Drogba could be the difference for Arsenal
Posted by Gringo Maclure in Arsenal, Chelsea, Premiership | 7 December 2009
So, Arsenal returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates. The win was a breeze as a makeshift Arsenal side fielding only Arshavin up front could of and should of finished the game with a lot more goals in the bag. So, why did Arsenal struggle in their last 3 fixtures not scoring any goals and conceding seven?
If Arsenal want to be real title contenders they need to turn games like the away fixture against Sunderland into an opportunity to come home with at least a point. The 0-1 result was disappointing but not wholly unexpected if you take into account most of Arsenal's squad were coming back from international duty, the team had just lost the in-form Van Persie and Sunderland were fresh after a two week hiatus. As for the 3-0 Man City loss in the Carling Cup, Arsenal's youngsters (and oldster Silvestre) came unstuck against a City side content to really bear their teeth at the Gunners and who desperately needed a win after 6 consecutive draws. Both games were wintery occasions away to a battling sides in the north - in recent seasons an unfortunate indication that Arsenal might suffer. In other words, the losses to Man City and Sunderland were just about forigveable. The Chelsea defeat was not.
Arsenal have been turning the Emirates into a fortress and in recent seasons have registered good results against the vast majority of Premiership teams including Liverpool and Manchester United, (last season's Champsions League semi final being the exception). Chelsea, on the other hand, have won thier last two games at the Emirates with a combined score of 7-1 in their favour.
It wasn't always this way. Between the 95/96 season and the 03/04 season Arsenal lost only twice to Chelsea in all competitions and on occasion racked up some fantastic home and away wins against the Blues. The turning point came toward the end of Ranieri's reign when Arsenal, 2-1 up on aggregate at half time in the Champions League quarter final second leg, let Chelsea back in crashing out 2-3 to an 87th minute Bridge winner.
Since then, Arsenal have won only twice in 14 fixtures against their London rivals. Pyschologically, that Champions League exit in the season of Arsenal's "Invincible" squad must have been a huge blow but a further factor tells the story of Chelsea's dominance. On both occasions Arsenal won, Didier Drogba wasn't playing. The Ivorian giant has tormented Arsenal since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004, netting 10 past Arsene Wenger's men, including the two he scored last week. Crucially, Arsenal have let winning positions slip against Chelsea on 3 occasions since 03/04 - in the 2006/7 League Cup Final, in the 2007/8 Premier League Emirates fixture and in the 2008/9 FA Cup semi-final - and it has been Drogba's goals and presence which have been telling on each occasion. If Arsenal had been able to register a victory in (any of) those games the Emirates trophy cabinet would likely be a little less threadbare for the seasons after 2005.
My point is this - Arsenal need to find a way to reverse the curse of Chelsea. They may not be able to dominate like they did in the pre-Mourinho era as Chelsea are a very different proposition but if Arsenal can at least give as good as they get - as they do against Manchester United and Liverpool - they even the odds for picking up that elusive trophy. This season Drogba has been almost impossible to stop irrespective of who he is playing against but if Arsenal are to progress past Chelsea in knock out competitions or get one over them in the league they need to find a way to lock him up. Either that, or wait until Didier is sold or retires.
As a small postscript, I find it interesting that frequently one player is able to perform so well against specific opposition over several years, even when that opposition change manager, players or stadium. Torres' recent dominance of the normally solid Ferdinand-Vidic defensive pairing of Manchester United might be a case in point. I was talking about the Drogba effect on Arsenal with a friend this week and he reminded me that Le Tissier always scored against his club, Newcastle. Another friend, a Derby fan, said that embarressingly Steve Claridge always netted against the Rams. And, at least, I can console myself that Arsenal have produced many outstanding players who have been significant thorns in the side of other clubs - Henry tormented Middlesborough and Leeds, Pires always scored against Spurs and Ian Wright hit the back of the net against everyone.
Comments
I was in charge when Chelsea knocked Arsenal out of champions league, not Jose Moaninho.
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I note for the sake of illustration, you omit in your figures a couple of League Cup defeats to Chelsea during the period of 95/96 and 03/04, including a 0-5 defeat at Highbury in Nov 98 having also beaten Arsenal on aggregate in the semi-final of that competition the year before. Yet, you mention the 07 League Cup Final in your later figures when Arsenal were beaten again. And incidentally, your defeat to Chelsea in the 03/04 "Invincible" season was under the stewardship of Claudio Ranieri and not Jose Mourinho. He joined Chelsea the next season.
Firstly the Champions League defeat did not come under the reign of Jose Mourinho, it was actually Claudio Ranieri in charge and secondly it was Wayne Bridge that scored the later winner not Frank Lampard. Get your facts right first. Incidently Drogba was not at Chelsea then.
There is no 'curse' the simple fact is that since Mourinho arrived Chelsea have become a stong, dynamic and highly professional unit with fantastic defensive organisations. Just the sort of team to highlight the deficencies of Arsene Wenger's approach. Drogba's performances typifies this - a powerful and unforgiving centre forward against a meek and timid centre back pairing. Why does Drogba not score so many against Man United? Might have something to do with Sir Alex putting the interests of the team ahead of the interest of neutrals.
Time to get your head out of the sand and see what the rest of the country sees. Wenger is a one-dimensional manager who's cue to leave was ignored a long time ago.
Ha! Serves me right for trying to write a blog entry early on Monday morning. You're all right of course and your esteemed writer will double check his details better next time. I was checking the results as I wrote the article and I mixed up Lampard for Bridge in 03/04 (and now actually remember it being Bridge) and also mis-read the Arsenal result as 5-0 in the Gunners favour - that's what I call looking at the past with rose-tinted spectacles. Look, I'll even change the article - can't say fairer than that? Its nice to know some of you out there read this and pay attention.
OK, but my main point stands. Drogba runs riot over Arsenal, ate Senderos for breakfast in the Carling Cup final and does Gallas for pace and strength on most occasions now. Wenger should do something about it but it doesn't mean sacrificing his philosophy in favour of turning the Gunners into bullies. As a Gooner, I'm proud Arsenal play some of the best football anywhere in Europe and I don't think Arsene's far off getting trophies again. At least, we're not having a "crisis" season (Liverpool) and our club isn't in debt (Man Utd). I think Arsenal have looked stronger this season now they play two holding midfielders Song + Diaby or Denilson. If they can stay injury-free they're a match for most. What I'm saying is - I certainly don't see any need for Wenger to go and, all things considered (even with Drogba hounding us), it's not a bad time to be a Gooner.
Oh, and a big thank you to Claudio for taking time out of his busy schedule as AS Roma manager to personally comment on my article.
Very informative article, I have saved it and showed to to some of my friends already.
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