Chelsea. It wasn’t ever thus. There was once a time when the word evoked a different series of meanings, conjured other images. Fashionable clothes, big side burns, walking down the Kings Road, colourfully clad pensioners with shining medals and long memories, Charlie Cooke, John Hollins, Alan Hudson, the Chelsea Drugstore (architecture meeting modern art on the corner of Royal Avenue and Kings Road), students and the Chelsea Flower Show. Everyone thinks their memories are embedded in a time of greater innocence, a halcyon era of a more simple, happier way of life, and I know I’m no different. However I do sometimes hanker for a time when there wasn’t this bitter loathing of other clubs. Did I despise Revie in the same way that Ferguson, Mourinho and Pulis make my lip curl today? Didn’t I used to look forward to a match, any match, regardless of the opposition? Maybe, maybe not, perhaps this is no more than an old man pining for his lost youth.
One thing not shrouded in a nostalgic rose tint is the fact that I was nearly a Chelsea fan. I know I’ve told you this before but it comes back to me each time their name appears on the fixture list. They played the hated Leeds United in the first FA Cup final I ever saw and I found I rather liked David Webb for putting away the winning header. Coupled with my first league game as a spectator being at the Dell where Southampton entertained Chopper Harris & co. and it is always possible I might have decided that Peter Osgood was better looking than John Radford, west was better than north and blue was better than red. Had the planets aligned in this way then these words would appear on Positively Chelsea and I wouldn’t be on speaking terms with any of you. Makes you think.
In any event I was never, not in a million years going to decide blue was better than red was I? While the papers shrieked about Chelsea Headhunters and bovver boot boys stalked the streets of West London my dad was quietly filling my head with talk of a different club, a club famous for innovation (under soil heating, son) class (marble, son, the halls were built of marble) and getting Bob Wilson’s autograph for me. When it came down to it Charlie Cooke was pretty cool but Charlie George was the single coolest footballer in the land. George Best? Not for me. When the other boys at school sang about Charlie being a superstar, they may have gone on to suggest he wears women’s clothes and a see through bra but I only heard the first line of their song.
So even though he was a Portsmouth fan, and even though he went to the Valley to watch Charlton Athletic when he moved to London, my dad steered me towards a life of vicarious voyeurism and masochistic joy as an Arsenal supporter. After the early seventies Chelsea never really showed up on my radar screen. It wasn’t until the silly money came along and put an end to the Ken Bates pantomime years that they surfaced as first a threat and later more of a torment. Their current manager is either trying to deflect media attention away from his troubled players or is genuinely coming unglued. I can’t tell which and frankly I can’t be arsed to give it much thought. He may be obsessed with Arsène but I’m not obsessed with him so let’s leave him to stew in his own juice and move on.
We have to travel to Stamford Bridge exhausted, dispirited and with our excellent return to form halted in Zagreb. The players had to complete much of Wednesday’s game with only ten men and our main striker Olivier Giroud is having a wretched start to the season. Replaced in the pecking order by Theo Walcott who is scoring goals for club and country with some regularity, our debonair French forward with the fine first touch and fluid passing skills was repeatedly fouled before being sent off for nothing in Croatia. Even here on what is supposed to be a positive supporters blog people prefer to blame our man rather than the referee. Honestly when a player loses the unflinching backing of the most one eyed, shamelessly partisan blog on the planet you know he is in trouble. What can be done? Well, personally I’d like to see him score a hat trick at lunchtime today but as he may not even start one wonders what he can do. Booed by sections of French support, wrongly castigated on-line at every turn by people who don’t deserve the eyesight with which they can’t see his strengths and the subject of endless transfer tattle as to who will replace him I struggle to remember a man less deserving of such opprobrium.
But football of course is a team game and the tribulations of one of our best players cannot derail the purpose of the whole squad. Per is still recovering from whatever evil spirit entered him but Aaron and ‘Ector should be fresh after putting their feet up while everyone else toiled and ultimately despaired in midweek. I don’t know how footballers do it but they have proved in the past that they can mentally compartmentalise different competitions. The Invincibles had a torrid time in the FA Cup and Champions league being knocked out of both by their two closest rivals but picked up where they’d left off in the league thrashing Liverpool in their next game. Can the current squad put the disappointment of Zagreb behind them and continue the progress they’ve been making in the league? Will Chelsea lift themselves for the big occasion in the way they’ve been unable to against so called lesser teams? These are the questions the answers to which should determine the outcome of today’s match.
