, so instead of describing how each half went (as I usually do), I'll just present to you other points of interest.
Our squad and set-up
There was only one change compared to our midweek game: Wilshere for Oxlade-Chamberlain. We also reverted to 4-1-4-1, but, surprisingly, not Cazorla was asked to play on the flank. Instead, Ozil did, and the question of whether the German would have performed better under the striker is an open one. However, thanks to 7amkickoff, we know that, statistically-wise, Ozil fared better than Cesc. The fact that Ozil doesn't run around as Sanchez does, doesn't mean he's contributed less.
Hazard, Cahill and Mourinho
We played some very decent football before conceding. Sure, the moments were few and far between, but we looked well-organised and disciplined, with Flamini rocking the midfield. And then, I'd say against the run of play, we conceded. Hazard picked the ball some 30 yards from goal, breezed past Cazorla, rounded off Flamini and then stormed into the box, wrong-footing Koscielny in the process. The Frenchman had little choice, but to foul the Belgian. Eden converted calmly from the spot.
This forced Arsenal to take more decisive action. Wilshere was one-on-one after a good move, but the Englishman's clumsy first touch allowed Cech to claim the ball. Minutes before that, a scuffle on the sidelines broke out and with good reason to back it: Cahill two-footed Sanchez. Arsene demanded red and thus entered into a conflict with Mourinho, pushing the latter. Wenger later stated he didn't regret this decision:
"What is there to regret after that? I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome."If Arsene then knocked Mourinho down and stamped on his face I would have said personally said the Frenchman deserves a knighthood. As it is, I can just applause this decision. I don't care what happened, I don't care what Mourinho said or did, the Portuguese is a despicable personality and deserves all the pushes in the world.
Oscar, Cesc and the second goal
Cesc was booed. Simple as that. The three thousand fans supporting Arsenal were heard loud and clear when the Spaniard received the ball. Of our players, only Wilshere (understandable) and Welbeck showed their contempt towards Cesc. Wilshere just turned away when Fabregas wanted to talk to him and Welbeck two-footed the Spaniard late in the game, knowing full-well he won't get the ball. Two knighthoods, please.
However, it didn't stop Cesc from making a decisive contribution. When we lost the ball some fifteen minutes from time, our former skipper clipped an inch-perfect pass over our defense and Costa chipped Szczesny. Game over and we were in damage control mode since that second goal.
On a side note, we should have been given a penalty when Fabregas clearly stopped the ball with his hand, but I think it was already 2-0 at that point.
Oh, and Oscar. Almost as despicable as Mourinho. He committed these nasty fouls when the ref wasn't looking, but only received a yellow very late in the game, when in fairness he could have been sent off for these antics in the first half. Disgusting behaviour. He's a true Chelsea player in that regard.
Thoughts on performance and result
"It was a very intense game. Very tight as well. It was about not making a mistake and not giving the first goal away. After that we were 1-0 down. We had good opportunities in the first half and we have to turn these into dangerous situations and finish them. After that in the second half it was all us and we were a bit unlucky. We made a mistake on the second goal, and the second goal killed the game off."The result aside, I think we did pretty well. We were well-organised from the first minute to the last, we had some chances (Wilshere, Cazorla) and I'm starting to think this 4-1-4-1 can do us a lot of good against the big teams. We may still be more efficient playing 4-2-3-1 with lesser opposition, but we'll see.
A loss leaves us with ten points after seven games, however, and you really start to lament these dropped points against Tottenham and Leicester. 14 points is a much more respectable number. Let's not forget, though, that United, LIverpool and the likes, who now boast how good they are, still have both City and Chelsea to play. And if they get four points combined from four games, I'd be really surprised.
Now we have a bit of a break before our next game. I don't think the players should beat themselves up because we lost to a probable champion. We had a good, committed performance, and been as organised as it gets. So play for the national sides, return and carry on as usual. It's not pleasant to lose, but we've lost only just and given our everything.
So don't feel too down. Have a good week and I'll be back with you in a couple of days.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)