Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 01 October 2012 12:33

I am a little late with my match thoughts so I will just break it down into a few points.

Escaping the press

Firstly, I think Chelsea deserved the victory, it was a close contest that really could have gone either way but I think the West Londoners controlled the game better than we did. They had a strategy and implemented that very well.

Pre match I thought that if Chelsea played with all their creative players then it would give us the advantage. I wrongly assumed that they would not have enough going the other way to deal with Cazorla, Podolski and co.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The Chelsea midfield swarmed all over us whenever we had the ball and they shut off our strongest area of the pitch. Mikel Arteta was nullified and Santi Cazorla had a player on him whenever he had the ball played into him.

For all Chelsea's good work in closing us down, I thought we needed to cope with that better. We passed the ball too slowly which allowed Chelsea the time to shut us down.

The likes of Xavi and Iniesta have to deal with this issue a lot as every man and his dog know that stopping Barcelona's midfield is a large part of stopping them from playing. Quick movement and quick early passing is very difficult to stop, and you would imagine that over time we will improve in that area.

That said, even with our midfield not at it's very best we still created enough chances to have won the game. It may have also been different had Abou Diaby not suffered another injury. He is the one player who can escape pressing with a turn and run through the opposition. That said, it could have gone the other way and he could have been dispossessed more often than not. We will now never know.

Extracting the best from Lukas

Lukas Podolski had scored in three games in a row against Liverpool. Southampton and Montpelier. Since then he has had two quiet games against Manchester City and now Chelsea. Difficult games granted but I do get the sense that we are not getting the very best out of him. It almost feels as if we are playing two left backs on the left hand side. Podolski gives everything he has for the team and it is great to see that. He doesn't give the ball away very much but he is not very creative, so you do not expect him to make many chances for others in tight games.

I feel that his greatest strength isn't being used enough, at least not at the moment. Give him the ball at his feet inside the box and he will score goals but with him on the left, he is not getting many goal scoring chances. In fact, he has probably converted more than he has missed so far this season but like Theo Walcott, his overall game may not be suited to the central role in our team. Well at least based on his debut performance against Sunderland.

I would like to see more off the ball runs from the left into central positions and for the likes of Cazorla to be looking to find him more often inside the box.

I have thought the same of Theo Walcott in the past. Not a main striker in this system but you want him in goal scoring positions as much as possible and not just sticking to the wider areas.

Trigger happy Santi

Santi Cazorla has hit the ground running at Arsenal and he has been a revelation, so much so that he has song's written about him.

I haven't felt the need to be critical of him so far this season, mainly as I have been mesmerised by his incredible ability on the ball. One thing that has been frustrating me a little is his propensity to shoot on sight. This has been a welcomed change for many Gooners, probably because we used to have teams that hardly ever had a shot unless clean through but I do not think we are getting the best out of the team by shooting repeatedly.

Cazorla has scored one goal for us this season, a goal that quite frankly shouldn't have gone in but for poor goalkeeping from Reina in Liverpool's goal. Santi Cazorla has already demonstrated his ability to unlock defences with reverse passes or slipped through balls. Think Giroud against Sunderland, Podolski at Liverpool and I am sure more that have slipped past my increasingly poor memory these days.

I have seen Cazorla fire in a bobbling left footed shots wide of the post and sometimes three Arsenal players slowing down with their arms outstretched in front of them in closer and better positions many times now and it is only upon watching the replays that you see it clearly.

So basically I want to see Podolski shooting and Cazorla passing, I think we may well be more productive in that way.

Per shaped defending

For all Chelsea's hard work it was ultimately our own fault for conceding the two goals from set pieces. This was an area of our game that we had shaken off last season but so far, it is pretty much the only way we are conceding goals and this has to be corrected.

Unfortunately Mannone does not have Szczesny's presence in goal, that is not to say that he was to blame for the goals. You just feel that we miss the Pole's character in the box from those situations. Last season Szczesny had his faults but coming and dealing with crosses wasn't one of them.

