Arsenal got the monkey off its back on Monday by claiming a thoroughly deserved 3–1 win over Chelsea, as the English Premier League kicks into high gear over the holiday period.
The Gunners had not claimed a point against either Chelsea or Manchester United in over two years prior to Monday’s win.
“We were questioned about our capability of winning big games. We kept good discipline in the team for 90 minutes and put in a real team performance,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his post-match interview.
The win allows Arsenal to break up the Manchester duo at the top of the table. The North London club is now two points behind Manchester United, which has played one less match.
“We’re in December and in touch with Manchester United. We have to be at our best and continue to improve. I hope the victory tonight will convince the team that we are moving in the right direction,” Wenger said.
But more dramatically, the defending champions Chelsea are now languishing in fourth place, six points behind United.
The loss also leaves Chelsea with one win in their last eight Premier League games.
“We missed a lot of passes and didn't play so well,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said on www.chelseafc.com. “In the second half we started badly, we conceded two goals in three minutes and after that it was impossible to come back into the game.”
Chelsea Out of Sync
At first glance, one might think the Blues had the line-up to down Arsenal with the likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, John Terry, and Petr Cech providing a stiff spine that typically has done the Gunners in.
However, their weaknesses lay on the flanks where Paulo Ferreira at right back, and most notably, Ashley Cole, a former Arsenal favourite, at left back had a day to forget.
Wingers Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were virtually nonexistent—virtually, since Kalou did make the score sheet with a yellow card on a kung-fu style, studs-up challenge on Arsenal’s Gael Clichy. (A red card would certainly not be harsh in this case.)
Veteran striker Nicolas Anelka was not in the line-up for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had as close to a first choice starting XI as Arsene Wenger would probably like. With captain Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere, and Alex Song in midfield, the Gunners overran Chelsea and dominated throughout.
Arsenal seemed to be able to set up camp outside the Chelsea 18-yard box at will but had few clear-cut goal scoring chances initially. Nasri’s audacious chip shot was well parried by Cech over the bar in the 41st minute.
Song gave the Gunners reason to sing with a fine goal just before the half. After a nice feed from Wilshere to Fabregas, Song picked up the ball after his captain was fouled and lashed a strike inside the far post. Cech was helpless to stop it.
Song, who doesn’t hesitate to push forward, has been a surprising source of goals for Arsenal this season with four.
Defensive Lapses
To start the second half, Arsenal kept the foot firmly on the accelerator. And Chelsea’s defence, normally a source of strength, utterly fell apart.
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who had been getting the better of Ashley Cole on the evening, used his speed to make the Chelsea defender look like a statue.
Cole failed to stay goal-side of Walcott who raced onto a loose ball before squaring it to Fabregas. The captain only had to pass it into an empty net. Chelsea’s defence was slow to react to the onrushing Walcott and Fabregas, leaving Cech helpless.
And just two minutes later it was 3–0. Malouda was caught in possession by Fabregas, who returned the favour to Walcott. Walcott fired a hard right-footer past Cech and Arsenal had their three points.
Chelsea did get one back when Branislav Ivanovic—one Blue who had a very strong game—headed home a Drogba free kick. Chelsea had the aerial superiority over Arsenal but their lack of control of the midfield didn’t allow them to get meaningful crosses into dangerous areas.
The London rivals traded good scoring opportunities the rest of the way but poor finishing from both sides kept the score 3–1.
Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETSports
