Arsenal vs Chelsea: A needed springboard opportunity for both managers

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Unai Emery is now well and truly out of the Christmas crush. Arsenal have problems, they’ve been well documented this week, the only way out is world class thinking and a new approach to issues that have haunted us all season.

We go up against Chelsea, a team also in transition, a team that boasts a batch of issues not to disimilar to some of ours in the past.

They are creating chances, but they can’t finish. Midfield isn’t offering many goals and worryingly for them, it’s not offering up much in the way of fight. Jorginho is a passing machine, but his style isn’t producing enough on the pitch. Morata has been a total flop, Giroud is working hard to make shooting seem like a mainstream idea he’d like to eradicate. You’d imagine if we combined the two squads, there’d be something special there.

They need an away win, but it’s far from a cut and shut case like it has felt in the past (even though we had a good record against Conte).

The question for Emery is how does he want to play? Chelsea are good in posession and if we go toe-to-toe we could find ourselves on the back of a spanking. Chelsea have struggled against teams that pack the midfield and defence. They don’t have a striker, so finding openings is tough for them.

Our issues are the opposite of Sarri’s. We’re creating fuck all, but we have two electric strikers who can finish from anywhere. We lack width, Chelsea have great wide players.

My worry tomorrow is Hazard is always a disaster for us. One of the best in the business against an appalling defensive unit. The other player we might have to watch out for his Hudson-Odoi, who had a good preseason against us. The wantaway English wideman has a point to prove, he’s fast, direct and he will be licking his lips at the though of terrorising us today.

We have some secret weapons that could spice things up. We can call upon Mesut Ozil, who is always good after an extended holiday (Leicester springs to mind) and he had a fucking blinder against Chelsea in the league cup last season. We can also use Aaron Ramsey if we fancy. The great thing about these two players is they are both incredibly fresh. Which other teams in the top 4 have two of their best players August ready? None. We need to make something work.

The defence needs to be tight tomorrow, we need to play with discipline and the manager needs to pick a team that can stand the test of 60 minutes without a change.

I’d really like to see a plan tomorrow. This cannot be a rerun of the Liverpool game. The players didn’t believe they’d come out of that game alive, it’ll be very interesting to see how they’re feeling about tomorrow. This game will be a good indication of how the rest of this season plays out.

If we lose, we’re doomed to 6th. I’d suggest that Emery takes a new approach. Test out the kids, see how good they are, allow us to make better bets in the summer.

Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments you bastards x

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Batistuta

a big fat lil to those thinking Big Higuain makes this Chelsea team a better one

BacaryisGod

Absolutely gutted for Bellerin. He was looking outstanding for us in a back four. Just a massive difference having him there. I’m an AMN admirer but there’s a big difference between Hector and the next best RB option.

Batistuta

Have to say though, Jorginho is quite an underwhelming player….makes more sideways passes than Arteta

Batistuta

Surely he should play Hudson-Odoi over Pedro a bit more, have to say Chelsea with that squad have been a little underwhelming this season and Kovacic and Jorginho are just side ways passing Merchants, surely Barkely should play more and that whole Kante out wide nonsense all season is stupid too……Can’t see Sarri staying there for too long too

Thomas

“Just goes to show, the squad is good enough”

___

Lol at this. The squad is painfully average. About half of them should fuck off. £500million rebuilding job.

Charlie George

Lampard at Chelsea next season ?
OGS at Man Utd next season.
Arteta at Arsenal next season??

Batistuta

God no to that Arteta to Arsenal nonsense…even legends of the game like Seedorf and Gerrad and Henry and Viera are cutting their teeth elsewhere first

Batistuta

Patrick Kluivert has to take the Cameroon national team job to get even better experience at the whole coaching thing yet certain Arsenal fans keep thinking we should let a rookie take over at a club as dysfunctional as ours

Radio Raheem

Despite his limitations you can see why successive managers at Arsenal continuously play Xhaka. Shame many remain oblivious to it.

John T.

Big Win, best game so far this season. Big loss with Bellerin out.

bennydevito

League position doesn’t lie.

Correct. So being above Man Utd and only 3 points below Chelsea considering the money they’ve spent in the last 5 years or so means our squad can t be that bad.

