Hasmat’s Chelsea Analysis: Drogba does it again … and again
Over the last few weeks, I have focused on comments made by the fans and looked at whether most of them are right to say that most of the team needs changing. The Chelsea game clearly proved that Arsenal are some way behind.
Or did it?
From what I seem to see, Chelsea played Arsenal on the counter and Didier Drogba twice capitalised on Arsenal mistakes and punished us. Did you know that Didier has scored twelve goals against Arsenal? He is the arch enemy that we love to hate because he is simply too good.
But Arsenal were not as poor as people make it sound. We bossed the game afterwards but we clearly missed something: a finisher!
A lot of fans want to see Arsene dip into the market and have a team overhaul but can I remind everyone that this is the same Arsenal team that beat the top four last season. So what’s missing? ADEBAYOR!
I said when we sold Ade that unless we replace him with a striker that has real presence up front then we will suffer, and we clearly are. Last season, Ade’s presence was enough to keep the other defenders busy and therefore let our midfielders take charge and score a few goals like Nasri against United. Already you saw that when Bendtner came on, the Chelsea back four started shaking up a bit.
Though we cannot make excuses for the result, Chelsea were amazing in defence and Cech was on form and made the difference though the game on Sunday had a catalyst of errors that needs addressing. Here’s my view on the defence, tactics and future buys:
Defence
Clichy is having a horrible time at the moment. Since his injury, he has been making too many mistakes and unfortunately for him, he has been punished for them. We all saw Clichy decided to go for a walk when he should have stayed on the line! But overall we didn’t defend the corner properly and got punished.
For the second goal, Clichy and Vermaelen got in each others way and Drogba found space on the left. He still had a lot to do but riffled a shot into the net. To be fair to Almunia, although the ball went straight at him, there was too much power on the shot!
Midfield
Fabregas did his best to lead the line and create some chances. His ball to Arshavin was a dream pass but he could not influence the game as he wanted to. In the end, the captain was forced into long range efforts which showed the Gunners’ desperation.
Attack
There was no striker on the pitch until Bendtner came on. I felt he should have started from the start because his presence could have made some difference. Whether he is good or not, a tall player in a makeshift of three players up front always causes problems.
Theo Walcott is not having a good time and was very poor. He did not use his pace at all and should have been taking A.Cole but never went behind the Chelsea backline. Eboue came on and caused problems b running behind the defence!
Tactics
It is not rocket science, Arsenal are playing too many of the same type of players in one team. They are central attacking midfielders, so psychologically they all think of cutting inside and going through the middle. This makes it too predictable where the opponent simply has to sit and wait, the full backs comes to support then cross it in but its easy to deal with.
Arsenal need natural wingers and a strong striker with a presence. If we were clinical on Sunday, the result may have been different. I think 4-3-3 brings out the best of Arsenal but against the top 4 we should play 4-4-2 with natural wingers on the side and two tall and powerful strikers up front.
Arshavin
Had he scored THAT chance, the game would have surely changed. He is not having the best time but I feel as though he is giving up too early. I understand his frustration at playing lone up front but wasn’t he the one who complained when Arsene plaid him on the left side?
Don’t get me wrong, he is a world class player who can change the game at any moment but enough of the moaning and a more positive mentality is needed.
Transfers
In January, players are hard to find at a reasonable price. Those bought needs to come in and make an instant impact; I don’t think there’s a player out there who could have done that. It is easy for us to say BUY BUY but that does not always work. Do you want to see Arsenal turn into the new Liverpool? They have bought so many players but are still a long way off and Maxi Rodriguez signed this January. Has he come in to shock everyone? No, even though he was free, panic buys in January is not going to work!
Future
I am not giving up on the title just yet. I can see United and Chelsea drop points against each other, Tottenham, Villa, Man City and Liverpool. Giving up is not an issue. Arsenal must pick themselves up and go on a winning run. But if we drop more points on those two up there, then I will have to accept that we blew it again!
I think the boss needs to see what comes the end of the season, secure Fabregas with a new contract, and then buy one world class player in all areas. Goalkeeper, Defence, winger, striker!
Arsenal are not a long way off the top, we are one or two players short! We lack depth in our team, I’m sure a fully fit Arsenal team would have been right up there without a doubt.
So don’t lose faith.
In Arsene I still trust, the best man for the job!
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We are a long way off, i hate to admit it too. I feel that we did make a “Panic buy” this January, Sol Campbell, if thats not a panic buy i dunno what is. We have a squad full of average players. I love Arsenal but i feel that i’m the only realistic Arsenal fan out there. Every time we lose people just think that we’ll get better and that these average players will become amazing. Lets face facts, we are a long way off chelsea, there is a reason why we lose to them every time we play them.
