For once, I am not agreeing with Gary Neville’s main conclusion in his Daily Mail article titled: ‘A lack of belief is all that separates the London rivals’.
No doubt, I am not the only one who needed 24 hours of reflection and a bit of distance from football in general, to somehow overcome the unexpected setback of losing to the Chavs on Saturday.
Our disappointment is not so much in the fact that Arsenal lost to the Southern Oilers, but much more in the manner in which we did it. After the game on Saturday, the initial, overriding feeling for many Gooners was deflation: expectations had been high before the game, but circumstances conspired against us and Chelsea proved to be stronger than we thought they would be.
But who would have thought Arsenal would lose out to the Chavs by handing them not one, but two of the softest goals in such a crucial match? It was a big shock to the system and boy did it hurt.
However, on reflection – and I would like to apologise in advance for the use of so many clichés in a couple of sentences – there is every reason to treat this game as a bad day at the office. The key thing is to learn from our mistakes, and especially, to shake off that feeling of disappointment and brush it all away with a fantastic performance against Olympiakos on Wednesday. The show must go on, and there is no time, as Andrey Arshavin put it so beautifully once: ‘to indulge ourselves in melancholy and self-pity’.
Having watched the game again on Sunday evening – the first time I could bring myself to it – I can categorically say now that Arsenal might have lost the game, but at no point were we inferior to Chelsea.
In my post on Saturday, I highlighted the importance of winning the battle of midfield, and as expected, we started with Ramsey on the right in midfield, in order to give us more balance. Chelsea’s midfield of five: two deeper laying midfielders and three attacking midfielders, made life difficult for us. They successfully disturbed our passing game and did not allow us to dominate the midfield, and as such, it is fair to say they won the midfield battle.
However, and this is very important to emphasise, Arsenal was more successful than the Chavs in getting themselves in front of the Chelsea box. Diaby’s enforced departure was a blow, and who knows what would have happened if he had played the full 90 minutes. And although Ramsey was nowhere near as influential as the Frenchman had started to be, Arsenal still managed to get more often than them in promising positions throughout the game. Unfortunately, other than Gervinho, nobody had put their shooting boots on against the Chavs.
During the first half both teams were equal, but we had to chase the game once we gifted Chelsea the lead. After conceding an unnecessary free-kick – Vermaelen, our captain, did not set the right example this season once again – we conceded the softest of goals for which Koscielny was mainly, but not exclusively, to blame.
We had to chase the game after that, but gradually we worked hard towards a deserved equaliser. Gervinho’s movement, first touch and finish were of the highest order and, as a result, we were right back in the game again.
During the second half we started well, but another catalogue of mistakes in quick succession – first Arteta by losing the ball unnecessarily in midfield when Vermaelen had committed himself forward, then Vermaelen by being unable to stem the danger without conceding a free-kick, and finally by Koscielny and Mannone, and the rest of the team, for not dealing effectively with Mata’s innocuous-enough execution of it – let to our second gift to the Chavs.
In top-football a team will not get away with conceding two utterly self-inflicted goals like Arsenal did, and that alone is why we deserved to lose on Saturday.
But, once again, Arsenal managed to get to the Chelsea box on a number of occasions after that second blow, and we created enough opportunities to get at least a draw out of the game: both Cazorla and Giroud should have been more clinical with their chances. Chelsea was happy enough to play on the counter after our double gifts, and you cannot blame them for it.
I say it again though: at no point did the Chavs outplay us: never were we inferior, and although they had periods of dominance of the midfield, it was Arsenal who was the most effective in getting in and around the Chelsea box. It was much more a case of us losing the game than Chelsea winning it, and although this hurts badly initially, the good news is that we can improve significantly on defending set-pieces over the next few weeks. And I am convinced we will.
I have also no doubt that Mertesacker will be our first-choice CB from now on, with either Koscielny or TV as his partner. We cannot do without his discipline, and his ability to read the game and organise our defence – so much has become clear this weekend, if it was not already. He is the true leader in our defence and the sooner we recognise that the better.