With the right investment in key positions we should be capable of making top 4 within the next 2 seasons.

Receding Hairline

Xhaka has to be one of the most robust players to ever play for Arsenal

Dude just doesn’t do injuries

Pedro was on record on how we need a few transfer windows to get the squad balanced, now the squad is good enough.. Good enough for what exactly?

Chika

Bellerin’s injury is a big blow, clearly one of the most important players in the way we play.

Solid performance by the team today. Hopefully, we welcome 1 or 2 signings for the extra push.

Dissenter

Was it rustiness or was Elneny that bad?

Goonah

Xhaka may be THE fittest player in the world. Is that a good or bad thing for Arsenal considering his limitations?

Carts

much needed 3 points this evening, feels more like a short term reaction from the lads

Let’s see how we go into our next game

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Bel has snapped his CL .. apparently…

Is that a career ended .?

Cesc Appeal

It may be able to push for top 4 but it is the worst of the top 6.

Danny

“Don’t forget Jenkinson, he is with us he played some matches and if we need he is okay to help us.”
Emery taking the piss……….

Marko

… and yes, the squad is good enough to compete for top 4.

And yet it continues to be in 5th/6th place

Charlie George

100 per cent squad is good enough for top 4
The trio of laca/PEA/ Rambo
Will propel us there if Emery doesn’t interfere.
And an athletic right back is signed…..now a matter of urgency…

Miki / ozil/ on the fringes too.

Anyone who says it’s not achievable… are wrong!

Sid

Batiatita Patrick Kluivert has to take the Cameroon national team job to get even better experience at the whole coaching thing yet certain Arsenal fans keep thinking we should let a rookie take over at a club as dysfunctional as ours This ⬆️ It’s hilarious how there has been no posts from the usual emery is ahir brigade, ever since we started the match. Pedro Emery for ever ounce out of the players today, and suddenly this is a good enough squad? This kind of leg work can’t last when we start playing 2 in a week. And good enough… Read more »

Wenker-wanger

Terrible shame for bellerin…he was just beginning to get that arsenal grit….(pre-wenger of course). Good team performance from us…auba and laca tackling back…it’s this type of effort that could push a good team into fourth..
Chelsea are rotting under sari…a style a bit incompatible without a good number 9.
Emery apparently worked the players all week on a pressing and defensive focus…how it paid off….like keown said…give this manager more time….he’s doing a great job. And for me he certainly is.

Negation

Woooooooooooooooooooooooo! What a satisfying win. My brother won’t speak to me for a few months but that’s his funeral.

I really don’t hate Ozil, but I’m pretty sure a few people thought a victory wouldn’t happen without the German. Anyway……If Auba can stay working as hard as Laca does, and Lucas stays fit, and if Bella is back asap….I’ll wait for out next away game before speaking.

Sid

Charlie George

too.Anyone who says it’s not achievable… are wrong!

And I say you are wrong….that’s the thing about opinions, you see.

The 1st 11 don’t make a squad. Once the Europa fixtures start again we are woefully short of quality all over the pitch to make effective rotations. This in turn would lead to burnouts, injuries and overall slower pace of play.

To clear all the deadwood and build a proper squad would take atleast 2 more transfer windows.

So again, I think you assertion is wrong

Cesc Appeal

That win had little to do with squad quality and more to do with the tactical approach and work rate of the players. We actually didn’t play that well aside from spells in the first half, but we were highly organised and workmen like. The role that Emery got Bellerin and Torreira on one side and Kolasinac and Guendouzi on the other side to play was brilliant and stifled Chelsea. There’s a lot of fair criticisms to be made of Emery but he completely outfoxed Pochettino when Spurs visited and he did the same today to Sarri. Those were not… Read more »

Wenker-wanger

I’ve heard some idiots on here saying sokratis would shine for the dog and duck….what????
He is a good solid defender and has attitude….the real surprise was koscienly today..I thought he’d lost it…finished at the top level…but what an intelligent display from him….no mistakes…good reading of the opposition attack passes…..outstanding.
Ramsey shouldve stayed…..he fits very well into this team…he’s like a vital part……but he won’t be sorry to split with a club owned by an unambitous board and owner.

