Result: Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 18 August 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Marcus Alonso’s goal ten minutes from time killed off Arsenal’s resistance at Stamford Bridge in a seesaw game that further underlines the work that lies ahead for Unai Emery. Pedro and Alvaro Morata put a dominant Blues 2-0 ahead as the Gunners were made to pay for terrible misses by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The latter sparked an impressive first half comeback with a left foot finish on 37 minutes and when Alex Iwobi equalised the momentum completely swung our way. In the minutes before the break Aubameyang and Iwobi might even have put us ahead but couldn’t keep their heads with the goal gaping. The second 45 minutes were a much tighter affair, however, when Eden Hazard came off the bench, the Blues started to turn the screw. The Belgian’s low cross to Alonso proved to be the killer moment of an entertaining but ultimately painful game.
Starting XI
Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang
Subs: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Torreira, Ramsey, Welbeck, Lacazette
1′ – 4-4-1-1?
There’s an early opening for Aubameyang who scuffs a shot from the edge of the box straight at the world’s most expensive keeper.
2’ – Ozil in the middle
Having been asked to play out wide last week, Emery has given Ozil a central role behind Aubameyang. Iwobi, in for Ramsey, has the right flank, Mkhitaryan is on the left. Cech has the captain’s armband.
3’ – Chelsea sighters
David Luiz and Pedro both attempt efforts from distance. Both fly over, but the manner in which they are afforded space to get off their shots is worrying.
7’ – Chance Gunners
Nice move from the Gunners as Nacho Monreal overlaps with Alex Iwobi down the left flank and whips a pass to Ozil whose volleyed effort goes just wide.
9’ – ⚽ Goal Chelsea 1-0
Jorginho plays a pass inside Mkhitaryan for Alonso bursting down the left. The Spaniard looks up, spots compatriot Pedro in acres of space and the former Barcelona man rolls past a horribly exposed Cech. Replays show Bellerin horribly out of position when Jorginho gets on the ball; the result of a sort of half-hearted press that means he’s covering nothing but thin air.
12’ – Nearly a second for Blues
Keeping possession is a real problem for the men in red. We’re trying to play out from the back, but it’s midfield where we’re losing the battle. When the Blues win the ball back, they have players bursting through the lines. Alonso picks out Kante who finds space behind Sokratis and Mustafi. He lays the ball back to Barkley who curls just over.
16’ – Tame from Auba
Mustafi finds Aubameyang who arrows a shot at Kepa’s near post. It’s easily saved.
19’ – How did he miss?
A great pass by Guendouzi finds Bellerin in space behind the Chelsea defence. The right-back takes his time, picks out Aubameyang who is six-yards out. It’s harder to miss. And yet he does, skying over. He looks disgusted with himself.
20’ – ⚽ Goal Chelsea 2-0
Immediately we pay the price. A long ball over the top sees Morata taking on Mustafi. He cuts inside the German onto his left foot and strikes low past Cech. There were 55 seconds separating the miss and the Blues doubling their lead. Mustafi really has to do better in that situation.
26’ – Yellow card Xhaka
The Swiss dives in on Pedro in the centre of midfield. It’s late and Martin Atkinson reaches for his pocket.
30’ – Horrible miss again
Ozil has a curled effort blocked on the edge of the box. Xhaka and Monreal work the free ball to Iwobi who sees Mkhitaryan calling for it in space. He finds him. It’s got to be a goal! No! He skies over, just like Aubameyang. Comical shooting from the Gunners.
35’ – Pass me the booze
BT Sport report that Chelsea have made 100 passes more than the Gunners at this point. In the centre of the park they are popping the ball around for fun. We might be running around a lot, but we’re chasing shadows at times.
37’ – ⚽ Gooooaaaaaaallll Arsenal 1-2
Finally! Monreal closes down Willian in the centre of the park, as the ball runs free Iwobi pounces on it, runs at the defence, pulls the ball back to Mkhitaryan with the aid of a slight deflection and the Armenian sweeps the ball low to Kepa’s right. Nice finish. We’re back in it!
