Arsenal v Chelsea 8 Observations

TotalArsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea

Eight oobservations from a convincing win:

  1. Arteta seems to want to stick with 4-2-3-1 this season. However, Granit is pushed up to often play alongside the Ode instead of Partey. Xhaka’s speed of thinking and accurate passing seems to really help him to be effective just outside the opposition’s box.
  2. The movement of Saka, Martinelli, Gab Jesus and the Ode is a joy to watch. They totally bamboozled the sorry Chavs and two great goals in the first half were the direct consequence of this. Saka was just such a threat even when he wasn’t at his very best after being kicked on a number of occasions early on in the game. Martinelli was full of tricks and played a beautiful pass for the Ode’s goal. Jesus scored a Dennis goal. We are unpredictable in attack and that’s the best guarantee for goals this season.
  3. Zinchenko looked at home straight away, and with a clean sheet for his first game he can be very happy with his debut.
  4. Saliba is Class and we are lucky to have him back. The combo of Saliba and Gabriel looks assured. Now Arteta has options and playing White wide is one of them. I thought Ben had a good game defensively and his attacking play is of course a work in progress.
  5. One of my questions is whether White and Saliba can play centre defence if and when Big Gab is unavailable. If so our defence is sorted this season with good cover everywhere.
  6. Midfield is sorted too and I doubt whether we will get anybody else this summer. Let’s give Elneny and AMN the back up for Partey positions rather than spend tons on Tielemans. Furthermore, the Zench and Sambi can compete with Xhaka. The Ode, ESR and Vieira are good for the ‘nr10’ position.
  7. We are still a bit too light in attack. One or two injuries to the likes of Saka and Jesus and we will be in trouble. Martinelli still struggles with getting goals and Eddie is also a work in progress. If we can get one more quality 10-15 PL goals a season attacker, Arsenal will be going places. After the Chavs game who would not want to play for the Arsenal?! Time for a Dutchman in attack at Arsenal, and there is one at Barcelona who would fit the bill. 😉
  8. But the most exciting point of all is that we are on a journey to Artetaland and he has a travel plan. Hopefully more and more Gooners will realise this now. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

By TotalArsenal

33 thoughts on “Arsenal v Chelsea 8 Observations”

  • No.4, I can’t recall Chelsea creating anything down our right when Ben White was on the pitch, it’s great having so many quality defenders, problems like that are only experienced by Man City and Liverpool which is exactly the company we want to keep.

  • No.3, at a stroke Edu has solved the Tierney conundrum and the Xhaka at left back issue, Zinchenko just fits like a hand into the Arteta glove, I’m so glad we got him instead of Martinez given the Argentinians reputation of being the Butcher of Amsterdam.

    Can you imagine what the current crop of Riley approved officials would have made of a butcher joining us and what they would have done to him whilst in an Arsenal shirt?

  • Total, it’s very easy to get caught up in the media Schlick about Chelsea after we demolished them, they’re still a very dangerous team with a top manager it’s not all about new signings for them it was about how our defence gave them virtually zero opportunities and that bodes well for the new season.

    We’ve had so many bang average and temperamental defenders in recent years it’s easy to forget what a well drilled and organised back four looks like.

  • Good point about Martinez and refereees, Kev. I don’t think the nickname is correct tbh but such things would work against us indeed. Manure paid far too much for him, but that’s what they seem to have to do to attract players to the toilet bowl at the moment

  • We really have got a squad to achieve good things. Why not challenge for the Title!
    Zinchenko & Jesus have not joined us to achieve 4th place.i read many blogs but no one wants to suggest it.
    My only concern is right back, Tomi needs some competition and cover.
    Our forward youths of; Smith Rowe, Saka & Martinelli are on for super seasons. I really feel we need to dream high.
    This is going to be an amazing season.

  • Great stuff R07. I don’t think we can go for the title as especially Citeh are v hard to beat over 38 games. Especially in attack we will need a bit more to cover for absences…. But the TW is still wide open. 🙂

  • Agree we need another attacker to add goals when if and when our main starters need rest or are injured – and that defensively we’re looking strong for the first time in such a long time

    Disagree on midfield though, Partey is susceptible to injury and Xhaka to a rush of blood, I would love to add Tielemens to the midfield mix

    We can’t guarantee how successful we’ll be next season but I’m really liking the players we have…the attitude, talent and the apparent team ethos

    I can really say I’m looking forward to the start of the season….COYG!!!

