closed Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal

[Stats 7,140]

What a nerve-wracking, brilliant game of football. From start to finish, was a brilliant game of football. A lot of neutrals for sure will be tuning into our matches this season. Defence for both teams were poor. We kept getting cut open time after time but fortunately poor finishing cost them. We were the better team for majority of the match but when they attacked, they looked really threatening. Iwobi caused Azpi all sorts of problems and Azpi looked really vulnerable and weak. Looks like he needs to hit the weights because Iwobi had the better of him throughout the game on so many occasions and generally looked a lot stronger. Jorginho was very good and my MOTM. Alonso gets his critics but man what he contributes for us cannot be underrated. Even at LB instead of LWB, he still manages to contribute goals and assists. That is 2 games this season and 2 assists and 1 goal.

Barkley impressed me as well. When he is running with the ball, he is really threatening and intimidating for the opposition. He forced a really good save out of Cech. The sense of relief I and the stadium had for Morata when he scored was pure gold. So glad for him. What a goal it was . He has kept persisting and has been awarded. We obviously have things to improve on which is natural but 2 games, 2 wind and 6 goals scored. Hopefully we make that 3 out of 3 against Newcastle. Think the team will be the same but maybe Hazard in for Willian if Sarri feels he is ready to start.

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

Morata goal a big positive for him and us.

Barkley did well, but kovavic looked very promising.

Kante didn't stop running and was everywhere. Pedro tried hard and is looking better under Sarri.

We looked so much better with hazard on, controlled the game better.

2 at Wembley, now a winner against the goons

-negatives woeful ball watching at times (luiz) and midfielders not picking up the runners

But.... top of the league, top of the league, we're top of the league....

[BlueStorm1003 539]

1 hour ago, Cosmin said:

Great and awful. You missed a roller coaster. At the end of the day, it was a great football game and a good result for us, but considering what happened during the last 20 minutes of the first half, your heart should be thankful for missing out on that one.

Cheers mate. I'll have to see if I can find a replay of the match somewhere.

EDIT: By the way, how did Morata and Alonso play? I was particularly interested in seeing if Morata could regain confidence (I saw he scored so I imagine he must have) and I was worried they were going to target Alonso 

[blues.bridge 343]

vlc-record-2018-08-18-23h42m48s-Chelsea_vs_Arsenal_-_Highlights_&_Full_Match.mp4-.mp4

[kellzfresh 7,229]

The moment Arsenal knew they've lost the match

[Jase 43,479]

Here's something interesting/uninteresting...

[Pizy 18,858]

So, looking forward at least in the short term, Pedro has pulled ahead of Willian for a place in the first XI surely. He's our best finisher and unlike Willian he actually seems eager to press all the time. Willian did it sometimes but got pretty lazy as the game went on. He was also partially at fault for one of their goals.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

There seems to be a narrative in the match analysis that Arsenal need to give Emery time and it's a work in progress, which I totally agree with.  But, with no mention that we're in the same boat?  We played really well for most of the match but we're still really far away from being the finished article.

[communicate 2,703]

5 hours ago, Vesper said:

What is your solution, as this seems UTTERLY key to the entire scheme?

Could not we drop Kante back further to give support to Jorginho (who gets no slag off from me, as you are 100% correct on the alone-on-an-island analysis)

It just seems an utter waste of Kante to not use him as the destroyer of midfields that he is, surely Kovacic is more than capable of going further forward (instead of Kante, or am I wrong,and BOTH need to go forward in Sarri's scheme?), as he is a a near WC (in potential) all-rounder in talent and skill.

It is simple, press better then Jorginho will be exposed less. 

[communicate 2,703]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

Love how you only mentioned his offensive positioning.  

His defensive positioning is not bad he is just too slight and slow. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

About to watch the whole game again. I initially missed the 1st half and watched only the 2nd half live. My impressions of the 1st half. We totally battered and destroyed them for 40 minutes. The 1st goal they scored was literally a fluke from nothing after Willian waited to recieve the ball and got dispossed. Iwobi tries to cut it back and it takes a massive deflection and falls kindly to the Armenian guy. Their 2nd goal was a good team goal and its hard to find were we could have improved. Maybe someone could have done a better job picking up Iwobi. Steve Mcmanaman's constant moaning about defending made it seem much worse than it was. If anything, I was a bit more concerned by the initial chances from cut-backs Arsenal missed.

 

The superiority we showed over them in terms of just pure football reminded me of the 5-0 game against Everton. It was the best football I've seen vs a big 6 team since..............I can't really remember. Usually our wins in big games, virtually all of them in the last 6 years have come from counter-attacking efforts. This was a purely possession based footballing effort. The final possession stats was 63% CFC vs 37% Arsenal. We completed 719 passes to their 424. When was the last time that happened in a big game?! I don't even wanna know.