38’ – Flying save from Cech
Guendouzi does well to hold up Kante but the little France midfielder still retains possession and tees up Morata who smashes one from 20-yards that Cech tips over.
41’ – ⚽ Gooooaaaaaaallll Arsenal 2-2
Bellerin and Mkhitaryan combine down the right. The Armenian is calm on the ball, sees Iwobi who smashes into the top corner. Lovely stuff from the Nigeria international
43’ – No Auba, No!
Iwobi, who is having a cracking game, dribbles to the byline and pulls back to the Gabon international who tries to go near post with his first time left foot effort. He really should find the target but it goes wide.
45’ +1 – Iwobi miss!
There’s a pattern to our play. Get to the byline. Pull the ball back. Shoot first time. Hope. Pray. Miss. On this occasion, Ozil finds Iwobi who puts over. We should be ahead.
Half-time: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
An absolutely mad 45 minutes. Arsenal looked dead and buried having conceded twice; both goals coming almost immediately after we’d squandered chances of our own. To say we looked uncomfortable on the ball at the back is an understatement. That said we were actually pretty slick in the final third. Mkhitaryan’s smart finish bolstered the confidence and suddenly we were the better team. Iwobi took advantage of the change of momentum with a clinical strike, but he couldn’t repeat the trick when a near identical chance came his way. I think I counted four missed sitters by the Gunners, two falling to an out-of-sorts Aubameyang.
46’ – Time for Torreira
Granit Xhaka, on a booking, is taken off at the break and our Uruguayan comes on to partner Guendouzi.
51’ – Great block Sokratis
Our attempts to play out from the back get us into trouble. Pedro steals the ball off Torreira, passes to Kante and our Greek centre-back throws himself at the ball to avert the danger. Chelsea call for a handball, but he knew nothing about it.
54’ – “It’s so quiet at the Bridge”
The travelling Gunners enjoy taunting the home fans who still seem to be scratching their head at the way this game has turned.
56’ – Big hand from Cech
Ross Barkley dribbles across the box trying to find an angle to shoot, when he gets the space he needs he arrows low across Cech who dives to his right and fingers the ball for a corner. Cracking stop by the keeper.
58’ – Oh Auba!
Aubameyang goes too early to collect an Ozil dinked pass and is called offside. A real shame as he curls a finish past Kepa with the outside of his right foot.
60’ – Chelsea double substitution
Sarri decides its time for a change. Barkley and Willian make way for Kovacic, making his debut, and Hazard.
62’ – Blues growing in confidence
The arrival of Hazard has put a spring in the step of the Blues. Morata is just flagged offside before forcing a decent stop from Cech who also does well to claim a deflected Jorginho shot from range.
68’ – Rambo into the breach
After sending a rocket the way of the defence for not clearing the ball, Mesut Ozil trudges off to be replaced by Ramsey. He takes his time.
71’ – Under the cosh
The quick feet of Hazard and Pedro are causing Arsenal all manner of problems. Torreira takes out the latter from behind to concede a free-kick 25-yards out. David Luiz lines it up and forces Cech to fist his shot clear.
74’ – Ch-ch-changes
Alex Lacazette comes on for Iwobi to take Aubameyang’s central position. The Gabonese moves to the left. Meanwhile, ex-Gunner Giroud comes on for Morata.
76’ – Oooohhh
Arsenal work the ball well to Ramsey who shoots low at Kepa. The Spanish keeper spills the ball momentarily but gathers again as Lacazette tries to nick the ball into the goal.
77’ – Yellow card Mustafi
Well, it’s Mustafi. It was bound to come eventually.
78’ – Chance Kante
Sokratis stops following Kante who, despite being absolutely tiny, is the target for a cross as Giroud works his way to the byline. Thankfully he can’t keep his header down.
80’ – ⚽ Goal Chelsea 3-2
Disaster. Lacazette gives the ball away and then doesn’t get tight enough to Hazard when the ball falls to the Belgian. The tricky winger heads straight to the byline, pulls back to Alonso who tucks home with his left foot through Cech’s legs. We’ve been masters of our own downfall, it’s not pretty defending.
83’ – “Push, push, push”
The cameras and pitch-side mics catch Emery prowling the touchline and urging Monreal to push forward. He’s desperate not to leave empty handed.
