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Arsenal - Chelsea

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by bobo_97, Jan 18, 2019.

  1. bobo_97

    bobo_97 Well-Known Member

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    Thoughts? Predictions?

    I reckon a draw due to Murphy's law. Not kill all our hope but also not reignite it fully.
     
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  2. PINKIE

    PINKIE Wurzel Gummidge

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    Gone for 1-1.

    I reckon we'll put in a performance tomorrow, but overall 1 pt will probably still see us fall below Utd who play Brighton this weekend
     
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  3. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    Probably a draw, Really hope we dont loose this one.
     
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  4. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    I think we will see Ozil start today.

    If he puts in another poor shift though this could signal the end. Be interesting to see if we get a fully motivated Ozil looking to prove something.
     
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  5. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    Yeeesssssss. 2-0
     
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  6. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    Been a great response today. Played with real intensity.

    Both Lacazette and Aubamayang worked tirelessly.

    Midfield was excellent. Ramsey put in a good shift.

    Kolasinac and Sokratis were both excellent.

    Only downside is the injury to Bellerin which looked like a knee ligament injury.
     
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  7. BrunelGooner

    BrunelGooner Well-Known Member

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    Proof that we're made of tougher stuff this season and, aside from Liverpool at Anfield, we won't get turned over by the big boys so easily <ok>
     
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  8. BrunelGooner

    BrunelGooner Well-Known Member

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    This is actually a huge blow. Bellerin's been excellent this season and was superb today as well. You can see just how important he is to our team. He is a cut above Lichtsteiner or Maitland-Niles.

    The problem is we will be relying on the latter two a lot more now because Bellerin's injury looked horrific. We need them both to step up to the plate, but I'm not entirely sure I trust them to. Perhaps we will need to look at bringing in a right-back on loan.

    Wishing him a speedy recovery. Really hope it's not as bad as feared, but not holding out much hope with our injury luck this season.
     
    #8
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  9. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    I agree - we look a much better side with Bellerin in the team.

    Lichsteiner looks well past his best. AMN is decent but he's still very raw.

    Looked like a MCL injury to me. Medial side of the knee, if its a tear he could be out for some time unfortunately. Hopefully it's just a strain or it's muscular.

    I guess a plus is that Koscielny looked better today. Maybe he's on his way back to his old form?
     
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  10. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    Much tougher TBH. When at our best this Season - we are incredibly hard working. Emery clearly wants lots of energy, lots of pressing, lots of running.

    Makes sense why he's not playing Ozil when you see us play like that. The German just doesnt fit that style at all.
     
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  11. PINKIE

    PINKIE Wurzel Gummidge

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    Just back from Band practice and seen the result. <cracker>

    ****ing lovely. Massive win that, really important. Can't wait to see the game on MOTD in a bit.
     
    #11
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  12. white_gunner

    white_gunner Well-Known Member

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    Good result and performance, though I have to say Chelsea were poor.

    Unfortunately I’m not sure we can get top 4 as United is level on points with us and it’s probably a 3 horse race between us them and Chelsea, but it’s important to keep within touching distance.

    There have been bright spots so far in the first half of emery’s first season, and this was one of them.
     
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  13. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    If we get a win against United - I could see us going on another run.

    Bellerin is a big loss though - feel like he's one of our best players. Side looks better defensively and offensively with him.
     
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  14. BrunelGooner

    BrunelGooner Well-Known Member

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    I think we need to be very cautious here. Whilst he performed well, the truth is he and Sokratis had very little to deal with. Everything Chelsea threw our way was basic stuff to defend against.

    They were whipping in crosses and cutting the ball back in areas where you'd expect a striker to be. But Hazard isn't a natural striker and though he was trying to float in between our centre-halves, our players positioned themselves well to either intercept or tackle him.

    Chelsea's tactic of giving the ball to Hazard and expecting him to create a moment of magic backfired. It was also too easy to anticipate.

    So although I am happy with the 3 points and the clean sheet, I'm not sure we can say Koscielny's back to his best yet. Baring in mind he was quite poor for the last two seasons as well.
     
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  15. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    The defence had very little to do because our midfield pressed very effectively. But without Holding I think Sokratis and Kos looks like our best CB partnership. It will be interesting to see if Mavroponos can force his way into the lineup though.

    I think with the squad we have this 4-3-1-2 is the best formation for us.
     
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  16. BrunelGooner

    BrunelGooner Well-Known Member

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    For the first 20 minutes, yes. After that, we conceded possession and defended resolutely.

    But part of the reason why Sokratis and Koscielny were so comfortable was due to Chelsea having no focal point up front. If Higuain was ready to start for them or if Sarri started Giroud, we would have had a lot more problems to face. As it was, Kos and Sokratis both had a very comfortable evening.

    There were multiple occasions where the likes of Willian, Azpilicueta or Alonso got into promising positions to whip the ball into the box. But because there was no-one making a run/no-one in the penalty area, they had to check back and start passing it around. Our defence and midfield just had to keep their shape and shut down the key passing lanes. Chelsea continued to play it sideways and backwards. And whenever they did try to play it long, we mopped it up comfortably.

    They quite blatantly lack a presence up front.

    I agree that the 4-3-1-2 formation is probably our best formation right now. Just hope Emery doesn't revert to a back 3 now that Bellerin is out.
     
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  17. TheBear

    TheBear Well-Known Member

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    Na I dont really agree with that.

    Giroud didnt help them too much and he is one of the best strikers purely at holding the ball up.

    Higuian will just make them more effective and dangerous - but he wont necessarily get them playing better.

    I have to say I think the way Sarri throws his team under the bus every ime they get a defeat shows me that he wont last long.
     
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  18. PINKIE

    PINKIE Wurzel Gummidge

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    There's potential that both Chelsea and Spurs could slip up and allow somebody to sneak into the top 4, either us or Man Utd, or both.
     
    #18
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  19. BrunelGooner

    BrunelGooner Well-Known Member

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    You can disagree, but I don't really see what you're disagreeing with.

    You can't deny the absence of an out and out striker contributed to their abject display yesterday. I'm not saying they would have won if they did have a striker starting, but our defence would have had more questions to answer. Chelsea's midfield and wingers would have been more willing to play the ball forward if they had an attacking outlet up front, rather than playing 'crab football'.

    Giroud came on with 20 minutes to go, which didn't give him enough time to test us. And even then, he can't stretch defences like Higuain can.
     
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  20. white_gunner

    white_gunner Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if Holding and Mavropanos could be our starting partnership at CB going forward. I’m not sure if they have ever played together, but they are both younger, would be good to have some long term stability.

    Unfortunately we still won’t be seeing them play together this season, but would like to see them together next season.
     
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