Chelsea have problems, we all know that, they’ve made a shaky start to their league campaign but in the back of my mind there’s always the feeling of the beast cornered, never more dangerous than when wounded and underrated. Having said that we haven’t been riding a wave of perfect form, it’s been more a case of steady progress so I don’t think there is an air of over confidence. A draw would not be a surprise today as much as I’d rather see a few players add to an OG hat trick and give us a thumping victory, we need to temper our enthusiasm sometimes. The champions are not a crap team just because they have endured some crap results.
So two teams, both with points to prove to themselves and their fans after some unexpected reversals. Chelsea with home advantage Arsenal with the nicer fans, more intelligent manager and better looking players. Its in the balance really. They will kick us and dive and time waste and cheat as they always do, we will attempt to weave our magic patterns. It’s all a little predictable – all except the outcome. In total we’ve come away from Stamford Bridge having won 32 %, drawn 32% and lost 36% so history suggests we are more likely to get something than nothing. But as the famous football philosopher once said football is played on television not in the history books. Or something.
So, on that note I need to bugger off and leave you to your pre match routines while I start sticking pins in my Didier Drogba Diego Costa doll and polishing my lucky Arsenal mug. Not that I’m superstitious you understand, it’s just that, being entirely helpless to influence the result I feel a need to do something – anything – to appease the football Gods. I’ll be here to share the joys of victory with you, or should events unfold in confutation of this wholly desirable outcome then I shall retire gracefully into the shadows and pretend I never really liked football that much anyway.
Positively Arsenal 
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after being so rudely awakened by the the football calender this was once again a perfect antidote to to all that is negative.
ah remember the days when chelsea actually played football and under tommy doc even had GG and TV playing for them . As you said since then in the main chelsea and chelski have been dire and even when they have had ballers have not used them to their beautiful best.
once again we go into the game needing a decent refereeing display and a disciplined performance from our boys. it is strange to think the bridge (which was always falling down in the songs i remember, poor old chelsea) used to considered a lucky ground for us with David O’leary saying we could send the blind school to play chelsea and still win.
Today will be a closer affair but we know we can beat them, we know that we can destroy even the best teams when were on form and we also know we can grind out results when needed. COYG
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Morning Stew and a fine appetiser for an early lunch. Back in the day Chelsea were a popular side, Docherty got them playing with a bit of style, Dave Sexton followed. Both ex Arsenal as well at a time when we were a little dour.
Ian Hutchinson’s long throws though ? I wonder what the state of his shoulders are now ?!?
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No matter what my mood, whether its because of home life or football, a Stew Black blog lifts my spirits and nudges me back towards a point of equilibrium.
This is my first comment either on here or twitter about Giroud, I think he was wrong to do a “Rooney” for the first booking,but the sending of was a disgraceful bit of officiating. It wasn’t even a tackle. he was passing the ball and the player came from behind and managed to get in the way.He has my 100% support and the way he has been scapegoated is simply awful.
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Great write up, Steww. You had me chuckling to myself at the oh so familiar feeling conveyed by your last sentence.
I do enjoy learning of the colourful journeys so many of you have taken in the support of the Arsenal. I look forward to having many stories of mine to tell in due time. I’m still young, you know, but old enough to have brought my first child and daughter into the world a week ago. Her arrival heralded the scintillating football on display against the Orcs. Let’s hope it gets even better today and the Moaning One gets a long overdue thunking.
Victoria Concordia Crescit! COYG!
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Thanks Stew – and thanks Andy for the last one too. All brilliant stuff. Olivier Giroud is made of sterner (and more intelligent) stuff than most. He will score more goals, I am certain. Silly time for a game today, and I can’t watch or even listen because of that. It is the one time of the week I just don’t understand, and I hate them with a passion. A clean sheet and a goal apiece for Walcott and Ramsey would be nice.
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What a piece! Thank you very much Steww. I must admit though, I am a nervous wreck……but that’s ok cos I’ve just left a Chelsea supporting friend of mine and he’s worse than me. He’s genuinely scared of the Arsenal and feels his team is in for a hard time. Boy, I hope it turns out like that.
