Great result but will Arsenal’s defensive improvement last? Match report and player ratings.
CHELSEA 3 ARSENAL 5
THE key passage of play here for me was actually the one time in the game when the goals weren’t flying in.
It was the time in between Theo Walcott giving us the lead after 55 minutes and Juan Mata equalising after 80. It was the time when most of us just assumed Arsenal would prove incapable of keeping a lead and concede imminently.
But we didn’t. And in fact we weren’t even troubled. Whether that was a product of our competence, Chelsea’s incompetence or a mixture of the two I’m unsure. But it happened.
Of course, we didn’t keep that lead, but there was something comforting in the Chelsea equaliser because we were genuinely unfortunate. Firstly Santos was clearly fouled. Secondly, there could be no quibbling with the attempt of the Arsenal player (Song) to block Mata’s shot and thirdly because, by my reckoning, the shot took an almighty deflection off our man in any case.
When we got the victory it was, I believe, Song once more who was pressuring Malouda and hurried him into a poor ball that forced Terry to turn sharply and then, tragically, slip. That RVP was alert and on Terry’s shoulder was a bonus too… other Arsenal strikers of recent years might not have been pressuring the ball so well.
So for me the win was deserved. We came back after the break, held out well, were unlucky and then when luck went our way we took our chance.
I should say that I’m one of those people who wouldn’t actually categorise yesterday’s game as a classic. I can’t when so much of the defending is so obviously abysmal. I’d far rather see a game like our 2-1 victory over United a few years ago (the one where Nasri scored twice).
That is to take nothing away from our attacking efforts yesterday. But you never saw the Invincibles getting anything like that kind of joy at Stamford Bridge and I’ve never before seen a game where Petr Cech’s efforts can be criticised for three separate goals.
You hardly need me to say our defending before the break was pretty woeful. Andre Santos didn’t just look a little overweight, he played with a lack of mobility too. Mertersacker slipped twice, giraffe like, twice, leading to both Chelsea goals.
That said our attacking play was good. Theo Walcott put in two very good balls, in fact the one for RVP’s chance was quite magnificent. Our first equaliser was beautifully worked, Ramsey continuing his recent improvement. Gervinho did well to slip in RVP, even if we did risk offside.
Our second equaliser was wonderfully worked by Song, though the space Santos had was quite extraordinary. Theo Walcott takes great credit for the determination shown for his equaliser, even if it was the fourth out of five goals up to that point where the defending had to be questioned.
In between those goals Szczesny was very lucky to stay on the pitch. As I’ve said before, when judging these incidents you have to simply imagine the offending player is not there. Ashley Cole would have been in control of the ball on the edge of the box, with no goalkeeper in the goal. Yes, there were defenders coming back. But when there is no goalkeeper in the goal, it kind of must be a decent goalscoring chance.
The question now is whether we can kick on. We celebrated and talked a good game on Saturday but we’re still well capable of screwing things up in our next game. Not saying we will. But we’re capable of it.
And really, for all the exploits of RVP and the others going forward, it will be our defending that defines us. We have goals in us. That much is obvious. But boring as it is to say, the fact is that you don’t win titles 5-3. The Invincibles side never once conceded three goals in a game. In fact in just three games (Newcastle, Liverpool and Spurs), did the opposition manage two goals.
You win titles by winning 1-0 or if you’re the Invincibles 4-1. But not 5-3.
Our defending in the first half at Stamford Bridge was a disaster. In the second half it was infinitely better. Will it last?
Player ratings:
Szczesny (6) – Did well at times but knows he was lucky to stay on the pitch for the unwise dash at Ashley Cole.
Djourou (6.5) – Set up the second equaliser impressively though still not a natural in the position.
Santos (6.5) – Full-backs who are great going forward and at the back are few and far between but you can’t help thinking his defending would be helped were he in slightly better shape. Took his goal very well.
Mertersacker (5) – Two goals where he will know he should have done better.
Koscielny (7.5) – Impressive. Read the game well and made a good number of crucial interceptions.
Song (7.5) – Excellent for the second equaliser. A strong second half.
Arteta (7) – Unspectacular but kept things ticking over and kept the ball moving quickly.
Ramsey (8) – Tremendous David Platt like drive on many occasions but also a subtle touch too.
Walcott (8) – Did very well for his goal and put in two great early crosses.
Gervinho (7.5) – Deceptively strong and quick, he also has a shaper eye for goal than many of the other wingers we’ve had at the club in recent years.
RVP (8.5) – A funny old hat-trick: completely in keeping with his current form and yet in a sense the first two were put on a plate for him and the third was hardly Petr Cech’s finest hour. But clearly in tremendous form.
Subs:
Jenkinson (6.5) – Unspectacular. I think he has potential.
Rosicky (6.5) – The right sub at the right time as he offers more defensive protection than Theo Walcott.
Vermaelen (6.5) – Great player to be able to call on with two minutes to go.
Theo had a gud game,wat a relief.We need to start taking our early chances but pls fellow gunners lets enjoy this nd not overanalyse.KOS,RAMBO,SONG,RVP,GERV nd THEO-IMPERIOUS
If I’m not mistaken, during the Invincibles run we had a game against Boro which at one point we were losing 3-1, only to outscore them to win 5-3?
That was a defensive improvement???? We should have conceded at least 6. I think we have some good defenders unfortunately the defensive coaching is poor. If we don’t get our act together soon we’ll be the ones on the wrong end of a 5-3 or worse (again).