There is a lot of talk about leaving out Mertesacker and I understand the argument. He was playing very well and had been our best player at Manchester City, that said, I do not think it is right to pin all our defensive hopes on one player. We have three central defenders who are all very good and I totally understand the logic of playing two quick center backs against a nimble Chelsea team at home and in fairness to Koscielny and Vermaelen, I felt they dealt with Chelsea fairly well in open play. The whole team needs to work better on set pieces. We have conceded goals from set pieces with Mertesacker in the side just like last week at Manchester City.

It isn't a surprise that we look to the center back partnership for blame because we made a change and lost the game.

Had either Koscielny or Vermaelen sat the game out and a goal was conceded by Hazard skipping past Mertesacker then Wenger would have been criticised for not thinking about the opposition.

Vermaelen and Koscielny have had many good games together so I think it is a little simplistic to suggest that they cannot play together. What is beyond dispute is our record from set pieces this season and with Sam Allardyce and West Ham around the corner, I hope we spend as much time as possible practicing at London Colny this week.

Fullbacks are doing it for themselves

The two Arsenal players who deserve the most amount of praise from the game are the young fullbacks. Kieran Gibbs was our best player on the day while Carl Jenkinson continues to play consistently well. Gibbs is really growing as a player, making tackles, keeping the ball and supporting the attack. He has competition in that position for England but if he continues to play the way he is then it is only a matter of time before he is knocking on that particular door. The same can be said for Jenkinson.

Conclusion

We were not at our best, made defensive mistakes and were punished for it. That is disappointing but had Cazorla's late lash over the bar or Giroud strike into the side netting found it's way in then would have easily drawn this game if not more. These big games are often decided by small margins that can chop and change at any time.

We have played Manchester City, Stoke City and Liverpool all away from home. We have also played a team that has invested a lot of money on good players and will more than likely be in the top four by the end of the season so one defeat from our games thus far is not a calamity.

In games against Liverpool (a), Manchester City (a), Stoke (a) and Chelsea (h) we have 5 points. To add a bit of perspective, here are the results against the same opposition last season (swapping us for the opposition where necessary)

Manchester United 5 points
Manchester City 5 points
Chelsea 1 point

It is the games against Sunderland at home where we need to do more and I am sure we will. We have had our first setback of the season so reacting is now the priority.

And finally here is something a little different. A good friend of mine, @RoxyArms is a Gooner and talented musician and he produced this funny Theo Walcott song. It probably isn't music for the older Gooner but I am sure you can still see the humour.

Check it out.

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Comments (14)

• 01-Oct-2012 14:17 | | Spectrum
  

  A fair, honest and balanced writeup, Mean Lean. That's how I saw the match, mostly. However, the week before, against Manchester City - though we did well to get a draw, we didn't take full advantage. Not taking anything away from our performance, but you have to take into account that City were NOT in the same form they were in last season. They're only in third gear so far, I believe. If they had played like we know they're CAPABLE of, they WOULD have beaten us. So we were fortunate that they haven't started as brightly as we expected. Even Kompany - widely considered to have been the best central defender in the Premier league last season, has been very ordinary so far. You'd agree ?
  
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 15:12 | | Mr H
  

  Tough game to lose, but a loss that really is unsurprising. Match bu match and season by season, I give less of damn.
  
  The truth is, that supporting Arsenal is kinda like having a girlfriend with lips giving to her bu God for a specific oral function... a function she is altogether entirely adverse to.
  
  I have decided to give up the hope of Arsenal ever winning a trophy. It´s kinda like hoping for independently produced movies ever standing a chance of winning the oscars. Technically they are better movies, most people will agree to this, but in reality, technically better and great to watch don´t mean jack.
  
  Movies win oscars, not because of what is on the screen, but what is behind the scenes.
  
  When you look at the amount of money spent on Torres, Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Marin etc of course there´s no hope of our small budget movie going up against a large scale hollywood monolith.
  
  I´m just happy to keep watching the low budget movies for one reason, it´s the right way to make a movie: it´s not about going out and buying the best director, the best actors and the best fx specialists accomanied with the best marketing team known to mankind. It´s about a small crew, a family if you will, with a philosophy on what it means to tell a great story.
  
  Hopefully, one day, this small independent film will be a Hurt Locker, put together with duct tape, and knocks the big budget Avatar off the pedestal.
  
  Keep it VCC

• 01-Oct-2012 16:48 | | Hans Peter  - Bad substitution and Walcott won't play
  

  First of all I think its a shame we didn't get a draw from the match! We had some big chances and conceded stupid goals.
  
