Well unfortunately I was close in my prediction Saturday of a 3-1 Chelsea win as my worry about Drogba and Anelka came true.
Arsenal started the game well and had plenty of possession. The problem was that once Arsenal got to within 25 yards of the Chelsea goal, the pitch shrank and the Gunners lacked that extra bit of class to break through Chelsea’s back-four.
It looked like the game would be scoreless at half-time when Chelsea pounced and scored two quick goals to essentially end the game as a contest.
First Cashley Cole’s cross was met by Drogba, who was somehow left alone to smash into the back of the net. Three minutes later another Cole cross was came off Vermaelen’s shin and it was 2-0 Chelsea.
Arsenal brought on Walcott at half-time and started brightly. Arsenal needed an early goal to get back into the game, and they thought they had it when Arshavin smashed home from close range, but his goal was ruled out for a high boot from Eduardo on Cech, a decision that made Wenger furious.
“The turning point was the referee’s decision (to disallow the goal),” Wenger said after the game. “Personally I believe it was not a serious decision, that was very unfair. How can he see Eduardo kicking Cech when it was a Chelsea player who stops him from controlling the ball? It would have been a very important goal in this kind of game and that was a big mistake by the referee. When you start the second half of the game 2-0 down instead of 2-1 down, it’s psychologically completely different for the security of Chelsea.”
Yes it should have been a goal, and it might have changed the way the second half played out, but Arsenal lost because Chelsea were more clinical in front of goal. If Arsenal had Drogba up front, I believe that the score would have been very different.
With the loss Arsenal are now 11 points behind Chelsea and have slipped to 4th in the league behind Spurs and Man United.
Next up for the Gunners is a trip to Eastlands to play Manchester City Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. The game takes on extra importance now as it might be the best opportunity for the Gunners to win a trophy this season.
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This team reminds me of the “Brazillian team of the 1980′s” no genuine striker
great midfield options such as zico socrates falcao naive at back we have all the attributes of that side and no signs that we will win something this year .We have lost to Manchester United Manchester City and Chelsea playing similiarly . We may again drop points against Liverpool.
We need a Rooney A Torres A Drogba
at front efficient strikers who bully defenders i doubt if we have anyone like including Rvp
we were at our best when we had ADEBAYOR(i hate him though) EDUARDO and flamster in the middle yesterday there was no one in the middle to conect to our crosses.
SIGN CARLTON COLE or make it 6 7 8 9 years without a trophy
Not sure if Carlton Cole is the answer, but I agree with your premise. Arsenal need to sign a center forward who is tall and can hold off defenders like Terry or Vidic. Arsenal have enough small and quick players. Now they need to add some size to the team
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