I must say I support what you have said. It is untrue to say there are no players who can come in and have the impact we need. There are many good players out there playing for Average teams who will fit into our play style perfectly.
Arsenal is an Average team, managed by a very good manager who brings out the best from anyone, but this does not mean we should not buy proven players. Look at Almunia, I think if we had a good goalkeeper, we will not be where we find ourselves today. Almunia is a model and not a footballer, he should go into show biz, may be he’ll make a good journalist, clown, actor or porn star.He is definitely not a footballer, he doesn’t instill confidence in his defense, which has made the defense to panic and give away several goals.
If wenger went for a “panic buying” like Akineev in January, I am sure the result against Man U would have been different. Why not bring back Henry even on Loan from Barca, he had done it once and will do it again. He is no longer as fast as before, but is 1000 times better upfront than Arshavin. The truth is all hope is not lost, but the players we have don’t instill confidence in me.
I will remain gooner even if we were playing in the coca-cola championship, but we need to call “a spade a spade and a spoon a spoon”.
Good analysis. We do need to add to the team, but scraping this bunch would be a mistake.
Essentially, we need to punish teams who let us possess the ball and find a way to shore up the defense. Teams with skill realize they need only to sit back and wait till we concede a sloppy goal or till we over commit to the attack. A single tall striker will help, but as Ade proved, one cannot solve all our problems. A large Ogre Defender will help, but as Senderos proved, if you cannot move and pass well at Arsenal, we cannot use you.
To solve the problem we need to rebuild our defense and put together a more pragmatic group of attackers. The truth is very few player fit the mold of what we are looking for and the ones that do are outrageously expensive. Perhaps it is time to line the boys up, demand results and then sell the ones who cannot put it together. The cash we could raise might help fill the gaps.
With the current squad we have especially goalkeeper and the defenders, Drogba will more than enjoy to run his ass and score several goals. We need players with passion but concentration if they want to stop him. Sell mr shaky Almunia and his prodigy Fabianski, get Akinfeev or someone that impresses during World Cup but available to buy. Mannone and Sczesny to be the back up. Snap up CB Federico Fazio of Sevilla. 22 appearances last two season, this season just 1 appearance and fall behind Squillaci and Escude. 1.95 m and just 23 yr. Tough but clean tackler. Could be less than 10m. 24 yr Zapata is Udinese first team but Arsenal could lure him to Emirates as his value is around 15m. Let Gallas, Sol Campbell and Silvestre leave due to contract expire in June. Tie up Senderos contract and keep Djourou as a back up. We need CB with 1.85m above and average age of 24 or 25. Let Vermaelen play on the left side next season. Keep Gibbs but sell Clichy and Traore, both are rubbish on that role. Eboue and Sagna still on the right. Nasri and Rosicky, Wenger will definitely not considers to sell them, but please, play them at central midfielders. Chamakh could possibly joins next season, set up partnership with RVP and Arshavin in the front 3. Bendntner, Eduardo and Walcott as a backup. Keep Vela but loan him out, he needs to play. Denilson needs to be kick out and get at least one quality defensive midfielders. Don’t even let Fab go and don Barca colour, we need a very huge improvement on the squad for the next season. Sell = 10 to 15m. Buy = 40 – 50m. Spend = 20 – 35m. Season budget = 30m. Next season = 20 – 30m. SO PLEASE SPEND!!!!
Did Arsene Wenger himself write this article.!!!
The four world class players you speak of (goalkeeper, defender, winger, srtiker) should
have been brought in July 2009. Before the season started.
All arsenal fans were demanding this.What was the point of wasting a whole year with
this inadequate squad of players.
The January transfer window, should be used for emergency buys. It was quite obvious to
all Arsenal fans, indeed all football fans across the world, that we desperately needed a goalkeeper and a skriker.
And while we were given a second after the thrashing Chelsea gave us in November,
we still didn’t bring in these players in order for us to be given a glimmer of hope of success.
At Stamford Bridge clear cut chances were a problem, yes Arsenal had plenty of possession and pressure on Chelsea but, do not forget that Arsenal handed Chelsea a 2 goal lead to start with. From then on, all Chelsea had to do was defend well and hit on the break, just like MU had to last week. In both cases suspect defending created those situations. Once you give the 2 best teams in the premiership a 2 goal start! They are apt to say ‘thanks very much’ and use their experience from there on.
