The ability to start strong and control a game to win it by Konstantin
Hello lovely Arsenal people! We managed to cut the distance to Chelsea back to some mere 3 points and it looks like it will be a scramble for the top 4. There were a couple of really intriguing things in this win.
First of all, we had a 2:0 lead at half time. I don’t recall any other game this season in the league where we were leading by two at the break. We started strong, took the lead and didn’t let it slip. In fact we scored a second goal in a moment where Chelsea had us under pressure. Controlling a game and steering it to a safe win is a quality which we must implement and it requires concentration throughout the entire game.
Our performance on Saturday really had the necessary intensity, but also I think we finally played a formation that suits everyone. And you could really see the considerably lesser amount of mistakes we made, due to people knowing the positions. We also managed to control Chelsea. I didn’t feel like they’d come back. They had 1 shot on target which came after minute 80 and apart from hitting the bar, there weren’t really any problems.
Honestly as good as we were, Chelsea really lacked attacking threat. No wonder they are looking at Higuain. There just wasn’t a CF to make it tough for our defence. Teams like Southampton and Brighton amongst others used opportunities to hit us on the counter, and throw long balls to cause us damage and it often worked. This was Lenos second clean sheet in the premier league. Think about that and how poor our defensive record has been and it’s shocking how poor Chelsea were in attack.
This is good for us, because they are the one team that looks shaky from the top 4 clubs in the moment. The way Sarri let rip at his players was astonishing really. He spoke in Italian with a translator to make his message clear, and this is a risky strategy. Players outlast managers at the Bridge and this reminded me of how Mourinho went to war with players at Chelsea and United and didn’t last too long.
By the way if you haven’t seen his guest appearance at Bein sports, it’s just hilarious! The guy is a media story generator with everything he says. Anyway, the downside of the game, was Bellerin’s injury, which looks like it’ll be for the rest of the season. Injuries have hit us hard this season.
Our shaky defence really misses Holding and as much as I like AMN, he is not at Bellerin’s level. We lack the depth Man City have. We need reinforcements which look ever so unlikely apart from Suarez, who might still join us on loan. That said, we have to deal with what we have and an important game comes against United where we must win to dent their excellent post-Mourinho start.
We’ll have chances to go back to the top 4. Chelsea go away to Man Utd, City and Liverpool, they will drop points. It’s up to us to start winning away too and continue our good home form. This win ensured that this season we’ve already picked up more points against the top 6 than we did the entire last season! Hopefully we’ll add a few more!
Konstantin
When you look back at points we’ve dropped against teams you would normally expect us to beat (West Ham especially) I can’t help but think of the if onlys!! If only we hadn’t lost or drawn against Palace or Brighton etc….. oh well after that strong performance on Saturday let’s hope we can keep that up…. and overtake the spuds!! How I miss St Totteringham’s Day…… sigh
Lol…Sue those points we dropped were the most important points.. if we’re to lose most of our games against the top teams and win all our games against the lessee team, we’ll definitely be in the top three, what’s the point in dropping point against lesser teams and picking them against the big boys?
Yeah they were Eddie- very important! Can’t afford anymore stupid mistakes…. even at the Etihad!
Let’s focus on building a good run from that, how many times have we said things are turning around only for us to go back to playing awfully? Don’t get ahead of yourself, Chelsea knows how to grind out winnings when they need it too, Manchester United is really going for that top four, and I believe Chelsea don’t want to be in the Europa league next season also. it all comes down to who wants it the more? This is where Arsenals inconsistency becomes the problem
United are in it too now. It’s going to be even harder than it was a few weeks ago. United look like a new team with purpose
I think in the long run our defensive frailties and lack of creativity in midfield and overall lack of depth of top talent will cost us the Top 4
I hope I’m wrong
Yes they’re playing much better… couldn’t get any worse though could it?! They have to play City & Liverpooĺ again so if they manage to beat them, then I’ll say wow ?? and go and break down in tears ???
How awful about that missing plane with Cardiff’s new signing on… i hope for the best that they’re found alive, but it’s looking highly unlikely. Terrible…
Very unlikely Sue the plane went off radar over the Channel Islands so guessing it’s crashed into the sea and if somehow you manage to survive that exposure will kill you and of course drowning if that doesn’t get you. It’s another terrible tragedy so soon after that chopper crash!
Ooh that’s awful… what a way to go ?
?
Liverpool with a makeshift back four of milner matip vdijk and Robertson conceded 3 goals in one match, before CP they only conceded 3 goals in 10 matches.
The big games at the Emirates is definitely working in our favour we seem to rise to the occasion in those games but that’s not the problem! We’re just plain awful away from home and usually against smaller teams home and away! I don’t see us winning at Everton, Leicester, Wolves etc and definitely won’t beat Man City away! Ultimately our away form will kill us in the long run unfortunately! Loved beating Chelsea but I’m not getting carried away like I usually do.. long way to go and we still need to improve massively!
I hope we rise to the occasion on Friday John ?
