Thoughts on that game... OR why Arsenal are not out of the woods yet.
Posted by Gringo Maclure in Arsenal, Chelsea | 1 December 2008
There seems to be quite some fall out after the Arsenal v Chelsea game - lots of unanswered questions (are Arsenal back in the race?) and lots of new questions (should the officials apologise for an incorrect offside decision? Why can`t Chelsea see off top 4 opponents?). The Gunners recent weeks have been topsy turvy. Giving the captaincy to Fabregas was a good call by Wenger but are AFC back on the straight and narrow after this unlikely away win?
I live abroad but have been lucky enough to see the entirety of the last three Arsenal games on cable here. Despite the excitement over a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, I think Arsenal`s struggles are not over, by any means. Arsenal did not "deserve" the Chelsea win based on the performance, in my opinion. If the linesman had called RVP`s first, there was little that suggested Arsenal were about to turn things around. Chelsea, for their part are also struggling in some departments, and were not "agricultural enough" (to quote one strange piece of commentary) to push for the equaliser.
I`d love to be proved wrong, of course, but here are some reasons why I`m still worried for Arsenal...
1) The current Arsenal EPL line-up is a strange hybrid of the Carling Cup youth team and the 1st team squad. Injuries have necessitated this situation. Oddly, the hybrid lacks the unpredictability and energy of the younger team or the experience and resolve of the established team.
2) No width in any of the games. Denilson and Nasri were kept busy chasing Cole and Basingwa and rarely penetrated the final third. Clichy is lively but often cuts inside. Eboue, Rosicky and Walcott are sorely missed. Again, injuries are the culprit here. The returning Sagna helped here against Chelsea.
3) Denilson and Song. I have yet to see anything from these two that really convince me they are more than squad-filler. I know they are young and in development but if every winning team has a spine, these are surely only temporary segments.
4) Fabregas should get forward more. I feel that with the uncetainty behind him on the pitch, Fabregas is being forced to play a bit deeper than he would prefer. People liken him to Scholes, but Fabregas rarely has the edge of box opportunities to score that Scholes has had. Fabregas was scoring for fun at the start of last season - when he had Flamini behind him. Wenger needs to do something about that hole that Fabregas tries to cover for. Maybe...
5) ...Abou Diaby should be the new Vieira. I`ve long admired Diaby and I`m not sure why Wenger is using him on the wings (ie. vs Man City). He is strong in the tackle and growing in stature. He has a good touch and a powerful shot. I believe he should be given the games to develop (instead of Denilson) as the holding midfielder Arsenal so badly need. On the wings he is no more than average.
6) Bendtner. I can`t figure this guy out. Again, he`s young, but with Eduardo missing we rely on him a lot. Generally, when he starts I find he runs out of ideas, has a donkey touch and seems to frequently choose the wrong runs (vs Villa, for example). But, he does pick up some goals and he looked lively coming on as a sub in the Chelsea game...
Any other views on this? Are Arsenal really title contenders again after that Chelsea win?
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