Good morning Positivistas and a glowing Summer morning up here in Norfolk.
A fine game yesterday between what the succession of televised games over the weekend showed were clearly the two superior footballing sides in the EPL at the present time. Both demonstrated a quality of football and of purpose that the Citehs, Yooniteds, and Spuds and Saints are deficient in at the present time. And therefore while the result disappointed me as I would have preferred the flame to flicker a little longer in the season, the football I thought was pretty damn good.
And to the grit of the game itself which I had the opportunity to view from on very high indeed, and again on the TV last night ?
Our starting line up, no significant changes though with Bellerin back into after his Wembley break – it seems Arsene has decided who is our first choice right back and after the young Spaniard’s careful patrol of Hazard all afternoon, and some striking runs forward, who is to argue ?
My first ‘surprise’ was Chelsea’s decision to start with no recognised striker, even allowing for the attraction of them leaving with a point that seemed an odd one. Not so and in the first half I thought the visitors looked more dangerous, their best chances of the game from Oscar and Ramires. When Droggie came on at HT the attacking threat faded, with the poor old Ivorian reduced to shouting, waving and pointing after Michael Oliver in desperation. Should I feel pity to see a former footballing nemesis reduced to a toothless, dribbling old crone ? Probably, but it make take a year or two yet.
Overall though a very good defensive performance from all our back five. And did you see the number of cards we picked up in the last few minutes as we pressed and Chelsea threatened to cause problems with a breakaway ? Does that tell us we have players who have learned ? Yes it does.
Two midfield units worked hard throughout the 90 minutes and effectively battled each other to a standstill. There was very little time for any player to take a touch or look up to choose a pass and even Ozil, generally a man who can find space inside a telephone box, saw his usual poise hustled and harried. Coquelin and Matic tackled the heavy work, Santi and Ramires picked up the scraps and tried to create something with them. Aaron, like Hazard, found it difficult to get anything going on the flank against the capable Azplicueta.
My only criticism of our creative engine was that until the last 15 minutes or so we did not seem to move the ball through midfield fast enough, there was an extra touch, a half turn, that just allowed the defenders to regroup. That change may have had to do with Danny’s introduction, it may have had to do with slightly tiring legs. It did seem to me that last ten minutes that we were at our best, and they, blowing hard, leaning on the ropes.
But we all know it is goals that win matches and we have two of the best goalscorers in the PL.
Sanchez and Ivanovic was a chess match, the Chilean leading the large Balkan on, pushing the ball inside, down the line, at him. But never quite breaking young Branislav, though his late yellow card following a frustrated lunge at Alexis indicated that he understood the game that was in progress. For all his cruel taunting of the Serb however Alexis could not break open the Chelsea lock.
And up front Olivier ran, he hustled, he charged, he darted and flicked but against the double coverage of the ever popular Mr Terry and his sidekick Cahill he was always going to struggle. And Giroud did, but he was game to his final kick, he will have easier afternoons and more profitable ones.
So a good game, a timely reminder we have still work to do, and peaks to attack and conquer.
Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
Thanks Andy: that sums it up well and generously. They played well, so did we: no quarter asked for or given in a game that mattered a lot to both sides, and where both sides in the end were happy enough to share a point each. Chelsea effectively won the title by Christmas, and it would be wrong (though tempting) to forget that they did so in some style: since then they have marshalled and organised their resources efficiently enough to hold on relatively comfortably. Whether the gambles Jose (and Simeone last year) have taken with Costa’s fitness will see him play much again remains to be seen, and these things are noticed by a certain type of player, boring though it must be to such geniuses to be reminded of such things.
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Ref Michael Oliver was good for the most part, my only gripe was that Alexis was hacked down four or five times in the first ten minutes, with Ivanovic one being the worse, and all MO did was call Ivanovic and Terry over and give them a talking to, warning that the next one would be a booking, which of course it was not, as the commentators said, if Ivanovic’s foul happened half an hour into the game it would have been at least a yellow, this for me is one of biggest jokes of the english game, as a foul that warrants a yellow should produce a yellow be it first minute or be it in stoppage time
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Pundit’s last night praising Chelsea’s defending.