Plus I was talking about 4D but at theme parks ? I don’t think I could watch 3D all the time it’d do my eyes in!!
Ah duly noted Sue ? I must check that out sometime ? hopefully Sue it would be a nice confidence booster beating Chelsea and utd in a week ?
Can’t beat a theme park… maybe that’s why I like Arsenal so much- being a fan is like a rollercoaster ride!!
Couldn’t agree more Sue ? we love the drama really ? gonna watch that quiet place later got a good score on IMDB ?
It’s so good… it’s quite similar to Bird Box on Netflix (& that was really good too) Enjoy!
Did you see that Cashley Cole has joined Derby? I’ve really been enjoying watching them (I really rate Harry Wilson) lately… but that’s put a bit of a dampner on it for me now… he’s another former player of ours I’m not that keen on ?
Sweet! Never anything on Sky Movies bloody rubbish better off with your own playlist of films ? he should of just stayed in LA and retired he’s pushing 40 ? that’ll be some culture shock leaving LA for the Midlands ? yes Liverpool have a great little talent right there.. he’s a deadball specialist ? Well let’s hope when I come back on we’re in the 5th round of the fa cup Sue fingers crossed ? couldn’t find the emoji so leave you with the angry little man with his arms crossed ?
Sky is ok at times.. very repetitive at times though. The Predator is coming soon – although I thought I saw him sitting on Chelsea’s bench on Saturday ??
There’s no way Derby would be in the play off places without Wilson that’s for sure!!
Back to work is it?
Well yes I’ll be praying for that… on my knees in front of the tv ?? ???
Sh*t it’s snowing… and it’s freezing
Yeah it’s coming down Sue ? I’ve seen it and it’s alright nowhere near as good as the 80s one none of them are though ? or Frank he’s doing a good job ? haha the old nerves will be kicking in Sue ? Yeah had Friday off too can’t afford to miss anymore days although I feel like death ? plus a lot of people on here just get on my nerves think they know it all (not you) and probably half of them in their teens ? Arsenal fans are a seriously divided bunch! They should build a boxing arena outside the Emirates ?
Yes my heart will be pounding out of my chest (like it always is against a team I deteste & want to beat!)
So what do you do then?
I love coming on here for a laugh, banter & some serious Arsenal chat!! Hahaha imagine that (boxing arena!) I’d be late for the train as I’d be too busy watching that!!
Just horrible losing to man utd in any competition I know how you feel! You mean work ? I’m a labourer Sue my dad was as well he had to call it a day when he got cancer it was probably the only time he ever missed work and I’m whining about flu! You and Ozziegunner are probably the only two I even speak with haha. Arsenal fan TV would be the main attraction Claude vs Ty, DT vs MOH lol
Well John you’d better remember your thermals tomorrow!! I’m back at work tomorrow, but it’s like a sauna in there so that’ll do me!! Sorry to hear about your Dad
That Claude guy is hilarious!! Not sure if he means to be, but he always cracks me up ?
You done minus 30 Sue now that’s tough ? and will do ? been gone almost 4 years now but thanks Sue ? he sure is you do get a laugh when he goes off on one but he’s passionate he’s an oldie I respect the oldies haha. Well you enjoy the heat at work Sue and don’t stress out over utd, Unai will have something up his sleeve?
?????
I think we’re too inconsistent for a top four finish, coupled with Utd upturn in form. It now gets even harder losing a third player to a season ending injury. I would say, we need at least 3 signings this month…and we all know that’s not happening.
The way we played definitely is a baseto push in from. The 4 at the back worked well and the whole team seemed more balanced.
Still pressed and didn’t give the opposition time in the ball but still was able to stay in formation and sit deeper than previous matches.
Hopefully one of the players can step up and fill the gap for Bellerin and use this as a blueprint going forwards.
I agree Konstantin – Chelsea lacked the cutting edge without a CF but you can only play what’s in front of you.
When Wenger was in charge, people blamed his training methods for the club’s injury woes. Now a different coach, different medical team, yet the injury issue seems to be worse.
Imagine, 3 season ending injuries already, yet the board doesn’t want to sign players.
Thanks to Bellerin, the right wing was one of our major strengths (attack Wise) at the start of the season. I wonder what happens now.
I don’t want to get carried away by the Chelsea win. I will only get carried away when we’re top4 on the table, at the end of the season ??
Arsenal just has to stick to the old adage of “one game at a time”. As stated above it is no good beating Chelsea and losing to West Ham, as both games are worth 3 points for the win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
Arsenal can only concentrate on winning its games and putting the pressure on the other competing teams.
Hopefully having 4 CB’s available will bring some consistency to the defense and the run of injuries is over.
Well who says the spuds place isn’t up for grabs now? Considering the players they have missing and the injuries they’ve got. The way I see it, it’s 4 teams fight for 2 places and 2 teams fighting for the title. 1/2 chance of top 4 and I think if Emery can somehow fix our away form. Everyone else is in for a shock
Alli is injured now I believe? Oh how my heart bleeds for those poor spuds ???