As a football commentator and analyst I rate Gary Neville very highly, and he makes a lot of sense in his Daily Mail article about our game, but I don’t agree with him that we lacked something as lofty as ‘belief’ in our team’s ability to win something on Saturday.
What Arsenal lacked on the day was the earthly tangibles of Mertesacker’s ability to organise our defence and a pair of proper shooting boots for Cazorla, Giroud and the Ox. Luckily, it is all already there for us, and soon we will be back to winning ways.
Keep the faith fellow Gooners and bring on the Greeks!
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Morning, TA, 🙂
Another excellent analysis, which, after a time for reflection, brings out a much more rationale appraisal of the positives, without pretending that everything is perfect.
My own view is that we got a little carried away with our much better showing this season, to date, which ironically made us far more gung ho than was desirable. What do I mean by that?
It is often the case that when a team achieves a tremendous result like the one we had away to Man City, there is a rebound effect, where the opposite happens, and nothing really comes off in the way the team expected.
I mentioned, yesterday that we saw the ‘old’ Vermaelen reappear against Chelsea, with his cavalier attempt to galvanize our faltering attack, rather than let the manager sort it out. His job is defence – he must not forget that.
Unfortunately Kozzer was affected by TV’s attitude and he too went ‘walk about’ leaving his post in defence with the inevitable consequences.
There is also a secondary factor that needs to be taken into account, and it is a compliment to how others now see Arsenal and make tactical decisions to negate our system and our best players.
This can be seen by Cazzor being man marked by Oscar throughout the game, with a few sneaky trips, nudges and rank bad tackles being made on him.
In addition, it would not have gone unnoticed by the Chavs that we let in a poor set piece goal against Man Shitty, with a shabby piece of defending against an aerial cross. There can be no surprise then that Chelsea scored two similar sloppy goals from set piece crosses, altho both were beautifully kicked, especially Mata’s.
This match was a necessary smack in the face to make us revert to the sensible rock solid defending we have achieved prior to the Chav game, with everyone doing their own jobs, be it defending or attacking, and allowing the manager to make changes to personnel and/or tactics as the game develops rather than individual players taking it upon themselves.
I tink I agree with gary! The chavs as u call them are no better than the gooner, its just the chavs play wit determination and belief of winning the gooners although our shooting was poor but wit the right feeling the gooners would ve came out atleast wit a draw.
Hi Omozokpia 🙂
I just cannot believe that we did not have that belief against Chelsea: especially at home we have never lacked it. We had it in heaps against Liverpool and Man City away recently, so I don’t think mr Neville got this one right.
Thanks for commenting and feel free to comment again!
Morning RA, and thanks for another fine comment. 🙂
You said: ‘It is often the case that when a team achieves a tremendous result like the one we had away to Man City, there is a rebound effect, where the opposite happens, and nothing really comes off in the way the team expected.’
This so true, and is it just me or do Arsenal suffer from this disproportionately?
I hope, like you, that the game is indeed a wake-up call and will help us to focus on the basics again.
I have also reassessed my player ratings, and as you can read from my response to Rocky’s comment last night, I am more aligned with you now on your assessments of TV and the Corporal! 🙂
TA,
To be candid, I don’t often get into giving ratings of my own — I actually cannot remember doing it, simply because I think they are not a provable mathematical quotient, and are simply a person’s subjective assessment of a player’s performance at a specific time. [It’s the mathematician in me] 🙂
Conversely, I like reading other people’s opinions, expressed as ratings, as they in turn often influence and change my own personal assessments.
Ratings perform an important function in driving discussions on the overall game and the comparative performances of other players too, so please keep doing them!!! 🙂
In answer to your earlier question, we as a team, do seem to suffer disproportionately from the ‘rebound effect’ and this might just be a consequence of latent immaturity and will lessen as the team and individual players develop more, and our guys learn how to cope with both the euphoria of winning and the disappointment of defeat.
RA 🙂
You could well be right about a latent immaturity in our team, but we have so many experienced players now that this should be a thing of the past. I know it is all hindsight sort of thinking, but with both Szczesny and the Mert in our team, or even just one of them, it could all have been very different. Koz and TV came really short on Saturday and Mannone did not do that much wrong but Szczesny’s cocky presence was badly lacking.