And rightly so.
As much as there is sick in my mouth from saying it: Chelsea’s back 4 & keeper have won this title.
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Dddy
Michael Oliver could have blown for a penalty or two, So I’d ease off on the total criticism.
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DC I agree but its Chelsea’s back 7 as a rule.
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Good write up although I thought it was strange how you see them as the more dangerous team in the first half, maybe that was just aprehension. I thought we buzzed around the area quite well and sometimes the ball just didn’t fall for us and you need a bit of luck. Obviously their best chance was Oscars ni t hector had a cup of tea and still had time to clear that. Overall a point was a good point to keep us moving on especially when the opposition just don’t need to win the game
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The “more dangerous in the first half” comment comes from them creating two decent scoring chances, Oscar and Ramires, rather than the second half when they created nothing and no real goal chances Ian.
I think we were about 50/50 in each half so far as pressure went, and in the final few minutes we were sharper. Koscielny put in a good cross that resulted in a decent chance, then Monreal put in another . If Danny or Ozil had been standing just a little off the spot they were in time added on ………………….!
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DC I said “Ref Michael Oliver was good for the most part,”, so not sure where you get the ” total criticism” from, my point on refs not handing out yellows early in games is not just about yesterdays game, it is a point in general, the rules should apply from first second of the game to the last second.
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Bellerin was very good defensively yesterday, in what was only his 12th BPL start, he dealt with PFA player of the year, Hazard, very well indeed. Not bad for a lad that the AAA told us could not be counted as one of our defenders for the season when they were telling us we went into the season with only six or was it five defenders in our squad.
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Can’t see how you can justify a ref not being bad by highlighting other possible errors in if they are in our favour. Although personally I think neither of the chelski shouts were pens, the one that should have been given was the Cahill goalkeeping effort.im sure he touches the ball with his hands more often than the chelski no 1
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look dont get me wrong…….fuck chelsea and their ‘defence’…who are we talking about ? john terry and cahill? who the fuck are they? get a killer in like suarez which we should have had last year and use the great giroud as option 2 when you want to play with targetman. giroud is fantastic for the role of targetman but he is not the personality or character or the type of striker to charge through lines with dribling
azplicueta is too good a left back for a non winger ( ramsey) so we need a sanchez for the left too, thats if theo cant be asked to track back and hussle opponents.
and fuck michael oliver too..the cunt…. ivanovic has entered the pitch with one mission…we all know it ..we all see it…fucking give the yellow in the first 10 minutes man. why forgive him?
people asking penalty for ospina…lol…so much football they know…..oscar has hit his shot/header… its an unavoidable clash of bodies…. its in the area…keeper always has right of way. and the cesc on ..laughable.
do we need two centrebacks midfielers ala konsciel;ny ? im thinking in order to remove copuelin and have ramsey and santi so as nto to ommitt santi from squad…provided at.l madrid is just stories. …will ramsey be disciplined though ???
i hate those cunts…..i wanted to beat them..badly ..not for the title..but to set down the psychology for next year.
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lol at comments on thierry henry our legend …….
reminds me how i got hammered when i said he couldnt finish for his manager fans teammates when we needed him the most
‘ i doubt your allegiances you doomer’
muahahaha
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A very fair report Andrew. I was surprised by how open the 1st half was. Jose had a plan to snatch an early goal and nearly succeeded especially with Oscar’s chance.
But we matched them punch for punch. It is noticeable that the the media and others can’t stop jizzing over their defending which is clear admission that our attackers were effective and threatened to open them up. But I don’t expect the media to admit to this blatant contradiction. Like Henry they will peddle a narrative about needing a world class striker etc. As if any team in the world wouldn’t sign Messi or Ronaldo if they were available.
