Chelsea v Arsenal
Sunday, 21 August 05, 01:30 AM · Comments (3)
I'm very short of time so links only for this match.
Match previews: Blue and White Army; BBC Sport; Official Chelsea FC Website; Sky Sports; Goal; The Independent; Daily Telegraph; CFCnet.
Score prediction: 2-1.
Related links
- Lampard learning fast about living in the past
- Blue truth from the man who saw it all
- Mourinho stands firm on rotation
- Calm versus charm in ultimate meeting of minds
- What you can expect on matchday
- Security measures in place for Arsenal
- Mourinho hails arrival of Essien, his special one
Chelsea 1 - 0 Arsenal · Match Reports
We made Arsenal look very ordinary. Drogba's goal was a touch fortunate but we deserved the win. They never really threatened Petr Cech's goal.
Arsene Wenger will eventually realise that his tactics (trying to pass the ball into the net) are utterly useless against a top class defence like ours. Expect much whingeing from the Frenchman.
See Drogba's goal here (downloadable zip file).
BBC Sport; Sky Sports; ITV Football; Official Chelsea FC Website; The Guardian; The Independent; Daily Telegraph; The Times.
Related links:
- Mourinho delight at victory
- Lampard talks up title chances
- Mourinho stays cool after victory
- Wenger bemoans blunt attack
- Tight defence makes luck pay, says Jose
- Drogba risks wrath of FA after run-in with fan
- Arsenal are unlikely to win things unless they change the way they play
- Gallas writes off Arsenal hopes
- Wenger dismisses Chelsea's blueprint
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I was impressed how Makalele and Essien established full control over the midfield during the last 30 min. of the game! Very promising!
3 Comments · Add yours
The last two weeks have highlighted just why football's so frustrating. 14 days ago we beat today's opponents with ease in the Community Shield. For all Airline FC's slick passing play and ball retention that day, they couldn't break down our resolute and organised defence (one mistake led to a conciliation goal). Didier Drogba's two great goals on the counter-attack was easily enough.
That win filled me with confidence. As far as I was concerned, their League record against us no longer mattered (it's nigh on ten years since we last won), the Premiership match was ours for the taking. We had demonstrated that their 'flowing' football was easily nullified by a quality defence and good counter-attacking tactics; they could've played 'perfect' passing football till they were Chelsea blue in the face that day, they just weren't going to score again.
Then came our opening game of the Premiership at Wigan last weekend and our lucky escape. Suffice to say my confidence was dented somewhat!
One week later and we find ourselves with rumours of disquiet in the camp (Ricardo Carvalho has been put in his place and Robben denies saying anything). Things could be said to have gone pearshaped!
Don't you believe it. I have no doubts we'll perform to our best today and silence all our doubters - all those baying for the demise of the mighty Chelsea FC after just one season at the top will be forced to eat their words.
I do have a feeling we'll win, thus breaking the 10-year run Airline FC have had over us in the League. Winning is not as important as some are making out (it's not a '6-pointer'). The Airline FC connections spouting inanities this week - Whingeing Wenger, Fabregas, Reyes and Henry to name a few - will be made to look foolish. 2-0 to The Blues.
It should've been 2-0! ;-)
My confidence wasn't misplaced. The ridiculous Blues fans who started to question the team and manager after one poor performance against Wigan must feel silly now.
I thought we did a great, professional job on the continuing one-dimensional play of Airline FC. Will Arsene Wenger ever realise his style of play won't beat the teams with great defences - or the teams that decide to put 11 men behind the ball and defend for 90 minutes (Bolton last season springs to mind)? Le Professeur my Arse!
Unsurprisingly I have a hangover.