Why is Drogba practically guaranteed to score somehow against Arsenal, every time? Pic via Daily Telegraph.
Arsenal 0
Chelsea 2: Drogba 39, Alex 85
I'm not one for moral victories, largely because they don't earn you three points in the table. However, I don't think I would be too far out of line here to suggest that Arsenal's fate yesterday was a little undeserved. Arsenal proved they can challenge the champions (something many pundits did not suggest was possible), even with a laundry list of first team players out injured, but in the end, the breaks did not go the Gunners' way. A draw would have probably been a fairer result given the balance of play (by no means am I suggesting Arsenal should have won), but to win at Chelsea, you have to make the most of the chances presented to you; Arsenal still can't always do that.
Four changes were made to the side that started at Marzipan Partizan on Tuesday. Kieran Gibbs's calf injury meant that Gael Clichy returned to his role at left back. Laurent Koscielny, rested on Tuesday, returned at center back in place of Johan Djourou. Samir Nasri, also rested at the start on Tuesday, returned to the line-up in place of Tomas Rosicky, and Abou Diaby started in the place of Denilson. Quite honestly, I don't think Diaby should have started and would have preferred Song and Wilshere in the holding roles, Nasri as the lynchpin in the center, and Rosicky starting out wide.
What is worrying is that Arsenal's early pressure was essentially their only pressure. Andrei Arshavin had a solid first half, but was essentially the only offensive creator on the pitch in red, with Nasri out of his natural position wide on the other side and Rosicky on the bench. Of course, given his mercurial nature, Arshavin disappeared in the second, as did the rest of Arsenal's chances.
Arsenal could have scored twice in the game's first minute. A brilliant header from Marouane Chamakh was barely flicked wide by Alex; then, Laurent Koscielny found himself wide open on the resulting corner after losing his man, then nodded the ball high over the bar. When you're at Stamford Bridge, you need to take every opportunity you get to score, and Arsenal just didn't do it. I don't think they had a chance quite as good as those two the rest of the game. They may have controlled possession for a good chunk of the match (as per usual), but there was no major threat in the final third.
At the time, I thought Chelsea's opening goal was a moment of pure luck and fortune, but on seeing replays, it was largely just Didier Drogba being a world class football player that has a knack for scoring against Arsenal. A Ramires pass found an overlapping Ashley Cole who centered to the Ivorian striker, guarded well by Sebastien Squillaci. The cross was slightly behind Drogba, but he flicked the back of his foot to catch the ball, which ricocheted off the post and into the net for a surprising opener. Not much could have been done from an Arsenal point of view on the shot itself; the build up was a bit frustrating, however. Alex Song was fouled before Ramires took the ball in the first place, Samir Nasri switched off to allow the through ball for Cole to get inside Bacary Sagna, and the rest was history.
Chelsea's insurance goal came directly from a free kick in the 85th, perfectly taken by Alex into the top corner. Against, not much could have been done defensively on the shot itself, but in the build up lies the frustration. You can't blame Laurent Koscielny for the tackle (and yellow card) that led to the kick, he did what he had to do to stop the counter attack and took a booking for the team; I applaud him for that, and he's becoming quite a good Premier League defender. Chelsea's possession in the first place came from a misplaced pass, though I forget who was the culprit.
All in all, Arsenal probably deserved better, but can't be expected to earn it when you miss your chances. Lukasz Fabianski was fantastic in goal (no, really, if you didn't see the match, I am not kidding you) and was not at all to blame for either of Chelsea's goals. Jack Wilshere was, again, promising in midfield. Abou Diaby remains a tremendous source of frustration for me (I believe I said I was "so over him" outside of the bar after the match.) Alex Song had a better match this week than last week against West Brom (who didn't, though.) Arsenal's deficiencies remain the same, though: 1) the back four look suspect at times, which will likely be aided whenever the hell Thomas Vermaelen returns, and 2) the attack is significantly lacking creativity and spark, which will likely be aided whenever the hell Robin van Persie returns.
Optimism reigns supreme in this Gooner's mind. It's only October. There's time and Chelsea don't look that unbeatable. Time will tell.
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