Focus, determination and flair are all words that can be used to describe the Arsenal team performance at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Despite the three defensive lapses that led to Chelsea goals, Arsenal emerged victorious and continued their rise up the table. This was aided by the super human hat trick knocked in by Robin Van Persie, the captain and talisman of Arsenal this season. However, the captain’s performance should not overshadow the superb team spirit on display at the Bridge.
From Szczesny to Arteta to Gervinho, all the players put in a solid shift that resulted with three points going to towards Arsenal’s tally. The back line was less than convincing in the first half. The left and right full backs, Santos and Djourou, were caught out of position and wanting for pace more than once in the first fifteen minutes. AVB was left disappointed with the lack of quality in the final third however, as Torres and Sturridge spurned all the chances that were presented to them. Arsenal began to gradually increase pressure on the high line of Chelsea, eventually fashioning a glorious chance, which Gervinho wasted. A nice exchange between Ramsey and Arteta allowed the former to be able to find Walcott on the right. Walcott’s brilliant first touch took him around Cole and away towards goal. Theo’s final ball was equally good but Gervinho seemed to be caught between deciding to finish with his left or right foot. He eventually chose right, but it was the wrong choice and the ball was pushed wide for a goal kick.
Theo again put a delicious ball into the Chelsea 18 yard box, with the same lack luster result from RvP, who put the ball over the bar. Chelsea would eventually make Arsenal pay for the lack of killer edge in front of goal, going ahead through a soft header from Frank Lampard. Mata skipped free of the diving challenge from Santos on the left and put a searching cross into the box. Lampard was able to glide away from Mertesacker and cushion his header into the bottom right corner. Arsenal did not seem to crumble the way former Arsenal sides have lately, instead the brilliance of Ramsey and Gervinho equalized soon after.
The goal was worked well, as Ramsey found space between the lines of Chelsea’s formation and his through ball found the spiriting Ivorian in the box. Gervinho, having wasted the earlier chance, proved he had calmed himself and squared the ball for RvP to slide into an empty net. As the game neared the half time whistle it seemed that the score would go in level, but Arsenal were again undone by soft set piece defending. Cole won a corner and from the resulting free kick Terry lost the stumbling Mertesacker and directed the ball home from close range. The persistence of Arsenal’s offensive game was blunted by the weakness of the defense. The game seemed to be going to a script many Arsenal fans have become accustomed to, but the game of football is a game of two halves. And what a second half it was.
Arsenal came tearing out of the blocks early in the second half, RvP forcing a Cech save in the first thirty seconds and Ramsey going close from a corner. It was not long before Arsenal found the equalizer, and it came from our new Brazilian boy, Andre Santos.
Many fans slated Santos for his first half display and rightly so. The Brazilian acquitted himself nicely though, with a good run into space and a smart finish under Cech. In all honesty, the goal was assisted by Bosingwa’s awful positioning and Sturridge’s lack of defensive work which allowed Santos so much space and time. Song must be credited for a fine through ball as well, but I especially admire the confidence in which Santos took his goal. After the first half display, and probably a stern half time talk, Santos came out and did exactly what was needed from him.
After the equalizer Arsenal gained more and more confidence. The fine solo effort from Theo Walcott seemed to sum up the game so far. The play started off with Theo winning a free kick from Cole, and as Cole continued to complain about the award, Theo and RvP got on with the game. Theo ran at the defense of Chelsea but slipped and fell to the ground because of his own clumsiness. The Chelsea backline faltered and waited for a whistle that never came. While they were waiting Theo got back up, beat three defenders and smashed a stinger past the surprised Cech. Undone by their own laziness, Chelsea had no one to blame but themselves, as Arsenal celebrated going ahead for the first time that afternoon.
One of the main talking points of the game came directly after the goal from Walcott. A ball over the top again caught Djourou out of position. Cole raced onto the ball and took a touch around the on-rushing Szczesny who caught the Chelsea full back. The young Polish goalkeeper admitted he should have been sent off on his twitter after the game, but the referee saw it differently and only cautioned Szczesny. From that point on Arsenal looked solid defensively, with Mertesacker and Koscielny proving that Arsene’s confidence is not misplaced. It took a screamer from the once Arsenal target, Juan Mata, to unlock the Arsenal defense again. Again, the team could have crumbled after this latest set back but there seems to be a different spirit about the side these days. Arsenal pushed for a winner and was aided by the slip of Terry that allowed RvP a 1v1 situation against Cech. Our Dutch God/striker made no mistake and restored Arsenal’s lead to 4-3. Chelsea pinned their ears back and again sought a leveler, but instead their attacking mood cost them a counter attack goal that gave RvP his hat trick.
The end result was 5-3 at full time and it was obvious that the win meant a lot to the Arsenal players. The entire team ran over to the away support and celebrated with their faithful believers, and RvP even gave his hat trick shirt away to some lucky fan (I have to work hard to suppress my jealously). After an unbelievable afternoon Arsenal walked away winners, but not by the usual means. Most of the Arsenal teams of the last few years relied on a lot of possession and many chances to be able to win. The team on Saturday sat back and was able to play off the counter attack and make AVB’s decision to play such a high line look foolish.
Our young Welsh maestro Aaron Ramsey put in a MOTM performance, working between the lines and using his superb ball skills to fashion chances for his three forward compatriots. Mike Arteta also had a very good game. Completing a staggering 94% of his passes while getting 89 touches on the ball (stats courtesy of Whoscored.com). Koscielny’s constant improvement cannot be overlooked for long, as he put in another master class performance at CB. Earlier in the season many fans commented on who would partner Vermaelen when he returned to fitness. Now it is a question of who is good enough to partner Koscielny on a week-to-week basis.
More positives from our heating up Arsenal side, is the understanding our forwards are beginning to gain of each other. Gervinho’s pace and trickery complement RvP’s abilities well. Walcott adds directness and blistering pace to the mixture. RvP is really a class of his own. His touch, finesse, intelligence and movement are all world class. He’s scored 28 goals in 27 games in 2011. That stat really says it all. Simply brilliant.
Arsene has been calling for belief from the fans all year, and his side gave us a result yesterday we can all believe in. His purchases are beginning to show their class and Arsene again is proving himself to be the shrewd businessman. I have always believed he understands things in a way most do not, and he is again proving me right. I would love to see players arrive in January, players like Gourcuff or Hazard. If they do not, I have faith that Arsene knows what he is doing. The team can play, we all see that now. It just has to happen week in and week out. I for one believe this can happen. I believe this team can go far.
Written by Thaddeus Torrez
Follow him @thad4dified
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