86’ – Cech to the rescue, twice.
Hazard again wriggles free of the Gunners defence. In the blink of an eye he’s one way, then the other. Thankfully, Cech gets down low to stop the Belgian extending the home side’s lead. The keeper then parries a Giroud effort after Alonso is left alone to pick him out with a pass. We look ragged.
89’ – Just over!
Mkhitaryan cleverly heads a ball down to Ramsey who shoots first time. It’s a cracking effort that ripples the top of the net. But it’s over.
90’ + 3 – Great save Cech
Chasing an equaliser, Arsenal are left exposed at the back. Hazard and Giroud have all the time in the world to manufacture a chance but once again Cech is equal to the challenge. Referee Atkinson blows for full time.
Full time: Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal
Two defeats from two games doesn’t make for fun reading, especially when our rivals are winning. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy when the fixture list came out but at least there were a few seeds of excitement when the front players clicked today. It’s absolutely vital that we don’t let this winless run continue next time when West Ham visit the Emirates on Saturday.
Defending and conceded two goals in the first half and defended most of the second half and conceded, we looked sound when attacking in the first half, should have scored 4. Some good signs and players (e.g. Guendouzi) but could have taken it to them more rather than sitting back then returning the ball to them for them to attack again.
2 games 2 defeats is obviously not a great start, but the guy is trying to undo Wenger’s mess & a lot of the players who are defensive liabilities like Bellerin are Wenger players & you can’t undo all that mess in one transfer window. Feel the fixtures were a tad harsh to start off with, but now that the tough ones are out of the way, on to winning ways now, and I do see improvements overall. Esp. Gadouzhi (I think thats his name :D) will be a fine player. Remember this isn’t Wenger’s Arsenal anymore, who will persist… Read more »
Omg..why am i still hearing wenger
Stop sucking up to UE.
I agree…very promising going forward, yet still the familiar question marks at the back. We really deserved at least a draw with all those gilt-edged chances we missed. Cech was absolutely excellent…seems to be proving right Emery’s faith in him as first choice. For Guendouzi to do as well as he did just coming from the French 2nd division is testament to the lad’s exceptional quality. Xhaka must not start…he’s too slow and doesn’t seem to have improved from his level of last year, which was no good. Torreira must start. Otherwise, an overall improvement from last year and despite… Read more »
Says something that, outside of Check and Monreal (and Iwobi a bit), our best players were the two new players; players who fit the new style and/or don’t have to unlearn a drilled-in old style.
Stick with Emery and much like Klopp, I suspect in 3 years time our starting 11 will almost be completely different.
I am not sad at all with the defeat. I was fukcing mad when we were 2 -0 down and Mikhi also missed that sitter i was fearing the worst like the recent Wenger teams away against top 4 opponents. Team showed lots of characters to come back and level 2 – 2. I hope Emery knows who to play in the midfield next game. Everyone was talking about Torreira being the best signing of the summer but that kid Guondouzy could seriously give a run for his money based on those two performances. They had Hazard but we never… Read more »
Very true. It’s the difference between us and the “top” teams – we lack that super aggressive tricksy attacker who loves to drive, dummy, dribble and generally give defenders a heart attack. Sanchez was such a player, although of course he was also infuriating, and not up to Hazard’s all round ability. I still wonder what would’ve happened if the Arsenal had managed to sign that bitey fella from the mugsmashers…
Shame. Points were there for taking.
Agreed. Cracking game for the neutral. There were certainly more positives than last week, individual errors and lapses of concentration, but looking a lot more organised overall. While I don’t think we deserved to win that game, especially after the first 25 minutes, we certainly could and maybe should have won it given the goalscoring chances we had. Shooting boots were just not on today. Gutted we didn’t get at least a point.
Many positives and it’s going to take time to teach this defence how to defend and press under the new system. Was always going to be learning process after the shambles of the last 6 years or so.
Wengers legacy was always going to hold us back for a while but small signs look good
Where is this mythical pressing? The only sign I could see was on the self-destruct button.