Anyway, the 2-2 was totally against the run of play. I was listening to some Arsenal fans on youtube and just commentary on the game in general before I watched the 1st half and it sounded like we were dominant for 30 mins then Arsenal dominated for 15 but that sounds revisionist. We were all over them. Anyway, about to rewatch the 2nd half and post my thoughts. 

Also: Steve Mcmanaman is absolutely fucking unbearable to listen to on commentary. I really despise co-commentators that moan about everything in a game. It makes the game just uncomfortable to watch. Fucking bitch. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Mcmanaman is at it again second half. He never gives credit to the attacking player. Everything positive in attack that happens for either us or Arsenal has to be the fault of a defender. It's just absurd. I've noticed that he loves to over-criticize Arsenal and hardlt ever gives Chelsea credit. He also does the same with City as well. He's a lot more sensible when he co-comments games for his beloved Liverpool though. For some odd reason he's pretty fair with United. Tired of these scouse wankers in media. Only one I like that is actually fair to us and is not biased at all is Carragher. And he actually knows a lot about the game unlike Mcmanaman.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

So I watched the 2nd half again. This one will be much shorter since unlike the 1st half I actually watched the 2nd half live. Basically it was extremely one-sided, I believe we averaged 74% possession in that half which is just brilliant to accomplish in a big game. Very Guardiola-esque. In truth, Arsenal lacked ambition. Emery was cleary wary of our attacking play and told his players to defend deep in a low block to try and hold on to the result. They only made 4 or 5 forays in our half in the entire 2nd half! All in all Arsenal only looked threatening for about 5 minutes in the 1st half from min 42 to 45 (+2)

As pointed out in the live chat Kovacic was superb when he came on. No point talking about Hazard, we already know what he's about. After initially being unneccessarily pessimistic about the season i.e our lack of major investment in more signings, (in truth that was before we got Kovacic), a new striker and so on, I am really optimistic now just because of how we're going to play. We haven't had such an expansive coach literally since Vialli and Gullit. I'm really looking forward to this season now probably more than anyone in many many years. Sarriball makes me happy. 

 

[Unionjack 7,531]

What a Blue day! Just got home. Been a long night, Need some pain killers for a couple of bumps  on me head but no biggie.

All went well till half time. Bit of usual banter But then when Eden and Kova came on I went bonkers and they didn't like that but no ones goina to tell me what to do in my own home!

But the game eh!! Yahoooya!

Happy fpr Morata. He really needed that. Great assist from Dave again but gotta say it was the best thing he did all day imho.

Willian  started OK then after Pedro scored got into sulky emo mood. You can bet he was jealous and saw bench time coming again when Edens back. Shouldn't get the extension or payrise.And see him get mardy when the bench calls him.

Pedro on the other hand played a blinder Sarri team suits him down to the ground.. We have our Callejon! Little sod didn't stop did he!  Hes good at keeping the game moving instead of holding it up like William  Good finisher, Unlike Willian hes got a hustle about him, Keeps the game moving along where as Willian takes too long thinking alloy of times.. Tho he does take a couple too many long shots for me.

Barkley had a goodun. I know it was a shame to bring him off but it was Kovacic ffs!! But reclon Barkley will be a decent backup. Really don't kmow hen RLC or Cescy will get much time.

Kovacic!! OMFG! Told you he will be the dogs dangleys!! Hes like a Eden but that can defend too. Will be amazing for us. And will let our wee baldy man to drop back and help out when needed back there more. But want to keep WBM option to go forwards more open cayse I still see him as a real B2B'er..

Alonso What more can we say about him eh!?. Cracking going forward but just not got enough defense in him. But once we start defending as a team he will come in handy. You can understand why RM want him. Hes like that bad girl at school you fancied. Hot as fuck but crazy as a big bag of crazy things.Every time you finished with her she would climb thru your bedroom window and talk you round again! Thats how I see Alonso. Even Captain Obvious can see why RM want him.

And Eden!! Fuckin excellent seeing him on form and having fum. Cant wait for him and Kovacic starting. I see them making a good little relationship. T'Boa would get jealous.

Like Sarri said its gonna take some time to get up to speed and the lads working as a unit instead of forgetting where they should be and acting like individuals but I'd rather we won 3-2 than 1-0

Goina to be a fun season I reckon with a odd bump here and there.!! Wasn't this excited before we got Sarri

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Peak Sarriball right here