Negation

I agree Cesc

Champagne charlie

Seems Emery can only win with some Arsenal fans on here, no accountability at all.

We lose against fodder or play shit and it’s ‘the players are crap’, we beat Chelsea at home and when someone says the players can’t be that bad the response is that the game was won by Emery’s tactics.

So quick question, what stops Emery’s tactics shining through against West Ham, Liverpool etc?

Funny bunch.

Emiratesstroller

Returned from today’s game elated by result, but concerned by what is clearly a serious injury to Bellerin. The team played well in the first half and might have scored 4 goals with better luck. We had a lot of chances. Chelsea dominated second half, but struggled to put the ball in the net. They need urgently Higuain. I don’t know if it came across clearly on tv, but the atmosphere in stadium in first half was as good as I have seen it in the last 10 years. The stadium was rocking after second goal. One point I would… Read more »

Charlie George

Sid

We should ditch that Europa Cup garbage.
And focus on the League.
Europa cup football is atrocious.
It’s farcical, a money laundering scheme.

We have two 50 million centre forwards.
If they play every game they will score goals.
Goals = points.

Unfortunately my fear is Emery will undermine this by needless tinkering.

Laca will leave – if this continues.
His goal today was absolutely poetry.

RodneyKing

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has claimed Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were afforded more luxuries than him in the Premier League, highlighting the backing they have received in the transfer market. “For me it is more complicated as a manager as I don’t focus on the football itself, I have to focus also in what is to prepare the future,” Mourinho said on beIN Sports. “I think the future starts to be prepared with principles. That is more important than the football you watch and comment on. It is more important the culture you bring to the club,… Read more »

Wenker-wanger

Emery cannot win every game…pep lost a few on the spin…some commenters on here use the exact reverse arguments about him as they criticize Emery fans.
What we have with Emery is a 200% upgrade on the Mr Magoo Wenger……..we have tactics, we have clever substitutions.
I actually prefer to take notice of Rio,keown and wrighty in their praise of Emery, than the puerile Emery out-ers that invest this blog.

Champagne charlie

“And some of us want Emery to perform wonders with certain types who are clearly not good enough to get into the teams above and around us.“

No they don’t.

What some of us want is measurable progress from day one of the season, to the mid point, to the end, with scope for more in the future with the addition of for-purpose players.

Nobody expects miracles from Emery, just to be demonstrably better than Wenger with a clear view of the future.

Leedsgunner

Great win and a game to build on but we need to be consistent. A win against Chelsea is good but becomes pointless if we drop points to teams like Cardiff.

Plus we have Man United next and Man City after Cardiff. We need to see continued progress not just one off brilliant performances.

Dissenter

CC
“What some of us want is measurable progress from day one of the season, to the mid point, to the end, with scope for more in the future with the addition of for-purpose players.”

Then you have to be willing to give him time to bring in his type of players. This squad in still largely Wenger’s in the way it was constructed.

Champagne charlie

Dissenter

Today started Leno, Sokratis, Guendouzi, and Torreira.

So 4 of 11 weren’t Wengers squad, and why shouldn’t Emery’s skills as manager be visible before ANY signings are made?

Absolutely redundant to claim this manager or that manager is better/worse if it’s simply about collecting a particular group of players.

Wenker-wanger

What many fans haven’t really digested yet is how Emery got those generally medium quality players to totally nullify Chelsea and in particular one of the best players in the world; Eden hazard.
This wasn’t Henry Vieira bergiamp etc…this was xhaka kolasinac, young guendouzi, etc….the result was principally about the solid coaching of a good tactician and motivator.
Emery is a good manager….time will tell if he can elevate our club back to the top of the league..given money…but for now he is doing a great job…

RodneyKing

“Nobody expects miracles from Emery, just to be demonstrably better than Wenger with a clear view of the future.”

To take a team of pussies and turn them into combative pressers – even if they’ve not done so consistently enough – in a half a season, is a small miracle in itself.