Fucking about passing it around our six yard box with a minute to go and a goal down ffs
Lots of problems and I know its early days, but personally I’d take Bellerin out for a while – he’s just not switched on defensively.
We need so much more from the likes of Ozil – £300k a week should be getting Hazard-level quality.
What we also need is a functioning mid-field that can hold the ball and it move it forward and take some pressure off our flawed defence. Guendouzi is the only one really doing it. That said is Auba had his shooting boots on we could have nicked this. We will beat a lot of team playing like this.
Yeah a lot of sloppy passing today under Chelsea’s pressing, not moving the ball quickly enough either.
Hazard isn’t even on £300k a week. He hadn’t signed his contract. Ozil is on £350k. Not comparable atm in how they effect games
Nah…. Ozil needs runners in front of him to effect a game, you know. Same shit, different day.
I like the way we took it to them at different times during the game. Only problem is you’re now likely to see lower teams nicking points off these teams we’re struggling to get a result against; these would then start to feel like points cheaply lost in hindsight
First everybody was saying we don’t have the right striker for Özil to shine (mobile and speedy), now we have Laca and Auba. Then we didn’t have enough protection in DM for him to deliver. Now we are playing with 2 defensive midfielders. Then we didn’t have the width in the game against City and that’s why he didn’t have the options on the wing to pass it to, today we played with Micky and Iwobi who both had a great game going forward. But Özil again didn’t deliver. I start thinking he’s really not worth to try to build… Read more »
Totally agree. Ozil is the Emperor’s new clothes. Complete waste of money. I think he could find himself out of the team oretty soon if Emery has the balls
there was no problem in creating chances, which is Ozils area.
the problem was in defence and finishing.
Auba was shit.
Chelsea has a new manager too..passing around too much at the back, playing pig in the middle until you are out of idea who to pass to is the problem that needs to be addressed in the next game. Matt G deserves to be a mainstay in the midfield. Xhaka & Thor need to compete for place. And ozil, maybe Ramsey will get a nod ahead of him. But nah, Ozil will start..
We deserved the draw today. Really could have done with wiping the smirks off the faces of those smug twats.
Totally agree with your second sentence. Sadly not your first.
Realistically Aubameyang could have had two goals and Mkhitaryan another one. Sure we were shaky at the back, but so were they. Could easily have finished 4-4 or the like.
Sure, but, firstly we didn’t finish those chances, and secondly if we had, it would have been totally against the run of play. They dominated us for long periods.
It’s early days and I’m sure we’ll improve but I think we got what we deserved today – Chelski were sharper, more agressive, better with and without the ball. Luckily they look shaky as fuck at the back.
Why are you so down on your own team? Our defending was pants but we looked really threatening going forward.
I.d say we fairly awful in the first 30 mins and close to dreadful for the entire 2nd half. A lot of work required and possibly a lot of player turnover…shame the fucking transfer window closed early! Patience is gonna be needed by the bucketload. Still have belief in Emery, but there was a lot I didn.t like in that performance and it needs to be addressed
Should never have started with those XI. Ramsey, Torreira and Lacazette should be starters. Might have won had we not started so poor. Bellerin needs a break to learn and Mustafi needs a kick in the ass.
How has our passing game gone so badly? So many bad passes. I get nervous finishing away from home but so many of the passes were unforced errors.
How do we still have Mustafi? Every time I’m on here I say it, but it’s because it beggars belief. I think that one issue will keep us out of top 4. There are other issues that will keep us from titles, but the shaky foundation of our CBs rattled the whole team. It’s so hard to play with confidence when you feel the players behind you can’t be trusted.
Any credibility Stephen is lost when you say Ramsey should start. He is slow, ponderous, and although s good player, not good enough if we want to be top team.
Ramsey entered, Chelsea got a goal.
We need a better midfield. No wonder they dominated when they can call on Jorginho(who looks fucking quality) Kante, Hazard and Fabregas. Compared to ours of Xhaka, Gendouzi, Ramsey and Ozil. Think there’s is just that step above at the moment.