Chelsea somewhat conceded the initiative to Arsenal and clogged the middle with bodies, behind those was Terry and Carvalho who were content to clear anything that did get through, it was like a practice session for them they will do that all day without breaking sweat. Wenger has since stated that Bendtner is not fully fit, so in that case the front line was all that was available. I did not see much ‘poor finishing’ in evidence because Arsenal could not create many clear chances to begin with. So to blame the forward line I think is not laying the blame at the root of the problem
Wenger did right to start Walcott because, if you recall the game at the Emirates, Arsenal were undone by Ashley Cole down the right flank. The presence of Walcott was to counter act that, and it was needed.
You guys are right Arsenal’s performance apart from the defensive end in the first 25 minutes was very encouraging. The defensive effort however was anything but. The alarm bells have been ringing there for a bit now. Against Bolton, Everton, and of course MU last season, and this one too!
That is a MAJOR concern!!!!!
I really think AW should look out for a good stricker,even Chamark is not world class but arsenal is a world class team…so why is AW lookin for low life players wanting to turn them into stars?we need players that can help us acheive our dreams.lets stop deciving ourself..we cant win the title this year,we lost it already.do u expect manu and chelsea to lose 9points each?lets start looking forward to champions league.
why didnt mr Wenger just play for a draw in both United and Chelsea games. we would still be in reasonable touch with i think the easier run in ( if there is such a thing in the EPL).
Chris, i don’t quite agree dat we should play 4-3-3 & change 2 4-4-2 our big rivals, i think we stil need 2 master d former very well, as in our wide players needs 2 have a high recovery rate just like, i also think dat nasri is a natural cmf playing him there will increase his efficiency though 4 now i prefer diaby as he makes our midfield thick, selling nasri, denilson & d rest is not a gud idea 2 me, this players had been 2geda 4 quite somtime now and they r beginin 2 know & master each others movement by heart & i thinj they will only keep on improvin so sellin them off & buyin som other players is like pullin us back besides som1 like nasri is a very important player in arsenal as we’re still uncertain as to future of cesc and i hate 2 rely on one player just like arsenal had neva relied on any one particular player, players like henry, viera & d rest came & went still arsenal is still among d best, so i don’t think fab’s exit we see us 2 championship, i heard som1 say a day b4 dat diaby & song r d future of arsenal while am here thinkin it’s fab, meanin arsenal don’t have any playa they rely on & i like 2 think dat way, final word 4 dos talkin abt world class players, while they were not world class wen we signed them, we made them world class & in return they helped us a lot, so i think chamakh shuld cme in summer, we’ll teach him how 2 play d arsenal way & d boy has som quality in him which is gud 4 a start, 2moro will see us entertain d mugsmashers at d groove so cme on let’s cheer d boys in red & white.
Hasmat wrote this particular piece mate
Good Article… I do agree that Arsene is running Arsenal like no one else could…
Most of the comments are talking about punishing the opponent after so much possession of the ball… I agree, but you need a punisher up front …!!! Van Persie is gone and he was not replaced, like AW failed to replaced Adebayor…
My problems is that we are loosing players year by year since the “invincible” (AW and his stupid policy of not giving over 30 more than one year contract, is coming back to pinch him in the behind) and none of them, none, have been replaced…
It goes with logic, if you sell an Adebayor you should bring a striker of the same level or better… Van Persie will never last a all season, he never did..
Flamini wanted between 55 to 60,000 a week… AW (or the financial board) did not want to oblige and he went to Milan (where he is on 90,000 a week)… When you have players like Walcott on 60,000 a week (which he is stupidly stealing…!!) you wonder what is going through his mind…
I will always think that AW is one of the top manager in the football world,but he is human (some of you forget or forgot that) and he made some serious mistakes…
Now we are at the cross road… Our faith (winning the league) depends on other teams…
Everybody accords is in agreement that Chelsea and Man U will drop points!!! Why?
They might go on an unbeaten run (may be except against each other)…!!! Why not? We did it before… !!! That is a lot of “if” or “may be” from from someone (Arsene Wenger) who should be totally sure in what is doing…!!!
I also truly believe that AW does not have the total financial support of the board (never mind Gazidis that “clown”) and he is only required to put us on a CL spot in order to balance the books…
Anyway, I still believe Arsenal (even though some of those players should not be wearing the mythic jersey because they are a disgrace…!!) can win as long as we don’t slip up again… And it starts with Liverpool… We have about 13 games left, that’s 39 points… So I will bet on 32 to 36 points possible before the end of the season… Now if Man U and Chelsea do drop points, we still have a slim chance to shine …!!!
players from other clubs dont even have respect for him anymore.Ballack has demonstrated that and its a shame.he just sits like a wimp and sulks when he looses.
this is a man that feels so good sendin boys to do mens job.Why wont he loose.