  But here are two things that have been irritating me a lot since the game.
  
  1. I think that Wenger's substitutions are often very bad and once again he proved my point against Chelsea. When Wenger took out Ramsey and Podolski and put in a striker and a winger Wenger shot himself in the foot.
  
  As the time ran out and we became more desperate we also lost more ball possesion which was because of the lack of midfielders (I know podolski isn't a midfielder but he is working hard to get the ball back). Since there was only one real defensive minded midfielder left in Arteta we had big problems with getting the ball back and Chelsea used that to slow down the game and kill the time.
  
  Another thing about the substitution that botheres me is that Gervinho was allowed to stay on. Yes I know he scored a goal! But what else did he contribute to?! There were a lot of times when we had a counter attacking opportunity where Gervinho recieved the ball and then the movement just stopped, because he didn't know who to pass to!
  
  Why didn't Podolski stay in? Why didn't Gervinho go out instead. Gervinho can be used up front to score some easy goals, that we have seen, and he scored a real beauty against Chelsea, but when he has to be creative or pass the ball when he is out on the wing, it's too horrible to watch.
  
  2. It seemed to me that Walcott didn't wanna play?! I don't know if it's just me, but I couldn't see him anywhere and he wasn't involved in the game. And maybe that is because he is still upset for not being used up front as a central striker? I don't know if he just had a poor game or maybe it's just me who thinks that, but in my eyes he didn't contribute to the game and maybe that's because of his ego?
  
  I really hope you guys will comment on my theories and tell me if I'm right or wrong

• 01-Oct-2012 18:10 | | shotta  - Cazorla and Podolski
  

  ML - Absolutely spot on. I don't think we are getting the best out of both.

• 01-Oct-2012 20:17 | | FunGunner
  

  Top, top summary. Really interesting and valid points made.

• 01-Oct-2012 21:53 | | Fatso
  

  "...had Cazorla's late lash over the bar or Giroud strike into the side netting found it's way in then would have easily drawn this game if not more."
  
  
  And what if Chelsea were awarded a penalty? Whether or not Torres fell on his own, some refs would have awarded a penalty. The incident happened a few minutes after Torres scored the first goal. Chelsea would have been 2 up? Game Over?

• 01-Oct-2012 22:24 | | Paul N
  

  Mean Lean, whats the deal.
  
  For me, I would only say that Chelsea deserved the win because of the cheap goals but not on play. For the life of me, I did not see this pressing game and superior tactics and all of that from Chelsea. What I saw was Diaby going off and the midfield was a bit off, The OX was not at his best and we did not finish chances that we should of.
  
  Ironically, as poor as we played (so it seems by most) it was us who still created the better chances to score.
  
  I am puzzled by this game and the analysis..
  
  .

• 02-Oct-2012 05:52 | | Spectrum
  

  Paul N - With respect, you must have been watching a different game to many of us. Chelsea more than held their own against us, in fact, in the first half they had much more of the possession. We had the better chances, but we couldn't finish them off. They were disciplined, and well organised, and weren't intimidated by us. They fought hard and didn't cave in after conceding.
  
  Wenger should not be using Gervinho as a central striker. He has good footwork and approach play, but more often than not makes poor decisions. And his first touch is appalling, as evidenced against Manchester City, where he could and should, have scored, but couldn't control the pass that was sent to him. He's all show and little substance. But Wenger doesn't like to be proven wrong, so he sticks with him at centre forward, when the experiment isn't working. We have two strong forwards in Giroud and Podolski, they should be in the middle, and we should get crosses in to them, to capitalise on their ability. Why use so many wingers, and yet not utilise them effectively ? Just my opinion.
  
  Hans Peter - Yes, I agree with you on the points you made. But you have to remember ( if it even needs repeating ) that Wenger is tactically INEPT. His player selection is wrongheaded. He moved Cazorla out wide after Diaby went off, and he has been our most in form player so far. That made us less dangerous. Ramsey was poor again, and should be dropped till his form returns, and be made to earn his spot back. But Wenger loves him, so he'll get in, even though he doesn't deserve to.
  