Great post TA.
Though i agree with your analysis of the game i do feel there is validity in Neviles article. Nevile calls it lack of belief. So if this is correct, were does it stem from? I am of the opinion that this “intangible” is a result of inexperience and arrogance, that is required at the top level to push you over the line. Chelsea have just won the European Cup (the jammy gits) and have guys like Terry, Cole, and Chec in there side, ergo experience. I feel we are still lacking in this area, but our time will come.
Your premise that at no stage were we inferior is spot on and this is the main positive. For us to overtake the likes of Chelsea and City we must first reach parity. After that i expect us to be the Road Runner to there Wiley Coyte and leave them behind. Everything is good and how it should be and great times lie ahead.
Hi TA, great article, good to see you have not lost your touch!
However, I have to agree with Gary Neville (do you think he might be a closet Gunner?)
We were not inferior to Chelsea, no way, but they were dominating in areas such as team work, discipline, confidence. More than once I noticed our lads running like headless chickens, uncertain. Chelsea had 2 scumbags and Czech to give orders, we didn’t. Vermalean took things into his own hands, which resulted in even more chaos.
Hi Terry 🙂
thanks for a fine comment and I loved the Road Runner/ Wiley Coyote comparison!
I just cannot buy this thing about belief though:
a) we played with plenty of belief and confidence in two scarier games for us recently: Man City and Liverpool – in fact we bossed Liverpool in every aspect and Man City was given a proper, confident game all over the pitch;
b) we have a good track record against Chelsea over the last few years – no need to have no faith/belief
c) Chelsea got a present at the start of each half from which we had to recover each time. It could not have been easier for them. I just cannot believe we let those goals in as a result of a lack of belief/confidence/being scared of the Chavs. It was a case of bad discipline and organisation and we all know what we need to do to improve on that! 🙂
Hi Evonne 🙂
Good to see you went to the game and what a shame it was not a more pleasant experience for you. 😦
Agreed on your observations about their organisation and discipline and Vermaelen did not lead or organise our defence/team as we should expect of him.
Diaby’s injury was a big blow. Ramsey was doing well on the right and with Diaby and Arteta in the middle we could have kick some southern oilers arses. I did not think Ramsey did that badly in the first half and the Ox was ok as a winger, but we just did not manager to keep control of the midfield after Diaby’s departure. The game screamed out for Song or Wilshere to replace Diaby…. but one has left and the other is almost ready to get some first team footie again. Finger crossed JW10 is fully recovered now!
But despite all that, we gifted them the win by conceding two very soft goals and by not taking our chances. It was a painful defensive performance from set-pieces but we’ll get better at it! 🙂
TA – yep, we were extremely generous with those 3 points. 1 should be more than enough.
Never mind, lesson learnt and all that.
Diaby – like a flipping Pandora’s box; I am sure he occupies large chunks of Wenger’s waking time
A flipping Pandora’s box 😆
I could not have said it better. His position is possibly the most important one of the whole team. He is the bridge that closes the castle when needed and supplies the front troops with the oh-so-necessary attacking support. For that we need physical and mental strength and consistency on top of phenomenal football skills, and we all know he only really has one out of those three. What a shame. 😦
2 out of 3 ain’t bad, but only 1 is not quiet enough – shall we sell him 🙂
We have to hope, Evonne, that he will still come good this season. He could become back-up to Wilshere and/or Arteta, but if he is still more injured than available this year, we have no other choice than to let him go. Let’s keep an eye on Coquelin as well this year. He could benefit from Diaby’s misfortune…
Pandora’s Box? Eh?
Do you really find Diaby fills you with lust and violence?? Bloody hells bells!! 🙂
Especially as Pandora was very female. Poor old Diaby – et tu Brute? 😦
I suppose so. Szczesny became our No 1 goalie when Fabianski was injured
RA 🙂
What I like about you Total, among other many thing`s is, you are big enough too have a second look at something and re-evaluate your opinion/comment. Great honesty.
