Chelsea nemesis?

By Boris Mellor
April 17 2009

Fortunes change quickly in the hype that surrounds football, after the Roma second leg a Guardian journalist described Arsenal as lame ducks, by this Friday the same paper, but different journalist, acclaimed them as "late flowering". Suddenly it's all about the wonder of Wenger's kids' again.

All to play for

There is a lot to play for against Chelsea, not just a place in the final, but Wenger's reputation is at stake. Lose and once again the Arsenal season will be written off, it could also destroy a momentum that has built up ever since the victory on penalties against Roma. Wenger is absolutely right that this was the moment that the Gunners' season turned. The problem is that whatever turns can be turned back again. For this season Arsenal are a "cup team"; if they do not win in the cups fourth, or even third, place will not keep the doubters quiet.

Nonetheless Arsenal enter the FA semi following a rich vein of form, but they are not the bookies favourites. The bookies don't matter, it's how Arsenal play on the day that will count. So far this season they have beaten Man U and Chelsea, it is the lesser teams that have proved their downfall. In that sense the lack of experience has cost Arsenal dear.

The blight of injuries

The other problem has been the number of injured midfielders and strikers, ironically just as they have returned Wenger has suffered a rash of injuries in the back five. Even the replacements have become injured. Gallas injured and so is replacement Djourou, Clichy injured, so is Gibbs. It seems never ending.

Arsenal can cope - Defend as a team

It would be better if the injuries had not happened, but it is pointless getting fixated on them, and they don't need to be a reason for failure. One reason why Arsenal get turned over is because they have played an isolated flat back four. Very often the defenders are left without cover. That the wingers have not protected the backs, that the holding midfielder has not shielded the back four (I think of the 4-4 draw with Spurs).

I was fearful before the 2^nd leg against Villarreal, our defence had a torrid time in the first leg, and surely a weakened defence would do worse. True Villarreal were weakened by injuries, but the scoring of an early goal and the defending by the whole team meant that a difficult match became a stroll.

The key to the 3-0 victory was organizing and defending as a team. It was good to hear Kolo Toure, this week, talking of defending from the front. That is an element that has often been missing from Wenger's total football.

Scoring up to the mark

It has been Arsenal's defence that has been the bigger problem, goal scoring, apart from a blip in February, has not been a problem. Arsenal have scored as many goals as Man U and Chelsea, and slightly less than Liverpool this season. The other three have been far more watertight hence their higher position in the league. Ironically in the last few weeks all of them have looked less secure in defence.

Hockey game

Chelsea have just emerged successfully from what Mourinho would have contemptuously called a hockey match. They won because Liverpool's defence was even worse, or because their attack was better. Either way it does raise the possibility of a high scoring game. The Chelsea defence is not looking as strong as it was, with or without Terry.

However it is also possible that two attacking teams will cancel themselves out, but Arsenal have no option but to attack. Arsenal need to defend as a team, but they must keep up the direct play that has paid dividends against Wigan and Villarreal.

We have heard a lot about Drogba, and rightly so, but what of Arshavin, Theo and Adebayor on present form? With players like this, running hot at the moment, attack will be the best form of defence.  If Arsenal keep up the tempo and organisation they delivered against Villarreal, then a more offensive team can achieve without the best back five available. To put it simply attack is the best form of defence.

Ugly Ducklings or Swans?

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 17/04/2009 20:56

Arsenal Times
17/04/2009 20:56

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:20:18:02:14 by Padre Pio.

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craf
18/04/2009 11:49

This is an important match for arsenal - this will be the toughest test in 09 thus far. Against an attack we have struggled to contain in the past with a defence that is at best makeshift. I think a win is on the cards but the real test is if we lose. Recent history suggests we struggle following a defeat after a succession of wins. So - for me - this match actually represents opportunity win or lose. Win - and that's obvious - lose - and we have the chance to prove to the sceptical press that we can bounce back immediately with a great performance vs Liverpool.

Let's not get too carried away with the success in recent weeks (in the same way we should not have felt too pessimistic about the poor run of results earlier in the year).

I'm predicting a 3:2 win for the Gunners.

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Merlion96
18/04/2009 20:53

18-April-2009 - 2 cygnets and 9 ugly ducklings managed by one fat-headed goose.....

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Padre Pio
19/04/2009 00:11

Who are your two Cygnets? I have Gibbs and Theo, plus Toure did well.

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eduardo
19/04/2009 02:05

4th is not nearly sure yet and now we must beat the holders just to reach the final where we either play the best team in europe (barca) or a team out to avenge last seasons final defeat and who have just deservedly beaten us in the fac semi so its a long shot we will win it so still more ugly ducklings than swans

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Padre Pio
19/04/2009 02:18

Drives me quackers

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Merlion96
19/04/2009 10:46

Quote:

Merlion96
18-April-2009 - 2 cygnets and 9 ugly ducklings managed by one fat-headed goose.....

Walcott
Gibbs

Kolo is a duck, not duckling.

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Padre Pio
19/04/2009 10:57

Oh go on hes a swan

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Merlion96
19/04/2009 11:38

Swan to me after he signs that contract extension to keep him till 2014.
His contract expires in 2011.

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