WengerEagle

Could be a crucial win for the future of the club going forward if we do push on and sneak 4th spot, you wouldn’t overly fancy us though with how strong United are now looking and with Chelsea still more than a win in front of us and adding Higuain up front who will make a difference if he is even still half of the player that he was for Napoli and Juventus. Gutted for Hector, flaws aside he is one of our most reliable and consistent performers. Looked a really bad one, possible ACL which is at the very… Read more »

Carts

Mourinho is having a laugh

He’s still salty that he was sacrificed as opposed to the best part of 5 players

Carts

WE

Definitely some positives to take from that game; a much needed reaction from the players

Someone mentioned the Utd game being a big one, next week, and I agree.

We very much need to maintain a similar focus.

WengerEagle

Dead right Carts lad, muppet spend 60 million plus on Lindelof and Bailly and was whingeing that the board wouldn’t back him to go in for ANOTHER CB, can hardly blame them given the form/struggles of the latter and the limitations/ineptitude of the former.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

What was lacs tweet

Dissenter

CC
Only Wenger will gather a squad with a wage bill of £240 million with no specialist winger. Emery doesn’t fancy the expensively paid AM that Wenger left behind.
It’s obvious that he want’s to play in a different manner and this squad isn’t suitable for that approach.

WengerEagle

Carts

The Cup has been very kind to us over the last few years with the Emirates ties you have to say.

Think all of our ties in 2013/14 were at home until the SF unless I am mistaken?

Yeah definitely a big one, both teams ought to be right up for it with their form and momentum possibly cancelling out our home advantage, real 50-50 on paper.

Marko

Seems Emery can only win with some Arsenal fans on here, no accountability at all.

You notice that we won right?

So quick question, what stops Emery’s tactics shining through against West Ham, Liverpool etc?

Consistency right… I mean if Xhaka played like that regularly we’d have a proper CM on our hands. If Koscielny played like today at Southampton we would have won. If the squad was more consistent it’d be a better squad

Un na naai

Wenger left behind a shit squad
Not emery’s fault
We can’t beat West Ham but we can beat chavs and spurs

This team is more than capable of a top four finish
If we don’t then it’s on emery.

Aubameyang is a passenger, lacazette is our best performer and our match winner

Un na naai

Marko

If he can get them to beat Chelsea and spurs then he can get them to beat West hamZ yes players take a certain amount of accountability but it ultimately falls to the manager
It did with Graham and Wenger and it does now

Un na naai

The role that Emery got Bellerin and Torreira on one side and Kolasinac and Guendouzi on the other side to play was brilliant and stifled Chelsea.There’s a lot of fair criticisms to be made of Emery but he completely outfoxed Pochettino when Spurs visited and he did the same today to Sarri. Those were not wins because Arsenal turned up that day. Ca I agree. It was emery’s win today. Which is why losing to shit sides is on him too If he can get the team playing like this then he needs to do it more frequently There’s no… Read more »

Un na naai

We

Higuain won’t make much of a difference in Chelsea at his age in this league joining in January
He’s no kanu

Batistuta

Utter delusion at best to think this is a top4 squad with so many deficiencies and now mounting injuries on top of a bare bank account to buy players.

Lot’s of you continue to show your agendas daily, can’t just help it

Champagne charlie

“Only Wenger will gather a squad with a wage bill of £240 million with no specialist winger. Emery doesn’t fancy the expensively paid AM that Wenger left behind. It’s obvious that he want’s to play in a different manner and this squad isn’t suitable for that approach.“ Absolute load of waffle. He could’ve insisted on a winger in the summer given his intensive knowledge of the squad. But beyond that, if you’re offering that up as a genuine reason for our lacklustre half to the season you’re not to be taken seriously. Then again your cheerleading has been clear all… Read more »

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Emery has started to turn us around, there will be ups n downs,
Give him time …

With players he may not want,,,

I think Lucas needs a lil break…

He showed signs of tiredness…

Marko

Absolutely redundant to claim this manager or that manager is better/worse if it’s simply about collecting a particular group of players

Pep better or worse than Pellegrini?

Un na naai

I really want to kick arsenal fans in the minge sometimes

We are shit. Our players are shit. Wenger left nothing but shit. Then we beat Chelsea and emery masterminded it. Which he did. But he takes zero responsibility for the shot show in the previous weeks?

Agenda driven nonsese. He will rightly take the plaudits today
He should rightly take criticism if we don’t make top 4
He’s proved today that it’s on him

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Pedro

What was lacs tweets you referred too.?

Champagne charlie

Un na

Exactly.

How can you claim the players are too shit for Emery to do anything when we drop a stinker vs West Ham, then turn around and praise Emery for a Chelsea win?

Picking and choosing to suit.

Marko

He could’ve insisted on a winger in the summer given his intensive knowledge of the squad 70 million to spend and we needed/still need serious squad turnover all over. I mean I don’t get what you’re doing now on a daily basis here you’re critical of Emery not getting more out of a poor squad but not of Wenger and the squad he assembled. This is literally a 5/6 place group of players and you’re expecting him to take it to what 3/4 place? After 6 months and 70 million? I would temper your expectations and criticisms a bit at… Read more »

Negation

No matter how unrealistic some demands are, I guess every one has the right to have expectations. Tonight though, I couldn’t care less; well done Arsenal, well done Emery

Marko

Pep better the pelligrini

How so? He didn’t improve them with the same group of players…so it doesn’t count or is hardly impressive…or something. I’m shocked they only improved after he made signings and replaced lesser players with better ones

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Cheers Pedro…

Ooh

Strange then that they hugged him annemery at the substitution…

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Part an parcel of the game no one is guaranteed90 minutes…

Dissenter

CC Nah, I’ve been sniping at Emery all day and a lot of the criticism directed at him about our poor defensive shape is somewhat valid. I’m more open to Emery criticism that you are of Wenger’s failings. I’ve never withheld criticism from any of the actors in the club. The problem is that you’re asking for improvement from the morass that set in over 5-10 years from day one. No one is asking that Emery be given the key to the Emirates for life, just time to fail or succeed. He could have asked for a winger you said?… Read more »

Un na naai

MarkoJanuary 19, 2019 20:28:28 Just goes to show, the squad is good enoughNice try it’s really not. They’re capable of that especially at home but over the course of a season and in pivotal away games they get found out. League position doesn’t lie Oh like coaching is fanciful?? You’ll regret that one fool So when wenger got a financially incompetent arsenal to finish second and third in an oil rich prem, it’s because the table doesn’t lie marko?? If emery finshes 5/6 this year and/or next it’s on him as the table doesn’t lie?? No grey area? No nuance??… Read more »

Sancho Monzorla

The difference in result from West Ham to Chelsea cannot simply be atttibuted to one man’s ability to manage a team. Individual lauding of Emery for the win today is short sighted as well.

It’s a collective responsibility from players to coaches to front office whether things go well or badly.

Marko

He should rightly take criticism if we don’t make top 4
He’s proved today that it’s on him

It’s a team that has finished 5/6 and he’s brought in Torreira, Sokratis and Leno to the starting 11… still not good enough still much work to do.

Charlie George

Laca is 25 years old.
He is popular
He scores goals.
He has a knack of scoring important goals against the bigger teams.
He acts in a classy way ( on and off the pitch)
If we are not trying to keep this type of player. It makes you wonder… where and what our aspirations are?

Why does Emery not give him more minutes to boost his already impressive goal tally?

I would imagine he is very very frustrated too with Emery.
Good coaches keep their best players on side.

‘This friction argument ” will backfire.

Dissenter

Un na
“But he takes zero responsibility for the shot show in the previous weeks?”

Not true my friend. Emery took responsibility for the loss unlike a certain man who was 100% sure of his job security.

Dissenter

Pedro
You said the sward was good enough earlier…and now it’s that he got more out of s poor squad tonight
Make up your mind about what size of nail you want to use on his coffin.

Charlie George

Apologies27

Charlie George

What we learned tonight is.
Emery is a better coach than Sarri.
No more no less.

Dissenter

**You said the squad was not good enough earlier

Dissenter

Charlie George
“What we learned tonight is.
Emery is a better coach than Sarri.
No more no less.”

Nope, we learned that Emery can best Sarri in ONE game.

Un na naai

Dissenter

He didn’t take the responsibility in Le grove I can assure you
Great tonight. Loved it. But it’s on him now if we can’t get champions league. No more hiding behind shit players. Which by the way, we have better squads than spurs United and Chavs bar one key player each
De Gea, hazard and Kane
Lacazette is clearly ours if he were given a proper chance he’d do what he did today and agaisnt spurs and agaisnt Liverpool 1-1

Marko

Emery fantatics are struggling tonight because the manager didn’t need £200m to tank Chelsea.