I am glad you singled out Bellerin for his job in neutering Hazard. Could you imagine the premier league’s best player being so anonymous in a big match. But it was not due solely to young Hector. I think the unsung heroes of our performance was the entire back four especially the central defenders marshalled by our much maligned BFG. To my mind they were breached once by the ball from Willian to Ramires. (The Oscar chance was not their fault as Bellerin played the Brazillian onside.) But you won’t read much about Mert because most of our keyboard experts have decided that adopted a new toy in the form of Gabriel who has suddenly become superior to the know-how of a German defender with over 100 caps under his belt.
I love how this new team is developing. We are getting there.
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well we do need a fuckign killer up top who will finiish first time asked and if necessary pull a hatrick out his ass due to his immense quality and fearless attitude…lets not deny it…..
bfg was excellent last night …
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if not…then whoever plays right needs to chip in with 15 goals minimum …..and whover plays attacking mid too…
theo can score…but will he be disciplined to close down and hussle opponents or does he still insist on wanting to play cf. ?
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Hunter
I might agree with you about the Ospina incident.
The shot was taken, so ref has to give advantage rather than blow the whistle, as it was a clash of bodies afterwards in the box, at best for Chelsea would have been a free kick – rules don’t allow for a penalty.
As for a ref with a ‘the first kick at Arsenal is free, baby’ policy – Oliver wasn’t so tight about carding our players for a first offence, but I did enjoy the last 5 minutes when Arsenal suddenly discovered the joys of rotational fouling.
Taylor, Atkinson or Dean would have crucified us in Yesterday’s game. I noticed it was AT as the 4th official who only gave a ‘lubricious’ short 4 mins of extra time, when we had the Chavs on the ropes.
And yes, I spelled that one right.
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Hunter
We all know McBitey is currently employed by Catalonia’s vainest outfit, so hopefully we can move on from discussing his merits in an Arsenal shirt.
I agree – the club could do with finding an executioner in the box, but them is rare beasts though. Let’s hold-off on discussing potential upgrades to the team until the summer?, there will be bugger all else to chew on.
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It was a game when Olivier could have done with some definite assistance in the box and when crosses were coming in, which they were in the first half. To disrupt Cahill and Terry, give another target to the player crossing the ball and give the centre backs something to think about. It did not need to be another centre forward or target man but, for example Ramsey barging into the middle or Mesut dashing in to the front post.
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Correct me on this,
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea haven’t beaten Arsenal at the Emirates in a league match for over 10 years?
Funny that the Press and Television never mention that one.
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Chelsea’s defending of set pieces isn’t all that.
Even PSG took them to the cleaners.
So the Dark One calls Arsenal subbing on Welbeck and Walcott as negative?
Alright.
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Some fine comments from David O’Leary yesterday as the half time ex player interview about his 20 years and Arsenal and how he owes what he has to his time with the club. A 16 year old school boy apprentice to 722 senior games as a defender and just one red card.
I doubt that anyone will ever get near those records again.
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double canister
April 27, 2015 at 11:51 am
yes maybe choice of name still angers people but yes i mean the attributes and instinct of a suarez
cant fault the team for anything last night..we played very well..half time talk could have been an assuring ‘lads they are there for the taking, just be careful in the final thrid and make it count’ ..explains the post match comment ‘lack of freedom of mind in attack’
just a pity we didnt finish them …ozil or danny score that and the narrative changes completely…such are the margins..and off course the press will turn it against us
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I’ll take this from the season:
The days of getting bullied around the pitch by any of our major rival teams are over, that just leaves Stoke City as a continuing Nemesis.
Jose won’t be sleeping well this summer.
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The papers and pundits are being ridiculous, because they are not comparing like with like. It is unlikely that Chelsea would have opened up such a lead before Christmas this season had they had the injuries we had – and nor, I suspect, would they have held on to that lead had they suffered the injuries we had since Christmas last season. So to look at yesterday’s 0-0 and conclude that we are still miles behind Chelsea is wrong, although yiou can see how it suits them to do just that. What beggars belief is that a goalless draw against the champions elect, after a run of League wins like we have had, is suddenly cue for some to question the direction of the club and the competence of its leadership.