But it takes time to improve on what Wenger signed the last 10 years
So did Lacazette
We did ok, some really good stuff and missed chances march on…
Emery has done nothing , look at Sarri , preseason was enough for him to change Chelsea because he is a top coach , but Emery is an awful coach and is not the right person to take Arsenal forward. #EmeryOut
Piss off John. Judging him after two tough games shows what sort of dick you are.
Sarcasm right? It’s sarcasm right? Right?
Well Chelsea’s squad is much more tactically flexible than our squad. They change manager every other season! They’re used to changing systems and adjusting quicker than some of our guys who have only known one manager for most of they’re career. More patience neeeded!
What a knee jerk reaction. There were players who really let Emery down today. He’s trying to implement a style which won’t happen overnight. Sure, you can get angry at some of the birdbrained mistakes. Our star strikers both blotted their record today. Auba uncharacteristically sloppy in front of goal and Laca who’s normally impressive when dropping deep. But that stupid pass he made in Chelsea’s half cost us.
If you’re looking for instant gratification go support Chelsea.
Chelsea already had the better players in defence and midfield. He had less to fix.
Two games in and the manager out contingent is already at it. That has to be a record.
I know this topic hasn’t reached the overton window yet, but Bellerin should be dropped. Bring in lichtsteiner. Hector isn’t a good defender and just doesn’t offer anything on the attack.
Bellerin is the Walcott of right backs. Fantastic guy, shit defender.
Bellerin was poor defensively I agree. But to say he doesn’t offer anything on the attack is an overreach. He put it on a plate twice.
Bellerin was poor for Chelsea’s first goal, but then he went and made up for it by practically gifting us two goals that should have been tucked away. The reality is that we lost because Aubemeyang cost us two goals, Lacazette set up Chelsea’s third goal, and Ozil was nowhere to be found. Poor from our star players really.
Bellerin was in field marking willian. That goal was as a result of Miki’s poor defending and sokratis slow ass
Bellerin did not play well, I agree with this and don’t blame him for the goal. If you watch the replay, Bellerin goes for the press (a la Emery tactics), which left space down our right flank behind him, but Mikhi was there, goal side of his man, William, but didn’t track back and let Willian drift in behind him.
You could argue that Bellerin has to be smarter when to initiate the press, but if Mikhi just tracked backed, the danger would have been minimised.
Wasn’t ozil substituted already before their 3rs goal?
Yes he had already been subbed. But let’s not let fact get in the way of a good scapegoat
Agreed about his defending. Going forward he did do some good things today.
Things I learned today;
1) our defense is hilariously bad at playing from the back. Also; our defence is hilariously bad.
2) I am better at football than Bellerin
3) Apparently, trying to take the ball from Hazard immediately gets called as a foul.
4) While we should have scored two goals, Cech saved us from conceding 4 or 5.
May have scraped a 2-2 if Laca hadn’t literally passed it back towards their goal.
That was disappointing. A draw would have been a good outcome under the circs, but it wasn’t to be. Not too many came out of it with credit.
Emery lacked the tools.
We have a very mediocre squad, all thanks to…
Positives: Iwobi and Nacho are forging a dangerous partnership down the left (the Aubameyang and Nacho partnership looked far more timid in comparison).
Negatives: Another two big games, another two performances showing Ozil is not a 350k player. This genuinely feels like a Wayne Rooney situation where he is being paid and played for his reputation as a 21-25 year old.
Chelsea looked the better team. Two games two defeats nothing to get to excited about . Looks like it’s going to be a long season with a lot of disappointment.
How did we end up with Lacazette. His introduction lost us the game. Playing two strikers when we can’t get the ball out of our own half away at Chelsea’s with a point for the taking is not re assuring from Emery. That said, what a signing Torreira and Guendouzi… On to the next one, let’s start winning
And what was your solution to that, huh? Who on the bench could’ve sorted out the midfield problem?
Defending so bad it’s downright comical. Monreal was fine, the rest of the back four was Keystone Cops stuff. If we defend like that we’ll struggle to finish 7th.
Block from Sokratis was good wasn’t it? I think he’s finding his feet, much better than last game.
a lot of criticism on Hector in the comments here. I’m not defending him, just wondering if he’s being coached to play so high. Maybe just make him the winger we’re missing because of all the chances he created and bring Lich in at RB.
