FIVE Things I learned from watching Arsenal v Chelsea

Arsenal 3 – 1 Chelsea, 27^th December 2010

A rampant Arsenal finally ended their blue hoodoo, beating a lacklustre Chelsea for the first time since November 2008. Goals from Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott during a scintillating ten-minute period secured three precious points for the Gunners, with Branislav Ivanovic’s 56^th minute header the only sour note for Arsene Wenger and his side.

Here are FIVE things I learned from watching Arsenal v Chelsea.

Arsenal’s prolific midfield
The omission of Maroune Chamakh from Arsenal’s starting line-up was a decision that utterly baffled me prior to the game. Chamakh’s conventional centre-forward attributes, namely his aerial ability and strength, have provided Arsenal with a Plan B this season and a more combative outlet up front. Given that Chelsea’s centre-back pairing of Terry and Ivanovic is one of the most physical in the league, a starting berth for Chamakh seemed to be the most logical choice. This belief was further vindicated after witnessing Robin van Persie drop extremely wide and extremely deep for large periods of the game prior to the game’s first goal.

However, Van Persie’s selection was clearly invoked to complement Arsenal’s greatest strength – their prolific midfield. Van Persie’s movement frequently created space for the likes of Fabregas and Samir Nasri to exploit.

All three Gunners’ goals were scored by players definable as midfielders; indeed eight different midfielders have all scored for Arsenal this season. Alex Song, the side’s designated anchorman, has now scored 5 goals in 21 outings this season.

Chelsea completely lost the midfield battle
Before the game much was made of Frank Lampard’s return to Chelsea’s starting line-up. Whilst the talismanic midfielder can blame his display on a lack of fitness, questions must be asked about his colleagues in the centre of the park. Michael Essien was strangely subdued, John Obi Mikel was utterly inept, and his replacement Ramires continued a one-man mission to look like the worst use of £18m the world has ever seen.

In addition to failing to contain Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas, Essien played a part in two of Arsenal’s goals. The Ghanaian failed to close down Wilshere for the first goal, before cheaply giving away possession prior to the second goal.

A cornerstone of Chelsea’s success last season was their awesome supremacy, dominance and power in the middle of the park. Carlo Ancelotti will need to instil this determination and strength again if his side are to climb up the table.

Defensive woes
Chelsea’s last 10 games, in which the Blues have managed just two victories, has seen manager Carlo Ancelotti use five different centre-back pairings. Although the Stamford Bridge side have conceded the least number of goals in the Premier League, there is no doubt that this uncertainty in defence has contributed to their recent poor form.

Do Arsenal finally have the stones?
After watching their drab display at Old Trafford two weeks ago, I must confess that I was less than convinced about Arsenal’s ability to mount a serious title challenge. They looked overawed, outmuscled and out of their depth.

However, tonight they were determined, driven and in possession of the mental strength that has been missing over the past few years. It seems that Arsene Wenger has finally managed to marry his principles and policies with the belief needed to turn his side into serious contenders.

Where do they go from here?
Bearing in mind Chelsea’s unbelievable start to the season, it’s hard to tell whether their form over the last ten games is a mere blip, or symptomatic of a deep-rooted malaise.

I cannot remember the last time I saw a midfield featuring Frank Lampard and Michael Essien so easily overrun and outmuscled. The mistakes by Essien and Florent Malouda that lead to Arsenal’s second and third goals were so uncharacteristic of a side that have become a byword for efficiency and ruthlessness in recent times.

Chelsea’s success over the last five years has been rooted in their strength in depth. However, a look at their bench this evening highlighted the problems they will face if Roman Abramovich continues to tighten his purse strings.

Abramovich’s new found penchant for austerity and his uncharacteristic desire to turn Chelsea into a self-sufficient side meant that Ancelotti’s bench consisted mainly of unproven youngsters. Indeed four of the players warming Chelsea’s bench (van Aanholt, Bruma, McEachran and Kakuta) had only accumulated 13 Premier League appearances between them.

With Chelsea’s key men not getting any younger, Ancelotti will be hoping his big-name players remain injury-free for the rest of the season.

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Irritation, part 3

Snow
The egregious white mess which has brought Britain to a standstill tops my current list of matters of irritation.

Fun for all of 82 minutes before frostbite, cold wet clothes and the nagging feeling that your next week is going to be unfeasibly hard to negotiate sets in.

Oh, and it causes football to be cancelled.

Fucking snow.

The authorities’ handling of the snow (see above for: Snow)
In the words of the late, great Bernard Manning, what a fucking disgrace. Meteorologists warned about another “big chill” for weeks, so why the fuck didn’t they prepare for it? The M1 on Saturday made about as much sense as a Kerry Katona breakfast TV interview.

On the bright side, at least I can pretend that all that grit is like sawdust covering a massive, massive quantity of vom.

Stings
So basically, no-one in a remotely high profile position can bitch about someone or say something remotely controversial anymore without fear of being caught out, right? That’s not very fun, is it?

Overzealous Facebook-adders
Look, we’ve been in the same place together once, I don’t wish to see your standard drunken photos and grammatically-incorrect statuses clogging up my news feed. Now do one.

Eddycrane
X

Print – Broadcast game postponed

Frozen pitch caused a second postponement.

MA Print’s Teeline Cup Final second-leg match with MA Broadcast was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

It is the second time the game has been postponed.

MA Broadcast are carrying a slender advantage after triumphing 7-6 in the first-leg match.

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MA Print are closing in on the permanent signing of on-loan midfielder George Gwatkin.

The UG Chemistry midfielder has impressed since joining the Shorthanders last month and scored twice in their 7-6 defeat to MA Broadcast.