  Walcott looked disinterested, maybe trying him up front instead of Gervinho, might be worth a go. It's where he WANTS to play anyway. But Wenger hasn't done that yet, and isn't likely to. He's just plain stubborn as always. We're still waiting for him to try Arshavin in the hole behind the forwards. But now he isn't even given a game ! How might a Cazorla / Arshavin combination work out ? Don't try, won't know.
  
  If Wenger had stuck with the players who are in form, perhaps with Mertesacker there, we wouldn't have conceded that set piece goal. Vermaelen still gets too far forward, and is often caught out, and Koscielny has made too many costly mistakes lately. With the seeming return of our bad habits at set pieces, and sloppy defending at times, I hope we're not sliding back to our bad old ways.
  
  "IAWR"

• 02-Oct-2012 06:15 | | paspartu
  

  im with paul...the press has made a meal out of it ...
  
  chelsea played with contra attacks....and we conceded two own goals basically and cech had a good day....
  
  if the situation was in reverse and arsenal had won at s.b in similar way they would have called our victory unconcincing.
  
  they didnt come out their area in the whole of second half besides for the foul they won ...and people dare say we got outplayed...lol...trolls..

• 02-Oct-2012 06:16 | | paspartu
  

  lol at spectrum giving tactical advise to wenger ..hahaa...at least we start the day with a few laughs ..thank you spudrum

• 02-Oct-2012 08:07 | | Spectrum
  

  Golum - "I'm with Paul " - well, that's a surprise ! The "press has made a meal out of it " ? You're as graceless in defeat as that Frenchman you cuddle up in bed with each night ( or would like to ). Why can't you give credit to the opposition when they beat us ? Why look for scapegoats like the press, when the better team won on the day ? Simples.
  
  And how did your tiny mind work out that Torres' clever piece of improvisation was an own goal by us ? Sounds to me like you're conceding that our defending was to blame ? Either way, they scored two, we scored one. Game over, move on.
  
  Tactically and motivationally, Di Matteo got it right, Wenger didn't. But that's not uncommon, most managers find it easy to outfox Wenger. Haven't you realised this yet, after ALL THIS TIME ? Of course you haven't - and you'd never admit to it if you did. I'm giving advice to Wenger ? Only commenting on the obvious - well, obvious to everyone but you, that is. Tell me the bits I got wrong, then. And while on the subject of advice - it's just as well Bould has given him some on defence, or else left to Wenger alone, we'd be shipping EVEN MORE goals, based on the trend of the last five years.
  
  "IAWR"

• 02-Oct-2012 08:21 | | paspartu
  

  give credit to what opposition? them mugs who cost about 300million and come to face arsenal like a small team parking the bus? lol....not even southampton did that....
  
  ill give credit when i see them bulldoze their way and make us suffer like athletico made them suffer ....thats when ill give credit and that will never happen cause their manager is a pussy and knows that in an open game his team has no chance against arsenal;s uperior football. to sit back and defend and destroy is easy, to come out and improvise and think of ways to score is the hard part.
  
  torres clever piece of improvisation? ahahahah ...if konsicleny was focused none of that would have happened...i wont praise the opposition just cause my players made mistakes .... ill call it as it is and say we gave them the game rather than them winning it...which is true..those were cheap goals to concede..i did not see chelsea outplaying arsenal anywhere on the pitch....
  
  we had the better chances and more possesion, czech had a good day and we lost from two spot kicks ... no big deal...we move on and wont let the comments of bastard antiarsenal journalists and trolls affect anything. we know better.

• 02-Oct-2012 08:39 | | paspartu
  

  most managers find it easy to outfox Wenger. Haven't you realised this yet,
  
  oh yeah...is that why he finsihed third with his worst ever squad ( according to you) climbing from pos 17th ???
  
  ha ha ! seems to me he outfoxed everyone besides the champion and the runner-up ...not too bad....for a manager who is tactically inept apparently ...lol...
  
  di matteo ended 6th you idiot....lol...and if it wasnt for that pussy robben they would be playing in europa league now....
  
  such a short memmory you have my little goldfish ...

• 02-Oct-2012 08:44 | | paspartu
  

  hey mean lean one of the papers has stolen the walcot tune...... did they pay you at least ? ....rip them off !!!!!

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