Chelsea full-time report and player ratings – Humiliated … yet again!
I would be foolish and disrespectful towards you readers if I write my usual full time match report as you guys are intelligent enough to judge a game like this. Just when you think Wenger reached the peak of his stubborness, there he goes again with Diaby in the line-up, on the left, rather than picking Carlos Vela for the job. As if that was not enough, poor Carlos wasn’t even on the bench. No idea why, but considering the type of game we witnessed, we could have easily scored one if not two had the Mexican started.
Having more possession and maybe more goal opportunities means nothing when you’re so wasteful in front of goal and so awful at the back. It’s been a tough week for all of us, very tough and coming up is an away this to Old Trafford next week. Usually I would be looking forward to such an exciting game, but this time, I don’t really know what to look forward to.
Player Ratings
Fabianski: 4 – Sometimes he’s brilliant, sometimes he’s not and when he’s not, he’s awful, just like today.
Gibbs: 7,5 – Glad to see the youngster recovering well from the Manchester United slip, man of the match for us.
Silvestre: 4 – This was the answer to the centre-back problem provided by Wenger this season.
Toure: 5 – Let’s face it, poor Kolo cannot do much when his partner is Silvestre. The Ivory Coast International was back strong with Gallas but after Billy’s injury, he faded away.
Sagna: 6 – One of the few who convinced, did well both at the back and when coming forward.
Song: 6 – Gave it all, was not shy to challenge the likes of Mikel and Essien but faded away as the match progressed.
Fabregas: 5 – Commentator said he’s too young to captain this Arsenal side. I’m afraid he’s right.
Nasri: 6 – The experiment of playing him in a more central role failed miserably, just look at the way he let Anelka go.
Walcott: 5 – Can’t deny he’s one of the best in terms of pace and timing of his runs but goodness me he always fails to deliver when it’s time to produce the final pass or shot.
Diaby: 3 – Again.
Van Persie: 5 – All the magic which we so much enjoyed months ago seems to be gone.
(Subs)
Bentdner: 7 – Showing what it means to actually fight and try.
Adebayor: 5 – Showing what it means NOT to fight and try.
Denilson: 5 – Nothing new from the Brasilian.
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good scores but being too harsh on Adebayor.Bentdner had a good game.I wonder what Wenger’s excuse will be this time.have the poor fans not suffered enough?can’t he just apologize and change his style which is not working?can’t the board put the fans first for once?our tickets and wares(jerseys etc) are the most expensive,all this for what?pain and sorrow.even if we commited a crime by supporting Arsenal ,I believe 4years of suffering is enough punishment.you truly amaze me because you still find the mental strength to write and comain about the same thing every week.we are all sounding like broken records yet Wenger and the board find the music very interesting.I shudder when I think of what will happen at old Trafford.does he still have any motivation?what more can I say?
It’s not easy one ede, this has been a very frustrating season with many wanting just one thing: to see it end a.s.a.p.
it was so obvious at the beggining of the season in August that this squad was not good enough to compete. Everyone and his dog knew it except for our manager.
Its unbelievable how far backwards we have gone since the awesome ‘invincible’ squad.
At what point will Wenger acknowledge that his idealistic youth project might actually be damaging rather than helping the players he so blindingly believes in?
The solution: The most important element of the team is the spine.
Goalkeeper – Essential when games are tight, can save us many points during the season.
Centre back – 6′2 no-nonsense defender, commanding in the air, captain of the team.
Defensive midfielder – Big, strong powerhouse who will dominate opposition players.
Striker – Fast, clinical finisher, 30 goals per season.
This means Arsenal will have to purchase at least 4 players this summer, or it will be another miserable season next year and for many years to come.
Nice analysis baz, honest.
But, Almunia can be OK in my opinion and the striker you’re asking for is Eduardo. Having said that, I so agree on the other two roles.
Aston villa let us off the hook.the club makes good money by coming 4th and qualifying for the CL.I really wish they had come 5th or 6th,then maybe they will come to their senses.if Wenger does not spend money this coming season and we end up trophyless as expected,for once I will join those who say his time is up.for how long will we tolerate this crap.
I agree totally with BaZ.Eduardo cannot give us 30 goals per season.we don’t even know how fit he is.I guess when asked about his players next season,Wenger will still include Rosicky who has not played for almost two years.4players in those positions mentioned and we should be ok.do away with Sylvestre.why does he buy these washed out players on the cheap?last time it was a certain Poom.this man leaves me exasperated!