From reading lots of opinions on Saturdays game, it seems we weren`t outplayed. On another given day, given the stats we might have won.
So I think the important thing is the performance, it wasn`t that bad. The encouraging thing this year is we haven`t played realy bad in any of the League games, just the detail of out scoring the opposition !.
Stretch is right, as performance goes, they are looking over their shoulders at the moment with concern, their legs are wobbling and we`re going up a gear ( and coming fast up the rear 😆 ), another couple of laps and we`re be breaking the tape. 🙂
Congratulations on getting your own Blog, Total, it looks very classy, and I hope you have great success with it.
I’ve been buoyed by our early season especially last week at Man City.
I spent the whole of the week convinced we would beat Chelsea 2-0. It was probably a combination of over-estimating us and under-estimating Chelsea. Or maybe, even post Drogba, cosmetically we’ve changed, but in terms of the football, the status quo hasn’t changed.
I liken Arsenal to a wheel stuck in the mud, revolving at a furious rate to stay in the same place.
Always just a couple of players short of greatness, making profit again in the transfer market, making profit full stop. We’re a business brand first, football club second, and the whole philosophy
bores me.
Hi GLiC 🙂
We really were never outplayed but, to be honest, we also don’t know whether Chelsea would have had another gear if they had needed it. We could not have made the game easier for them by conceding super soft goals after 16 minutes in the first half and only 8 minutes in the second half. That was very painful but we will learn from it and get better! 🙂
Hi Herb 🙂
Many thanks for your visit and good to hear from you.
I totally agree with the over- and underestimating part of your comment. I really thought our defence would bounce back strongly from conceding that slopping goal against MC – instead things got a lot worse!!
The wheel stuck in the mud is a strong and worrying analogy, and I so hope we will hit some solid ground again soon. It is still early in the season and the key thing now is to get over the setback asap with good performances against Olympiakos and Fat Sam’s Hammers. The return of Sagna, JW and Rosicky could be the two or three players you are wishing for…
Hi Herbie Baby, allow me the pleasure of been the first person to disagree with you on “Bergkampesque”.
What is this “wheel stuck in the mud” business ? We are in the business to win big prizes and become the worlds best football team, yet you seem to think were some clueless Londoner stuck in some Norfolk cow dung.
Ive got my eye on you Herbie. hahaha
Hello Herb, 🙂
I have wondered where you had got to.
A little bit of Herb pragmatism doesn’t hurt! The debate about finances obviously still rankles with you, and there is no point discussing it in depth, again, I suppose.
The fact is that the club, in the persona of Arsene Wenger, have admitted that we cannot compete with the oil funded or Russian funded clubs when trying to buy players. He has gone further and said that if we want a top player we first have to sell a player.
In addition, at the moment, Arsenal have to make a profit on player dealings to break even.
I know you do not like those facts, but there is no pretense about it and that is the way the club management want to run their business and — it is a business.
Sorry, Herb, you have heard all this before, and you sometimes accept it — and sometimes you don’t! 🙂
Either way it is good to hear from you again, and I have no doubt you will hold true to your convictions, and why not? 🙂
Hi Terry,
you can disagree with me, it’s what football debate is about.
You don’t need to keep an eye on me, because I’m not blogging. I only visited quickly to wish Total luck with his new Blog.
Just as I got bored with brand Arsenal, I became disillusioned with blogger’s lack of basic manners, and some people’s need to turn football debating into nasty sniping.
Glicster and Terry, 🙂
The terrible duo are still keeping us amused.
Delighted to read ‘somewhere else’ that Glicster-minor-minor is doing well and will be down the pub having a pint and a burger in next to no time.
Bit worried about the Telescope Man declaring he has his eye on people – especially as he did not say which eye! 🙂
Herb,
There will be no nasty sniping on here, so come and have your say.
If I agree with you – I will say so. If I do not, it does not mean my opinion is any better than yours – just different – but I think you know that! 🙂
Hi Redders,
I respect intelligent people and you are definitely one of those.
