Another Sunday game on TV, another win. This one though was a tense,
nervous battle and the 3 points weren't safe until the final whistle.
After a first half in which Arsenal were the better team, and certainly
looked the more dangerous, the Gunners sat back in the 2nd and virtually
ceded possession to Chelsea. Which made for some very tense viewing for
the home fans, but once again a magnificent defensive display saw the
famed Arsenal rearguard hold out against anything the visitors could
throw at it.
Arsenal were virtually at full strength, only the suspended Vieira
missing from what is normally Wenger's first choice lineup. Seaman
returned after injury and Bergkamp & Petit shook off minory injuries.
Chelsea were missing Flo, Casiraghi, Poyet & Ferrer through injury.
The first half was a fairly cagey affair, starting off with the ref
seemingly determined to stamp his authority on the game by waving the
yellow card at Lebouef and Bergkamp in the opening minutes, both for
seemingly innocuous offences. It probably had the desired effect though
and the opening half hour was a good deal less fractious than most
recent encounters between the two teams. It was also very tight with
chances at a premium, and all of those coming at the Clock End which
Arsenal were attacking in the first half. Early on Arsenal might have
had a penalty when Petit's free kick in from the right picked out Adams
beyond the far post, and his nod back into the middle appeared to strike
Duberry on the arms as the defender jumped in front of him. The ref
waved appeals away though.
Then Overmars played a ball in to find Bergkamp in space on the edge of
the area. As defenders closed him down he jinked round a couple to fire
in a left foot shot from an angle which was reasonably well hit but
straight at De Goey who made a comfortable save. Soon afterwards
Overmars cut in from the left and hit his trademark rifled right foot
shot towards the near post. It was probably going just wide, but De Goey
made sure, palming it round the post.
At the other end Chelsea had periods of possession but couldn't muster a
direct threat on Seaman's goal apart from a Desailly shot from outside
the area which he sliced high and wide. Half an hour into the game
Arsenal made the breakthrough. Petit sent a searching long pass forward
from inside his own half to try and pick out Overmars making a run down
the middle. The Dutch winger uncharacteristically managed to get a faint
headed touch to it as he backpedalled in front of Petrescu, and the ball
deflected off the Roumanian into Bergkamp's path as he made a run into
the left side of the area ahead of Duberry. The Dutch master finished
brilliantly, stroking a first time right foot shot across De Goey and
inside the far post.
Chelsea were rattled and started to mix it a bit more. A nasty stamp by
Wise on Bergkamp's ankle went unnoticed by the referee, and for a while
things threatened to get out of hand, though the cause of Duberry having
to go off injured appeared to be a hamstring pull rather than a direct
effect of Bergkamp's challenge on him which the ref penalised merely
with a free kick. The tackles flew for a few minutes but things settled
down again, and a few minutes before half time Arsenal should have
increased their lead. Bergkamp floated a lovely pass forward to put
Overmars in down the inside left channel, but with Anelka waiting in the
middle he chose to try and cut the ball back onto his right foot and
Petrescu was able to get back and poke the ball clear.
Just before half time Chelsea finally got together a dangerous move.
Goldbaek got away down the right and pulled the ball back across the 6yd
line. Keown missed his clearance at the near post which put off Babayaro
who was waiting just behind and the ball passed him by too, and Dixon
cleared for a corner at the far post.
The second half started with Chelsea having a lot of possession but
Arsenal looking dangerous on the break. Bergkamp should have scored his
second when a glorious long pass by Parlour picked out his run down the
middle. He brought the ball down brilliantly to leave himself clear with
only the keeper to beat, but he seemed to get the ball caught under his
feet, which allowed De Goey to dash from his line and make a good block.
Overmars then twice got away down the left. On the first occasion a half
decent ball into the middle would have given Anelka a goal but he
underhit it and allowed a defender to clear. On the second he made a
better attempt but Leboeuf made a good diving headed clearance just
ahead of Anelka.
Chelsea on the other hand didn't threaten until Vialli beat the offside
trip and ran clear down the right. He checked before cutting the ball
back towards Zola near the penalty spot, but Petit anticipated
brilliantly and pulled off a superb sliding clearance. After this the
half settled into a pattern of almost complete Chelsea possession.
Arsenal seemed content to sit deep in their own half and defend, which
was agonising to watch. But defend they did, and despite all their
posssession Chelsea rarely threatened to break through. On the odd
occasion they did, some brilliant blocks and clearances denied them.
Seaman made one good save, tipping over a 20 yard Di Matteo drive, but
otherwise was only occupied dealing with crosses.
Keown in particular made sure his keeper had little to do with two
absolutely brilliant blocks. The first when Arsenal got sucked too far
to the right which left Petrescu with a clear run onto Zola's pass into
the area on the left. He seemed certain to score or at least get a shot
on target but Keown pulled off a fantastic block, which he matched soon
afterwards with a similar one on the right this time on Vialli.