Anyways, will be watching the game with a relaxed mindset and if we win, we’ll celebrate. If we lose, I’ll do a Steww!!
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I really enjoyed this excellent article,many thanks: PA best articles on the web by far at the moment!
COYG!!
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Come on the Arsenal!
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iDibs – hey congratulations, that puts this football nonsense into some kind of perspective doesn’t it?
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and you asked me not to get my hopes up Steww. brilliant piece! i have a doll for all of them, manager down to terry! i go into every match 100% hopefull of a win, regardless the opposition, today will be no different. i can’t watch the game though as i have a gravid sow in labour pretty soon (vet.), twatter it is for me today. #UTA
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I admit I had to google that
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Only four starters from last season’s trip to the laundrette in west London, there’ve been a lot of changes to the starting eleven or thirteen. Lots of new combinations all over the park.
If it’s Walcott with Sanchez than that for me is an exciting combination. Though of course it was Chambo who got the big goal in the supercup, and Chambo and Welbeck who did the most damage to LVGs Red Army.
Big opportunity for these players getting the nod today. Another big game and test for Bellerin and Coquelin as they continue upon their upwards trajectories.
For the opponents luckily the f word started in the week which seems odd but perhaps like some arsenal players he also simply needed the minutes. Conversely you’d have to imagine that most Gazprom fans would berelieved to see the non-Mourinho signing Oscar come in for one of Jose’s pet mules, Willian.
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Team as expected then. Looking very much like our preferred first 11.
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Escept for Per of course but if Gabby’s run continues it will be hard to see him ousted.
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It’s rare for me to skip comments on here but I have done so this once – following the defeat on Weds. I’d decided early on in the match against DK that we had little chance due to the ref.
It was all I could do to keep watching – once OG got his booking, because I saw him rise high for a ball – and the defender simply charged into him. Such an obvious foul and a probable booking FOR ARSENAL. (It’s dangerous play when you judge or charge a player who’s in the air). What did the ref do? He gave the foul to his team. OG had been fouled most every time he’d gone for the ball. That’s a fix.
I was reminded of a game against (Braga, away), where the ref was intent on whichever team we played – winning. Besides ignoring injury inflicted upon Eboue, that ref hilariously demanded the ball from Fabianski and allowed Ars’s opponents to score a goal whilst most of the team were down the other end of the pitch.
That match at the nou camp was fun too. The Barca players had their hands around Ars players throats but there were no bookings for any of that. Then he sent off vP. Then Uefa banned Wenger, then they banned Wenger again. Then the ref got promoted to head of refs at FIFA! Oh how I laughed.
(Note the similarity between Riley stuffing Arsenal and getting promoted to top job, and Bussaca stuffing Arsenal and getting top job).
“our debonair French forward with the fine first touch and fluid passing skills was repeatedly fouled before being sent off for nothing in Croatia”.
Thanks Steww. My problem is that I feel most people can’t see what’s in front of their eyes and are easily fooled by the media narrative. The plundits, clearly disgraceful.
I believe I’ve said on here before, that I used to visit most London grounds when I ‘were’ a lad. Stamford Bridge was one of the most frightening. (Loud booing of black players, even their own one, was almost as scarey as whether I’d get out of the ground alive). And there was a period when I visited the a Kings Rd on a Sat. arvo, but for the life of me I can’t remember what the point of that was, (apart from thinking I could pick up posh birds in a Morris 1100. Deluded of what?)
PG, thanks for your 10:28. Spot on.
iDibs, Congrats and good luck. As you rightly typed: Victoria Concordia Crescit! COYG!
Excellent article Steww.
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Chelsea. Begovic; Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Subs: Blackman, Terry, Mikel, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Falcao Remy.
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Good morning boys and girls. Let’s hope Arsene has Mourinho’s number. If we beat them, Chelsea’s title aspirations are essentially over.
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Chelsea’s not parking the bus. Interesting.
Rantteta, I hear you about Giroud, and the ref behaving like a dick towards him, but the way he got himself booked was beyond stupid.