Not sure koscielny did a thing wrong the entire match. Was as good if not better than anyone in the side & his rating should reflect that
Also, Jordan is right, that 5-3 match may not have been the invincibles strictly speaking but basically the same very fine team
chelsea’s strength over the years has been their defense. yesterday, they were brutal. they’ve changed how they defend under avb, pushing up more and playing an arsenal-like high line. they were never exposed over the years for a lack of pace because they sat so deep. now they are getting caught. at this stage, the battle for 3rd/4th looks interesting with chelsea, arsenal, liverpool and spurs in the running. i think newcastle will fall away.
we need to defend better, our own high line only works if the players are in sync, which in the 1st half they were not. on this viewing, i can’t help think that kos and vermaelen will be the best centre half pairing, with per dropped. question is who will play full back, right and left. without sagna, it’s going to be interesting. gibbs has more pace than santos on the left but has yet to prove he’s the best defender either.
great to see ramsey play so well. also walcott – a big improvement. we need to keep up this run,,,it’s no good beating chelsea if you can’t beat wba the following weekend.
I believe Jack Wilshere will add a lot to this team when he returns.
Agree with the post and all of the player ratings.
Enjoyed the result and all of the goals, however, the defense MUST improve, the set piece goal we conceded (again) was abysmal and could easily be avoided with basic coaching.
Its possible from this to see some hope for the rest of the season but only if we can tighten things up at the back.
Titles and trophies are won by the side with the stronger defence.The manager sets the tone for any team.If Wenger goes on the offensive 90% of the time,the goals may not flow. The reason is obvious.Chelsea opted to play an attacking game.
When Chesea, MU and other teams played Arsenal in previous seasons,they let the gunners press forward with an overpass approach.The red faced and Ancelotti were patient and sure enough when the gunners attack broke down,a swift counter and the ball is in the gunners net.
Be warned. Marselle an WBA may play this tactic though I sense that the gunners might have reduced the number of passes and adopted a more direct approach.
Even the then the defence is still suspect. The german is slow and still adjusting to the epl.Luckily vermallen is back and the FM is now improving every time I see him play.
Wenger better note that it is the defence that helps you win trophies.
I think you owe Ramsey an apology for that David Platt comparison.
The Boro game was the season after… when we didn’t win the league. In fact Chelsea did, despite scoring 15 fewer goals than us!
The Ramsey comparison with Platt is obviously with the early David Platt and not so much the one that wore an Arsenal shirt!
Jordan and Bill; not only did the Invincibles beat Middlesbrough 5-3, I believe that was the game that equaled Nottingham Forest’s previous unbeaten sequence.
The contrast beteen our defending in the first and second halves was stark indeed goodplaya. Tv and lk shouyld deffo be our centre half pairing, they are much less likely to make mistakes than a combination involving pm. But even then, without sagna, we will concede goals on the flanks. Hopefully theo can continue to work hard supporting the right back and the goals conceded can be mininised
For me one of the key thigns i’m taking from the game is this thing called ‘confidence’. Under Wenger we’ve always been a confidence team – when we have it we are amazing and when we don’t we are diabolical. The win on Saturday will be a big boost, but it needs to be followed up. I think that if we can get the points against Marseille and West Brom then we could be looking at a long run of success.
The down side? Confidence can be shattered instantly. Right now we are in a fragile situation whereby if we let our guard down against a ‘lesser’ team, everything can be undone. Sorry to sound a little dramatic, but I believe the ‘dreaded November’ is going to help to shape our season. Six wins out of six in the next month (Champions League, Premier League and Carling Cup) could lead to a great season. Lose anything up to two of those games, and we could fall back into the mire of the April/May/August games.
nice to see people revising their opinion of Koscielny. I know he’s made mistakes but he was pretty much thrown into the side last year after TV was injured, and every time he’s had a run of games with a good/experienced partner he’s looked pretty classy in my view. Mertesacker has his flaws too, but i’m as happy with our options in central defence now as at any time since Sol & Kolo were at their peak.
One of the best reports i’ve read on their
critically positively and critically
not run away with the hype of beating chelski
highlights obvious, easy to see points which are as unbias as can be!
well reported
btw – are you goodplaya..or his substitute again?
well said..spot on!
It is Goodplaya… not the brother of Goodplaya, who is back kicking his heels in the reserves.
Wallace, it’s not so much people revising their opinions of Koscielny. It’s simply a matter of his performances being better. If you’re a centre-half & you keep making mistakes to give away goals, you get criticism. You stop making those mistakes,you get praise. As one of his biggest critics last season (correctly, I still believe) long may his current form continue…..
We still have huge amounts of work to do but progress is being made.
AB, no offence mate but is that the most obvious statement ever ???? :-)
Jack is our best midfielder. That is not even debatable.
Good report. Ramsey played extremely well yesterday, it is good to see him get some of his form back. If he can stay healthy and continue to improve, when Jack gets back, they will be very tough in midfield. I have ripped Walcott for about two years now, and Saturday was the best he has played in years, however, we will see if he can play well two games in a row. His defensive play yesterday came after a good tongue lashing by JD, who was getting turned way to easily. Walcott needs to understand when your starting right back is out with an injury, you need to help in coverage.
RVP, what else can be said, he is a monster right now and Kosceilny was tremendous. I feel very comfortable with him at the back, now if we can just get our outside backs figured out…
the defending wasnt great….but still a welcome win
Sczc is a great shot stopper but his rushing out of goal almost cost us again, didn’t he do the very same against Stoke when the forward was running very wide away from goal.Seems all Arsenal keepers have this habit of late :(
^ sorry twas in the Sunderland game