But how many strikers do we need .. hmmm?
If Emmanuel leaves, Nick can take his place. Then RVP and Eduardo + Vela. I think our boss should focus on defense + midfield.
It’s always easy to say that had Vela played we would have scored 2 more or that had we signed XYZ in the summer we would have won the title etc. It’s much more difficult to see that those kinds of statements are not justified at all, and anyone can say whatever they want like that, and sound almost credible. I would expect more from you, Chris.
I’m starting to like Bendtner, though. If he only learned to finish.
Don’t expect too much from me JVV, not this week at least
I know that with the “IFs” and “BUTs” and “maybe” you get nowhere, but you can never know until you put yourself in that position and Wenger never believed in Carlos for big games. There’s not a lot we can be certain about but that Vela did well whenever he was called into action, scoring some amazing goals, is a fact.
when i saw the line-up and find out diaby on the list..my feeling already went to negative vibe..diaby is not good enough (i think) to be compared as New Vieira.he intercept the ball that fabregas should have opportunity to score..he can’t do anything in the middle of the field..and alway clueless..he should beat anelka before anelka pull a string..but he just let nasri alone take care of anelka…sigh…
I sure hope no disgruntled fan commits suicide again!
ok not to jump the gun but now that we are without silverware major European Clubs must be lining up bids for our star players. . . .so Chris who do you think is leaving this summer. . . .my first guess would be RVP
Well Ace, yes, RVP, Cesc and Adebayor are always on the “departure list” according to the media although Robin should be close to renew his contract. I’m not sure what will happen this summer but I would be surprised if Barcelona or A.C. Milan don’t attempt to lure some stars away from the Emirates.
we really need a savior for this team,a big star,a really big star like david villa or maybe benzema.i think wenger should try all hard he can to lure any of them to emirates.adebayor,bendtner and diaby by no means deserves arsenal jersey.offloading them could finance a good star player.
rest of transfer kitty could me spent on a cb and dm,goalkeeper is not required instantly,we can wait till january for him,bur rest should be priority……..and guys what abt bringing back flamini?????
Mathieu had a phenomenal game yesterday against Juventus, playing as center back, on the right in midfield, well everywhere.
He ain’t coming back mate.
wow…..benzema sounds good…..can we afford him
“I don’t think the squad needs major investment.”
arsene wenger – 11th May 2009
ARSENAL FC – R.I.P.
if we want silverware,we need big star striker, a 30 goal a season striker and he wont come cheaply.so how come wenger thinks that the squad dont need major investment…………we need a henry,not a player who will become henry in 3 seasons.so it will surely cost a fortune.
Arsenal need a new manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wat is the point of playing Dyabi instead of Vela, everyone knows that Carlos Vela is way better than Diaby on the left and also provides more offense but Wenger just doesn’t want to play Vela at all what the fuck is his problem with Vela!!!!!!
NOT EVEN ON THE BENCH YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!
Easy Luis, easy.
Wenger compared Diaby to Vieira, most likely he’s waiting for that day to arrive, when Abou will be as good as Patrick. Sometimes I think the boss puts himself before his duties.
The mood oozes the distinctive and so painfully accustomed scent of disappointment that has been, it feels, ever-present this season. Not even our usually optimistic author seems able to extract any sunlight from the yesterday’s display. And who can blame us? It’s been – as many have mentioned – a frustrating season in many ways.
I do feel, though, that Nasri deserves more for his trouble. Throughout the game he was our creative spark and offensive constructor, showing very neat turns and passes on the ball apart from the usual high-standard vision and disposition. Gibbs did admirably; he picked himself up in impressive manner following the unlucky events of last Tuesday. Even so, I would name Nasri MOTM for us (id he’d only have more cracks at goal ! ! !).
It was saddening to witness the young team race out the box so determined and good valued, only for them to run their heads against a cynical, anti-football playing Chelsea-team, concede a couple of unnecessary goals and subsequently overturn the spirit completely. Bar one or two, the players didn’t really believe a comeback was due after conceding the second goal, and it really only added insult to injury to witness Chelsea hit two more (an own-goal and an agonizingly obvious double offside goal) to hit what I feel will be the penultimate nail in our coffin – once we’ve had our a**es handed to us at Old Trafford come Saturday. The team seriously lacks spirit and steely purpose or, if you will, seasoned experience.
Fingers crossed for a couple of solid signings over the summer.
well lets just hope that wenger gets the line up right for the next game and does some major needed signings during the summer Chris.