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I agree with Rantteta
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so whats all this about us having awful subs today
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Should Olivier be called upon today to play a little football on the green baize at the Bridge ( the pitch is so much better these days) could I mildly suggest that if he is the victim of what he regards as an incorrect decision from Mr Dean, and feels he should bring the error to the attention of the busy official, that he approaches that gentleman politely and expresses his complaint in suitably respectful tone and succinct manner.
Leave Diego Costa to make an arse of himself, he rarely needs any encouragement.
Other than that suggestion Ranty I am all there.
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G69
The reason I mentioned RvP’s sending off against Barca was to illustrate the complete lack of any chance of staying on the field if the ref has it in for your team. One shouldn’t underestimate the effect of knowing you’re under threat of being injured or cheated.
The previous 2 times OG was sent off (that I remember) were for a non headbutt, and an accidental but not dangerous tackle at Fulham, where the ref clearly wanted to even things up. So little was made of Distin breaking OG’s leg last season. “Oh, it was an accident”. No, it ****ing wasn’t. And the ref just went up to him and waved his hands as if to say Up Yours.
Many Prem players know the deal with Aresnal. Just kick the bastards, the ref won’t mind. That’s why Newcy were so outraged. McLaren voiced his dismay that merely 70% of his players dangerous tackles had been called. He described any sanctions as “harsh”.
Did you also notice how the Ox was held around his upper body/throat near the end of the match? Ox was not “stupid” and so made no reaction. Where did that get us?
Football is a game of LIMITED contact. Don’t let the plundits fool you.
Come on Arsenal.
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Come on. We see opposition players abusing the officials with impunity week in week out. If it’s an offence let it be treated so by all the referees against all the players. Stop blaming our player for piss poor inconsistent refereeing.
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So little was made of Distin breaking OG’s leg last season. “Oh, it was an accident”. No, it ****ing wasn’t. And the ref just went up to him and waved his hands as if to say Up Yours.
Are you sure ?
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“We see opposition players abusing the officials with impunity week in week out.”
And where does it get them ?
Yep I suppose those referees love Costa, Rooney etc
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predicted Arsenal line up for COC game v spurs
Ospina
Debuchy Chambers Mertesacker Gibbs
Arteta Flamini
Oxlade-Chamberlain Iwobi Willock
Giroud
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Good afternoon folks.
Let’s hope the team do as well as they have the potential to do.
Terry has been dropped, so Jose is already terrified of Theo’s pace.
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Ten minutes gone another good start.
The home team set up like Zagreb, hoping for the fluke/breakaway goal.
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Corblimey
What a burst from Coquelin
COYG
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Some typical UN neutral commentating from BBC and their website.
Coq was down for a few seconds and arsenal Twitter is bitching.
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Absolutely brilliant defending by the Don on Hazard there.
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Don Gabriel
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Gabriel will take no shift rom Costa.
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what the fuck did Gabriel get booked for, he was the one assaulted
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fucking awful red card to get, falling for the chelsea bullshite as usual
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Can someone explain to me what I just saw????
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If any of you blame our player for that fiasco I’m done here. Costa should have had a straight red for the double assault on Koscielny and then none of that happens. Can’t blame Gabriel at all for seething at that cheating scumbag.
More appalling refereeing.
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HT: 0-0
costa is so suited to chelsea and mourinho, a real scumbag
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Gabriel you got suckered there. 1st card was ok but the cunt wanted to wind you up.
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Diego Costa being Diego Costa.
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I’m sick and tired of games being decided by appalling refereeing. I’m seriously losing my interest in the EPL.
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After watching copious replays, I am totally unable to fathom what Gabriel did for either card. First one looked like he was getting in between Koscielny and Costa and second one I can’t see anything at all. Or was that a straight red?
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I feel bad for Gabby. I would have broken that cunt’s nose.
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A valuable learning experience for Gabriel there, he’s young and won’t make the same mistake again.
An interesting 45 coming up – not sure what Arsene might try – Chambers on and maybe Giroud for Ozil and Theo ?
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Dean let Costa get away with five bookable offenses. Piece of fucking shit.
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shotta what did Gabriel do to warrant the first yellow card.
Stupid to get sucked in by Costa for the second yellow,
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That might be the worst bit of officiating I’ve seen. Costa should of been off. Unbelievable. Mike Dean is an absolute disgrace
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I am not Wenger but I would bring in Per for Theo. I don’t like bunkering down for 45 minutes.
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