And I could be wrong, but I don’t remember Suarez scoring at will against Chelsea in their home match last season, just as our nearest to him, Alexis, was unable to do so yesterday.
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Nice to see David and George watching games again.
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foreverheady
April 27, 2015 at 12:29 pm
no ignore all that..
when jose says ‘ boring is waiting ten years for a title’..
where the fuck is a journalist with integrity to say ‘well…they did have a 450 stadium to repay, plus your owner and the arabs fucked up the landscape here a bit …dont you think joze? or should we ignore that and keep trolling them ? ” …..
fucking bastards playing to his tune……
and sorry but ivan gazidis is utterly useless…..a coward….a nothing…a zero..a fucking arsehole…
how can you let some portuguese translator throw mud at the club like that? especially when you know that if wenger retaliates press will have a field day?
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How the Hell do the media let these guys away with spouting crap?!:
“I had the feeling; the warm-up was not so good,” said Van Gaal, whose concern was shared by assistant Ryan Giggs. “In the last minutes before the game you hope you can recover and stimulate your players but then it is too late”.
“This is the first match that the other team have shown more fighting spirit than us,” Van Gaal added. “Our motivation, inspiration and aggression was not as high as the opponent. When you see the first goal, three duels in a row we lost and that is an example”. “I hope it shall not happen again but, as a coach, I know it shall happen again.”
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Jose didn’t wait around for those 10 years, the pikey money-grubbing little shit.
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small club…….. small people running it…
only wenger can hold his head high
even the discipline the club showed or the ‘faith’ to wenger was only because they are useless who didnt know any better…i insist without wenger this club would be worse than everton, totneham liverpool….. they expect EVERYTHING from him….
im finding out that when roman arrived he made bid for henry …..
so when he joined..he went for kenyon, united’s director and general kingpin of epl and the epl;s top striker/player… ‘ hallo everyone, my name is roman and im here to fuck you all’
what have we said in responce?
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Rumours going about saying Rooney did his knee in.
For once, I hope Stevie Nicks isn’t telling us sweet little lies.
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Ivan’s Job is to get the money in, Hunter.
He doesn’t engage in trash talk with The Enemy of Football.
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ivan bringing in the money? not wenger? with his entertaining style, cl qualifications and transfers?
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he can put his foot down on the media though ..or ensure the f.a doesnt take the piss…
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We all know who The Boss is, Hunter.
Even Ethel and Doris wouldn’t make a decent cup of tea without his Imprimatur.
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When pundits, in this case Henry, suggest Arsenal need to invest in a top, top, top, top, top, top, top, top, top, top top class striker I wish they would proffer a name or two….
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Or a top, top centre back, just like Mangala, Loveren, Rojo and half a dozen others were supposed to be last Summer ?
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d_C at 11:51 pm: All this talk about an executioner in the box is so contrary to reality. Did Suarez ever score against Chelsea while at Liverpool? Did Ibra score when PSG took their pants down at Stamfor Bridge?
That is why I find Henry’s punditry yesterday so disappointing. One weekend he is convinced Olivier and “Columbo” Coquelin are the best in the PL, next weekend after a tight match he starts pandering to the transfer-addicts with needing a new striker, midfield enforcer and goalkeeper. Not only is he vacillating but he is undermining confidence in the team and Wenger. At least Scouser pundits do their best to protect their beloved club.
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he is not entirely wrong…we need to remember that these guys talk with their minds on arsenal winning it…not going close..not just fighting for it …but winning it and leaving all opponents 10-15 points behind. undoubted supremacy. creame de la creame. for that kind of arsenal perhaps we do need some re-enforcements … and we have three options..we wait and wait till we are built to that point slowly slowly, we pray and hope that external factors force the others to give up and go back to russia/dubai .there is a third option but too poisonous right now to contemplate…yikes..bleeaaah.. .
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Falcao or Cavani? eh. Ho Ho Ho.
Lacazette looks tasty – but there could be a bidding war.