There is absolutely no excuse for cyber-bullying or nasty name-calling, particularly when the topic of discussion is something we all profess to love, whatever our own personal take on it.
Is this yours and Total’s Blog?
Come off it Herb, you i know i love you. I just also happen to love disagreeing with you hahaha.I have always respected your views and courage to go against the flow.
it would be very sad if you stopped blogging because you are a true character. Like Redders said i dont think there will be any sniping on hear so keep posting. Dont force me to serenade you with Manilows greatest hits. hahaha
Herb,
This site is the love child of TA, and I am just an ordinary Joe blogger, just the same as you. 🙂
I know you have occasionally had a tough time blogging, but I think at least some of that has been chat which has been at cross purposes, which can sometimes descend into unnecessarily aggressive responses. That is a pity — and I think/hope it is in the past.
I am sure TA will not allow that type of chat.
Terry is a happy character and I pull his leg all the time, and I think he likes to pull yours too.
I don’t think he has an aggressive bone in his body, even the girls at bus stops pull his trousers down and pinch his fare home!! 🙂
Yes Herbylicious, keep blogging, If we all agreed, it would be boring. I know a couple might have had a less than curteous manner with you, but most only had a difference of opinion, which may I say, made entertaining reading. As stretch say`s, you must be admired for standing your ground.
You may get seranaded with Manilow, but that is nothing compared to the song`s me and Rolf`s brother Rough can come up with !. 😆
What is this, Redders a silent partner of Total`s ?,. That must be the most undecypherable silence ever ! . How we going to understand him when he`s silent ?, when we cant understand him when he talks !. 😆
Redders & Cornwall. hahahaha
I tell you what, this jumping from site to site is giving me vertigo. Just before responding to Herb i was having a chat with GN5 on AA and was just about to post a plea for him to keep blogging and that Manilows top 50 was ready for him. Dont know what he would have made off that? hahahaha
Stretch
I reckon GN5 and Herb are the split personalities of one person and there could be a few more hiding in there !. hahaha
Glic, 🙂
Have you noticed that when TA is on here, I am not. When I am on here he is not! Very spooky!! 🙂
Hi Terry,
please, NO Manilow!!!
I return the compliment, you are old-school Arsenal, with a great respect and reverence for our traditions and who we are. Your opinion on Arsenal is always a good read.
Thanks GliC, a truly inspired Gravatar. You and Terry’s comedy does make me laugh.
Glicster, I am not TA’s blog partner, silent or otherwise!!
Just showing solidarity for TA the Blog newbie. 🙂
Oddly enough I have been in a similar position before with a new Blog site start up, but I am just a common or garden blogger! 🙂
RA – TA, there is only an ‘s’ in between! 🙂
Hi Herb, please know you are always welcome here and I have always respected your views. For sure, we seldom fully agreed on the subject of debate, and sometimes I have been unnecessarily ‘spicy’ to you, but I have always had the utmost respect for you!
Redders/Total or shall I call you , ” The Thing “. Are you one of the multi-personalities of this person ? , I have to call you, “The Thing” as I dont know how many of you there are and who`s in charge ?.
Maybe all the bloggers on here and AA are one person, ” The Thing “. Thing is ( hahaha ), I dont know whether I`m part of ” The Thing” aswell ?. The only one who isn`t ” The Thing ” for sure is Terry, I know that because he`s , ” The Thong ” , ” The Thing`s” arch enemy !. hahahaha
Thanks HerbyThing. I too, like my gravatar, a mischievous mutt with a good heart, bit like me !. hahaha
Haha – this song so goes with Terry! 😆
I believe in miracles
Where’re you from,
you sexy thong, you
sexy thang you
I believe in miracles
hahaha Yes it does !
TERRY MANCINI HAIRY THONG hahaha
Glic the thing and Terry the thong. 🙂
I bet the pair of you can thing a thong of sixpence, a penny full of rye, four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
It’s a bit frightening to think that one day Glic could wear Terry’s thong and Terry could wear Glic’s thing. Yikes!!
Just a thong at twilight?