Very occasionally Arsenal got bored with defending and broke out into
the Chelsea half. On one break Bergkamp was set up with a shot from 25
yards which he again struck superbly, but this time hit it straight at
De Goey. Then the new signing Diawara, on for the last 15 minutes, got
away from Leboeuf down the right, but his pull back into the area went
behind Bergkamp and Parlour, running in at near and far post. There was
also another penalty appeal when Desailly appeared to use his hand to
stop a ball Parlour hooked back into the area from the byline but again
the ref ignored the home appeals.
At last the final whistle went and Chelsea had suffered their first
defeat since the first day of the season. All in all a victory earned by
a magnificent defensive performance, and also merited by the greater
threat in attack, though it was incredibly frustrating to have to sit
and watch Arsenal sitting back and defending a one-goal lead for 40
nerve-wracking 2nd half minutes.
Seaman 7.5 I can remember only one save, but he made some good
catches from crosses and otherwise oozed confidence.
Dixon 8.0 Solid and reliable again, and let Parlour foul Le Saux
this time.
Winterburn 8.0 A performance you'd expect in a game like this.
Adams 8.0 Composed and commanding again.
Keown 8.5 A brilliant display of last ditch defending.
Garde 8.0 Probably his best game for Arsenal so far. Suffice it
to say Vieira was barely missed.
Petit 8.5 Another brilliant all round display, both in defence
and in attack.
Parlour 7.5 Gave his all as usual though less conspicuous going
forward than usual.
Overmars 7.5 Best game I've seen from him this season, though his
final ball and choice was poor. I've now seen him make
at least 5 tackles in the last two games, one of them
yesterday was even a sliding one. Amazing stuff.
Anelka 6.5 Again suffered a bit from lack of service, but did at
least keep making the runs.
Bergkamp 8.0 One of his best games of the season too. His touch is
back and so is a bit of fire too.
Vivas Came on and did a good job shoring up the left hand
side in the final 25 minutes.
Diawara Looked a little caught out by it all, particularly
early on, but a couple of nice touches showed promise.
report by Derek
The Famous Five
When I turn on the radio, switch on the TV, pick up a paper - tabloids and
broadsheets alike - all I hear is how Arsenal are a team of foreign players,
that they are not developing any young talent, the new players haven't got
the Arsenal 'sprit', all we do is punch opponents....blah, blah, blah....
I would like those who are responsible for feeding the general public with
their daily dose of anti-Arsenal material to consider the following facts...
11 Goals conceded in 23 Premiership Matches
...and....
Seaman, Winterburn, Dixon, Keown and Adams are all English
Our very own famous five have displayed over the years that they are
probably the BEST defensive unit to have ever played in the English domestic
game - EVER. In my opinion the only other unit in world football over the
past fifteen years to match our very own was the great AC Milan back line
including Baresi et al during the late 80's and early 90's - as the 'Dying
Swan' (Vialli) stated in the build up to Sunday's match.
Every season we turn up saying that this will be the last
game/week/month/year that the unit be playing together but they keep going
on and on and on. I'm sure we all remember the 90-91 season, with 16 League
goals conceded all season. It's asking a lot to repeat that feat but
stranger things have happened. I'm sure you also remember that in the same
season Moan U beat us 6-2 at home in the League Cup - does that sound
familiar !
After the treatment that AW and the side have come in for in recent weeks
over the discipline 'problem', it makes a pleasant change to read some of
the more informed media brigade comment on how the mental strength of the
team is beyond reproach, and how other Premier League managers would give
their right arm for the Arsenal spirit - never mind the talent.
Let's look at Sunday's match as an example of the spirit - Petrescu storms
down on the Clock End goal, let's fly with the shot to find Jan Van Keown
flying in with an amazing last ditch block. Wind the clock a few minutes
forward and he's doing it again on Vialli. It has got to the level where
even Overmars is tackling ! For those who keep harping on about defending
being a dying art, maybe they should pop down to Highbury now and again, for
an exhibition on defending the 18 yard line. Sunday's display was amongst
the finest you will ever see.
Amongst all the glory of last season, one important date was missed - The
Dixon and Bould testimonial match - thanks to the stupidity of the local
Police, who could not guarantee cover for the evening, as if it would be
needed. To date, I've not noticed the club announce their plans for the
rearranged fixture. I hope that they haven't forgotten about it, as these
guys deserve a full house for their contribution to the tradition and
(recent) history of the club.
The next month is really make or break for the rest of the campaign, and we
must hope that the suspensions and injuries clear up. To lose Dennis and
Manu at Moan Utd through suspension will be a loss, but disadvantage tends
to bring out the best in the side. We can only hope that Anelka picks up his
game, that Kanu gets his work permit, and that Steve Dunn, Uriah Rennie or
Graham Poll do not get involved with Arsenal matches for the rest of the
season !
Just think back to the World Cup. If the 'Prophet Hoddle' had played the
Arsenal back line for England, we might have done quite well. Only a silly
thought I suppose.
Until next time.....
Paul
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