Wiki suggests he’s currently earning £16k a week.
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That all being said, I’d like to stick with Theo and Wele.
But if Poldi goes (100% certain) we could do with a 4th striker.
Joel hasn’t been ripping up any trees in La Liga.
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well ..thats the thing now dc…bidding wars with the biggest boys in town… how else will you beat them …? with a firework season ala atletico and dortmund? or with sustained supremacy over them? …just philosophising right now….
yes and lacazette and reus and petr cech and anyone who can boss the midfields of real.barca bayern chelsea etc etc …key word..boss them..not just play against them and compete…BOSS THEM….humiliate them…arrrggggghhhhhh .. ..
forget poldi cambell etc….. we need top class names, top class performers…those who guarantee results…and consequently cost the earth and the moon .
if we are not prepared ot playthat game then ok lets sit back and …enjoy the football with no demands or aspirations to anayhting..whatever comes…comes.
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falcao and cavani …falcao has been ruined unfortunately …cavani is lightweight imo
right now the top two are suarez and lewadofski …i would think ….
cant have either of them…which sucks
therefore we need to get the next ‘one’ …
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two top team? well, by virtue of their league places. butas far as the game goes, only one team played as a top team. the other team just played to protect their master’s record.
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fuck the game man…..fuck it …
they are mocking us in our face
first they come to our ground and do that shit ….then they get away with a draw and troll us .
what are we doing? whatis ivan doing?
yes it is utterly laughable wathcing frodo being a hooligan but his buddy the west ham fan says : arsenal: top football, shit firm….
and shit directors/boardmembers i would add…..
yes one side is that wenger had to build and we had to be patient…the other side is how long will they hide behind wenger?
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last season when we lost sagna, we were asked to replace him a top top top right back with premier league experience. that we rightly did. but months into the season, wenow see that the top top top right back was actually withus from the start. same for the top top top DM. if wenger had told us we are starting the season with coq as our DM most fans and pundits would have crucified him. why dont fans learn anything. we have akpom now but weare still talking of a top top top striker. this is why i like to stay offline at times. giroud is one of the reason we play this well, yet some suggest we need top top top striker. i will like someone to suggest one or two while still betting their life on it that he will surely be better that olivier.
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All this talk of the magic striker who will suddenly transform us to be winners over Chelsea ignores a couple of things:
1st. The potential and necessity of Sanchez to improve after his debut year.
2nd. The potential of Chamberlain to become a dominant player in a wide forward position. We saw how often before his injuries how he pushed back defenders with his speed, skill and strength and he is barely 20 years old. He is one for the future.
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i fear for henry’s career as a pundit. whenhe initially started, he wanted to be different from the rest, to analyse games based on his conviction. but having realised that his knowlege of football as a pundit was nothing compared to his football ability, he decided to regugitate the naratives of other pundits. just to play safe.
it is true that you can be jack off all trade but never master of all.
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to be winners over the chelsea..it must be the whole of the club…not just asking it from the players and manager ..
thats why im angry at ivan
mou has just pissed on us with that statement …..who from our club has come out to put that portuguese twat at his place?
noone…
we will have to wait for wenger to turn akpom into trezequet….
ehhh how long for ????? how long????????
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just used a random name
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Nice write up, Andrew. A Man U supporting friend of mine (I know! Weird, huh?) asked if I was bored watching the game. Bored? Hell no! I never gave up hope we could do it. Right til the end I thought it was possible, from either side. That’s the mark of a good contest.
George, Thierry does have a top, top, top striker in mind. Himself. He just has, so far, some humility left not to say that out loud. I fear, though, if he spends too much more time wallowing in the mud with the rest of the pundits, he will lose all sense of decency. Controversy pays the bills, as I’m sure he’s been told. There’s evidence he’s already learning. Like Shotta, my only fear is the effect this could have on the team. Some of the boys are very close to him, and his picking them apart on TV every week may hurt more than the average pundit garbage. I’d hate to see Aaron have to refuse to shake his hand when he turns up at the training ground.
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