Here is a bit of poetry to further brighten the day: 🙂
Cupboard Love
Said the cockroach to the henroach
‘To this cupboard are you new?
Such a carapace, capacious, curvaceous, blacky-blue.
I think of polished leather
and my heart I give to you
Let us make our home together
In a lady’s dancing shoe’.
By Roger McGough.
TA, 🙂
Well with all the talk of captaincy, how about;
The Leader
I wanna be the leader
I wanna be the leader
Can I be the leader?
Can I? I can?
Promise? Promise?
Yippee I’m the leader
I’m the leader
OK what shall we do?
Well TV, it’s like this ……………………………. 🙂
hahaha Redders
We lost Song and now we`ve only got one Thong……………………and one Thing !
Stretch is right, this jumping from site to site is making me dizzy………………………Dizzy ….I`m so dizzy my Thing is spinning ………
Ok what shall we do….Big Fu Fu Fu Fabulous GerGerGerman friend of mine! 😆
Just you be careful, Glic!
If your thingy keeps spinning you could take off, and be shot down over RAF Davidstow as an offensive weapon!! 🙂
GLiC 😆
Quick Redders, back to AA, Rocky is asking have we lost you ?. It`s like switching from parallel universe`s !. hahaha
I thought this was both sweet and also sad.
It recounts Glic’s torrid time with thong. Have a read!! 🙂
Thong, we’ve ignored each other for a long time
and I’m strictly an indoor man
anytime you call would be the wrong time
I’ll avoid you as long as I can
When I was a boy we were good friends
I made pies out of you when you were wet
And in childhood’s remembered summer weather
We roughandtumbled together
We were very close
just you and me and the sun
the world a place for having fun
always so much to be done
But gradually I grew away from you
Of course you were still there
During my earliest sexcapades
When I roughandfumbled
Not very well after bedtime
But suddenly it was winter
And you seemed so cold and dirty
That I stayed indoors and acquired
A taste for girls’ clean clothes
Well that says it all really! Cold and dirty can’t be all bad, can it? 🙂
Redders
I lived in a village just below Davidstow called Tremail, I bought a one and a half acre building plot and built a nice house on it, made a tidy sum on it and moved here ten years ago. I used to run up on Davidstow. They have a museum up there now and the only aircraft you see now are micro-lights.
Nothing wrong with girls clothes especially when chasing myself around the house !. hahaha
You obviously think I am a Yankee pig dog spy, Glic, as you are plying me with secret info.
If MI5 are reading this I want you all to know that I am being framed — and anyway, I already know about your secret weapon, the flying Thong!!
If MI5 have to arrest someone, I hope they take Terry, not me, I am sure they can get him on telescope abuse or frame him for something!!
Damn, the Spooks have stuck me on a page on my own!!
I still here RA, but scared of the flying thongy thing! 🙂
This is an Ode to Terry — apparently! 🙂
Terry, of the Bloody Hand
In an immense wood in the south of Kent,
There lived a band of Gooners which caused the people discontent;
And the place they infested was called the Weald,
Where they robbed wayside travellers and left them drunk on the field.
Their leader was called Terry, of the Bloody Hand,
And so well skilled in telescope practice there’s few could him withstand;
And sometimes they robbed villages when nothing else could be gained,
In the year of 2012, when Glic the Terrible reigned.
The dress the Gooners wore was deep coloured red,
And in courage and evil deeds they didn’t lack;
And Terry of the Bloody Hand, called them his devils,
Because they were ever ready to perform all kinds of ills.
’Twas towards the close of a very stormy day,
When Rocky walked through the wood in search of Terry, without dismay;
And as the daylight faded he quickened his pace and ran,
Never suspecting that in his rear he was followed by a man.
We had better ask Terry what happened next!! 🙂
RA – Bloody brilliant! 🙂
Terry will be well proud with this personalised ode to him 🙂
Got to admit, TA, it was bastardized poem from McGonagall, well known as the worst Poet ever to have put pen to paper! 🙂
Enjoyed today! Hopefully back tomorrow.
Sorry I missed you RA – was cooking for the family. Thanks for today. 🙂