Not really just happy to be on the end of a win in a must win game. No real agenda behind it mate. We’ve been capable of those types of performances especially at home over the years but it’s on a consistent basis and away from home that you see the real Arsenal squad come through. Definitely not a proper top 4 team but you know this really

Carts

WE

Jose had 5 CBs at his disposal: Bailly, Lindelof, Rojo, Smalling & Jones but wanted to drop £75m on Maguire…mental

Fuck him anyway. Inter should come calling for him any minute now

Re: FAC/Utd

Agree with you on that

Un na naai

Charlie George
“What we learned tonight is.
Emery is a better coach than Sarri.
No more no less.”Nope, we learned that Emery can best Sarri in ONE game.

I don’t even know where to start with this

Negation

I’m appalled at the reasoning capability of some, but then again, I’d be the bigger fool if I expected intelligence and football to mesh perfectly. Robots surpassed binary reasoning years ago, but some of us are still determined to chill in that space. Good for you,

Sancho Monzorla

Geez. The effort given in trying to spin a compliment into criticism is astounding. Emery did well today. Why isn’t he doing it every day then? Cause he’s shit.

Even those who always argue for context seem to lose context when it suits them. It’s really never that simple.

Batistuta

Let’s boo our managers decision again to take Lacazette off which was the correct decision. Then let’s sing for Giroud to come on to try and score against us. After that let’s sing “you’ve bought it all” whilst then hating on Stan. Confused much 🤷🏼‍♂️

Dissenter

Un na
You believe that this one game proves Emery is better than Sarri?
Why don’t you entertain my ignorance and start from the beginning.

Marko

So when wenger got a financially incompetent arsenal to finish second and third in an oil rich prem, it’s because the table doesn’t lie marko?

We finished 5th and 6th place the last two seasons with pretty much the same squad.

If emery finshes 5/6 this year and/or next it’s on him as the table doesn’t lie??

A little. He inherited a 5/6 place squad and clearly needs time and money to address said squad. If he finishes 5/6 place next season he’ll be rightly off assuming that he’s got a better squad next season

Negation

Okay Pedro Trump. Build a wall around me, why don’t you?

I didn’t abuse anybody directly so where’s the problem?

I call out stupid logic, I’m sorry. Hopefully people meditate , or stop sucking on the nips of unimaginative pundits. Either way, it’s a useful service

Nelson

I think we have discovered a winning formula. In the first, we go all out pressing and try to get a lead. Obviously, we can’t do it for 90 minutes. In the second half, we’ll sit back and save energy but go for counter attack. Emery has the know how to press effectively. The future is looking bright again.

Charlie George

Un

If Sarri plays Moratta against us.
It’s a different game. As he always roasts us with his pace.

I don’t rate Emery .. but
He deserves credit tonight. For team selections and especially motivation
Didn’t like the double sub in the second half…. not needed.
Chelsea were there to be spanked.

If it was a choice of Emery as Arsenal coach or Sarri. I choose Emery.

The reasons these 2 will fail. Is they over complicate.

What sarri has done with that Kante chap is quite criminal…..
Next week will be a cracking match up, mind..

OGS v Emery.

Sancho Monzorla

I mean. We are better than last year no? The pace of the top 4 teams for the first half has been pretty much unprecedented so being within shout is pretty good, all things considered. There’s been a couple of signature wins along with the rare lopsided embarrassment and occasional loss to lower sides, which is an issue but isn’t new. Everything isn’t going to get fixed immediately. The record and even more so the showings against the top 6, Anfield aside, has been much better so far. Am I being too kind in thinking this is an acceptable measure… Read more »

Cesc Appeal

I actually completely disagree with Pedro, he didn’t lean into the quality of his players today. You actually lean into the quality of your players when you play shitter teams. Those shit teams are going to tactic you, it’s harder for you to tactic them because most don’t have a hugely discernible play style and are going to create one around you. You know their players will give an extra 20% as well. Sure they might have a slow back line, weak in the air, slow CM or something you pick out, lack of width whatever, but I would still… Read more »