Laca – what was that backpass? yikes.
Good, entertaining game. I think we were unlucky not to tie it in the end…
Cech probably Arsenal’s man of the match.
Problem with him as a winger is he can’t dribble or has any end product.
He would literally be a Spanish Theo without any goals.
Also agree Bellerin deserves a shot as a winger. Nice looks taking it up and over.
I dont know where our defenders were in the first half, several times Mustafi was the only one back there – a situation we know is a weakness
Lot of positives from game. Leaving Ramsey out was great decision and taking Xhaka off was also very encouraging. Start with Torreira and kid in middle. Ramsey can take place on bench and Xhaka needs a league that is slower than premiership. He would be superstar at walking football. Bellerin is just not technically good enough. One great pass is not good enough.
Xhaka should never have started.
Poor start, but we’ll get there as soon all players understand the value of pressing the opponents when they got the ball, Mustafi finishes his basic defending course and forwards learn to shoot straight. Like that Emery is ruthless in his changes, but started with slightly wrong team today.
Hello Alex Iwobi, welcome to Arsenal
Could b the end for Bellerin and Xhaxa..I can see what Emery is going for but we have shite/lazy players in key positions. Mustafi has to go . Sokratis would be deccent with a pacy partner. Ozil was poor but we were non existent when he went off. Ironic mistake from Laca who everyone was crying out for
You’ve gotta be kidding dude, arsenal offered him long term contract and Emery named him one of the captains
Before he watched him play.
I hope Emery is brace enough to drop the name players who are not performing – Bellerin was disappointing and I’m not convinced Ozil puts in the effort needed for the pressing game that Emery seems to want. Shame we missed some gilt edged chances – let’s hope we can get off the mark next week against the Hammers.
Brave*
I think I’ve defended Ozil loads but beginning to think he’s past it. I’d like to see him dropped for a few games and see how we get on.
Mkhi also seems past it, Bellerin is shocking and Xhaka is not suited to this league.
Mikhi had a goal and an assist. How is he past it.
Message to Mr Emery: When you defend like Rochdale’s under-11s and then miss chances which my 98-year-old half-blind wheelchair-bound grandmother would tuck away in her sleep then you are going to lose lots of football matches. If you do not sort out our defending PDQ then we will be fighting a relegation battle this season. You can start by putting Mustafi on a slow boat to Tasmania; Xhaka can keep him company. How about having a nice quiet conversation with that nice Mr Bould? He was a decent defender in his day. He knows how to organise a defence. You… Read more »
Don’t be so cynical. Heh. We’re only 4 defenders and three midfielders from being a good side.
Your sentence re.: Bould just confirms you’re a parroting, clueless fat c**t.
A friend of Stan and Josh?
That third goal was all Lacazette, the terrible pass and the sauntering after it like he’d just had his ankles ripped off was awful. We deserved the draw, I wouldve been happy with a draw, all considering, it would have shown a big improvement from the first game and got us an encouraging point.
Defend as a Team to win like a Team. Such defensive mistakes are not allowed at the highest level of football
On the one hand Bellerin was poor for the first goal, but on the other hand he was our biggest threat aside from Iwobi and Nacho. Our midfield and CBs were just lazily hoofing it up the pitch for him to chase down and hope he puts in a good cross. I’m happy for Bellerin to be dropped for Lichtsteiner to be more defensively solid. But if we’re going to do that, then Ozil better step it up and start playing vertical passes to carve teams. Because right now our midfielders are constantly looking for the lazy pass into the… Read more »
I’m gonna go on a limb here…. Everyone in the media is saying that Emery needs x amount of transfer windows like Pep and Klopp, but let’s be real, we don’t have the financial clout or even the CL to spend like they did. City literally bought Bravo, he was shit, then bought a new keeper. We don’t have the funds to do it, and I’m not sure hoping on windows like Pep and Klopp will save us. And now that finally Arsenal fans are realising that the season won’t be the rose so many here thought it would be… Read more »
At least Giroud didn’t score.