My worry is for we dedicated arsenal fans who are always heart broken.We keep talkin about what wenger has done and stuff like that.what about managers that are sacked?they have also contributed immensly but the clubs have zero tolerance and thats why they progress.mancity,chelsea,real madrid etc are where they are today cos they have zero tolerance.
Believe me if feguson dosent get it right he will be sacked.
only in arseanl will you see a manger act like he owns the club and takes very unreasonable decisions.
Unfortunately ballack is right.They are a better team.Its not about possession.its not about walkin into the post anymore.its about WINNING,its about a TROPHY.
We sold adebayo and kolo tore.we had over 35 million.why couldnt this man add to this squad?
Or is he interested in mouldin players and then sellin them off???????????
Someone should call AW to order.This has gone too far.
I recommend the club sack him as he has NOTHING MORE TO OFFER!
i dont think we need a tall stricker right now.what we need is a clinical finisher like samuel eto with the type of game we play and you will be surprised.This guy is a finisher and that is what we are lacking.kindly talk to jose and buy this guy.
Nice analysis Chris as always moving towards the game against Chelski we were poor defensively that’s for sure. Both goals were caused by very sloppy defense in both goals Clichy was the player who lost his mind let allow Drogba to score.
In my opinion we are lacking a world class GOALKEEPER because look at the champions teams in world whether it is national team or any other football club they have world class GOALKEEPER . Look at Real Madrid possibly the best keeper they have ,look at our Sunday opponent Cech was the best player for Cheski in that game he saved them.
Look at Man Utd Edwin van der sar he is the world class keeper , Inter , Barcelona they all have world class keeper and if you put Almunia in front of those Goalkeepers then don’t have anything in your hands.
And another is same old story physical presence.We need big striker Bendtner should start the game last Sunday it was the mistake by wenger
I didn’t write this mate … poor Hasmat should get more credit
We have to player Bendtner or we will lose, Arshavin is off form at the moment, he can’t finish. Its good to hear RVP is back next month.
Could someone tell these tippy-tappy players to take pot shots at goal instead of trying to pass the ball into the net always. We got a point in the game against Everton due to deflected goals even though we played poorly. There should always be a plan-B & C.
OK then, why didn’t AW take a striker on loan until May? MU did it with HL and it got them over the line… I’m sorry but I think AW has too much stubborn confidence in this squad. I’m not a Bendtner fan but it was obvious that we needed height against the Chavs. And please get Dennis B on board to train the forwards (and maybe help to choose a new striker) because as we all see, the front players try to walk the ball in or pass to each other until they lose the ball. No one takes responsibility or has the nerve to have a crack. Can we stop chipping the ball away from the goal to someone on the edge who can’t cross the ball! One player who does focus on the goal mouth is Eboue – not to shoot but to get the ball up quickly around the penalty area and then look for someone in a shooting position. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start tonight… And Rosicky for Walcott PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. I’ll always keep the faith!
I just read through most of the posts and it seems that most of you, the media, and the vast majority of Arsenal supporters seem to believe that a striker is first priority.
I will likely be screamed at for saying this but I am not fully convinced that it ought to be ranked so highly. I was skeptical when Adebayor was sold because he was a very good player! Always keep your good players! Especially if you cannot afford to pay an equally good replacement. Wenger said they could not do so this very week!
You are correct in pointing out that Toure was replaced but Ade was not. Wenger took a gamble on that, and lost. He never anticipated that all 3 strikers would go down. He is responsible!
He stated soon after Stamford Bridge that Bendtner was still not fully fit, so in that case he had no option other than to go with Arshavin at CF. Wenger is unlucky here but once again, responsible!
Same scenario against MU, Bendtner would have been a better option without Vidic and Ferdinand in the MU line up. Wenger unlucky but responsible!
So for both games the forward line was not the strongest!!! Can happen, and it is clear that Adebayor should not have been sold!
However in both games, it was defensive strategy that proved to be Arsenal’s undoing, as it was in the CL Semi last year with Adebayor playing. Lee Dixon said exactly the same on Sunday, Alan Hansen said it the week before. New strikers are great, but while these defensive issues may go and hide for a while, they will reappear with similar consequences unless they are straightened out for once and for all. Arsenal’s goals scored column is very good!DEFENSIVE STRATEGY IS THE PROBLEM!!!!