In what was a massive game for Arsenal and almost certainly the last chance to get back into the title race this season, we really needed every single one of the 11 players on the pitch at Stamford Bridge to perform. But we especially needed our star players to perform at something close to their best, so it was hugely disappointing to see Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil put in such below par efforts against Chelsea.
Even though the Gunners lost this game 3-1 and were hit with the early setback of a goal and losing Bellerin, we did have plenty of the match with good chances and a lot more opportunities to create them. But Ozil and Alexis were two of the poorest players out there and time after time they let us down.
In the Sky Sports report of the game the pair were awarded just 5/10 each in the player ratings and no Arsenal player fared worse. Why? One answer is that there was too much pressure on them to win us the game but I am not having that. For me it is much more likely that they may already have given up on the Gunners and will not be signing new contracts this season and if that is the case we will have to sell them in the summer if we want to get any money back.
And if they had not already made up their minds, what will this defeat and the collapse of yet another title challenge make them think about staying at Arsenal?
Bob.