He really wanted to though. That kinda hurt. Although, he probably feels betrayed by the club having been such a loyal servant only to be cast off in a mad deal to bag Auba.
Those chances that Arsenal missed were the ones that Giroud would put away for fun
Right I think come the January window, hopefully we will be in a good chance for getting 4th, we need to change formation and get shot of certain players (Ramsey as I don’t think he will sign, mustafi and bellarin) and sign a decent centre back and winger!!! I agree with Tim Stillman on the need for a 3 man defence!!! Check/Leno – lich – new CB – nacho – torreira – guendouzi – ozil – new winger – Laca – auba – welbeck/iwobi
Where to start?. The positives: attack was pretty decent except finishing. Monreal, Cech and Guenduzi looked decent defensively. The negatives, and there’s a lot: Finishing has to be better. Ozil…I’ve defended him up to this point but he was basically useless today. As the team’s highest paid player and a proven star, he has to do better and make more of a difference. Look how much difference Hazard made when coming on for Chelsea. The central defense was poor. Kos may never be back to where he was. Meaning we’re stuck with the two that looked terrible today, Holding, who… Read more »
Perhaps I won’t feel this way in a couple months after more defeats. But I don’t really care where we finish as long as it’s in the top 10. This was always going to be a crazy season post Arsene. Let’s just get behind the manager and let him get a couple more transfer windows in. I don’t think we will make top 4 and finishing outside a Europa spot could do us wonders for next season.
Bellerin was utter shite whole last season and at the beginning of this one he is total desaster. Just like Mustafi. Bellerin is absolute shit at defending (2 chelsea goals came from our right side and the passes came right through him as if he didn’t exist on the pitch) and is not able to hold or pass the ball going forward if there is anybody in front of him. He didn’t create 2 chances but simply managed to put two crosses when there was free (and empty) space created through the movements of Mkhitarian. Bring Lichtsteiner and Holding for… Read more »
Yeah, I don’t know about Bellerin anymore. I’d start Lichtsteiner too. Bellerin, imo, has lost the ‘right’ to be the starting RB and needs to sort himself out and win it back. Or something.
Iwobi was much improved. It’s a big deal! Let’s remember how effective Iwobi Laca and Auba were together when together last spring. Bellerin also did well as a winger, not so much as a defender, is he out of position? Mhki can’t defend worth shit, but good on him to make up for it with the nice goal. Ramsey and Lacazette made little positive impact, nice shot though. Great to have Monreal back. Ozil is struggling, he needs some counseling. Makes more money in a week than 99% of the world’s population does in a year, maybe he can’t take… Read more »
The hyphenated guys. Love it (and agree!)
Bar the goal, Iwobi was pretty awful.
In the 2 defeats I’ve definitely seen some improvement, there’s definitely more character within the squad. We were second best but still created enough clear cut chances to win. The truth is, a lot of these players aren’t of the highest level and I think Emery will bring in the quality we need over the next few windows. Seeing another half time sub was pleasing, that just never used to happen. Did Xhaka do anything apart from the stupid foul?We were unlucky with the winning goal. Just before Lacazette gave the ball away, Kovacic lost the ball and dived before… Read more »
Our defence managed to make Morata look like a Premier League quality striker.
Enough said.
Don’t think I’ve been this happy with a loss.
To see Emery subbing ozil and co and not youth was refreshing too.
I think this game should have been a lesson to many of us on just what a gargantuan task Emery has on his hands to reform our squad. I hate watching us lose as much as anyone, but we have to give it time. This is a massive task to change and deracinate Wenger’s shortcomings in the squad, particularly in terms of the defense.
I don’t know about anyone else, but Bellerin does not seem like a very good defender, despite all the hype. The Ox was also a better crosser of the ball too, so not sure why he is considered in such high regard by so many.
centre mids didn’t help defend and full backs either got pulled out wide exposing the CBs or were caught way up the pitch with no cover. basically the same as nearly every single game over the last few years. going to be a long season for Emery…but this is it. far far too early to pass judgement couldn’t have asked for a worse two teams to play to kick off the campaign. i would rather draw the next 10 games in a row regardless of opposition if what we saw in those games was a team defensively disciplined and tough… Read more »