  • Cheers PJG,

    Xhaka has matured a lot so I am less worried about a rush of blood as you call it. Zinchenko will be excellent cover.

    Partey is indeed injury prone and I would not mind to get Tielemans. But AMN and Elneny should be able to provide decent cover. My biggest worry is attack.

    Like you I feel positive about the season. Its going to be a gem of a journey.

  • It is a relief to see that Saliba has fitted right in and all agree he looked class. Both Saliba and White (along with Holding) are right sided CBs so, unless one of them is two footed, we may not be seeing a White-Saliba combo at CB (maybe, in an injury crisis). We are more likely to see Tierney or Xhaka covering Gabriel.

    Saka is a handful on his day and has become a very important part of our more successful offensive play. The burden on him to perform may be too much for his young shoulders. It will serve us well to sign a reliable back-up for him to share the load. Of course, Arteta may have other intentions to cover for incidentals as an injury to Saka. Towards the end of last season, he looked like he could use a rest.

    All in all, it promises to be a great season ahead so, we should enjoy the ride.

  • It is a relief to see that Saliba has fitted right in and all agree he looked class. Both Saliba and White (along with Holding) are right sided CBs so, unless one of them is two footed, we may not be seeing a White-Saliba combo at CB (maybe, in an injury crisis). We are more likely to see Tierney or Xhaka covering Gabriel.

    Saka is a handful on his day and has become a very important part of our more successful offensive play. The burden on him to perform may be too much for his young shoulders. It will serve us well to sign a reliable back-up for him to share the load. Of course, Arteta may have other intentions to cover for incidentals as an injury to Saka. Towards the end of last season, he looked like he could use a rest.

    All in all, it promises to be a great season ahead so, we should enjoy the ride.

  • WordPress now recognize me as “Anonymous”. Something just changed suddenly, as I prepared to post……
    Goonereris.

  • Yeah, in the (virtual) flesh😀. Nelson can grow into the role but won’t be a like for like cover, initially. I have not really seen Vieira play so not sure what his style is.

    A left centre back doesn’t have to have a great left foot but it helps. Plus, Arteta makes a big deal of that “balance” thing.

  • Eris,

    Saka is world class for his age. We cannot have like for like cover for Bukayo I think. Those players are rare and very expensive, and certainly they want to play all the time.

    I need to see Vieira too but he may fit the bill (attacking mid, dribbler, left footed, scored easily…)

  • Although a natural left footed backup cb would be ideal Im sure Will can play alongside White if needed. Sure that is a better option than Xhaka/Mari against a strong opposition (top6), although a Mari-type could cover in a game we’re supposed to dominate. Maybe even Xhaka but Im not confident in him in the back4, he should be in the 11, but not as a defender.

    We are building an amazing squad.
    We should be able to rotate and hopefully keep players fit.
    This will be a special season!!
    Think the most sensitive parts to a great season would be long time abscence from any of those five:
    1.Partey, 2. Ramsdale, 3. Jesus. 4. Big Gab. 5. Saka.

  • Cheers HCM, interesting pick of players at the end. They would all leave a hole but I am most worried about attack. We need a bit extra there.

  • TA…..there is the eternally and perpetually rising threat of serious, long-term injuries, the loss of form of one or two of our key players, the lacklustre and occasionally downright incompetent officiating,the mid-season downturn that seems to happen each year around Xmas, the WC in November which could potentially upset our rythmn, etc. but for all that, what I saw against Chelsea was impressive. Jesus is the best aquisition since Henry and the kids are developping so rapidly that this season promises to be a breakout year for a number of them. Exciting times one way or the other.

  • Xhaka just getting better and better under Arteta. I think he’s enjoying playing more too.

  • If anybody didn’t catch a good stream, it’s free to watch on Chelsea official website.

  • Ta, iam torn between strengthening the last pieces in the jigsaw. In an ideal world I would love we get a DM and a wide right as a backup to saka. The scars of last year when Partey broken down are too much to neglect. Elneny could do a job there against 15 PL teams but when it comes to the top 5 teams he may be found wanting. In the similar vein we do have Marqinous as backup for Saka but since it’s his first gig in Pl and being so young it’s a gamble. Apart from these two positions other areas are well stocked barring the usual Arsenal luck with Injuries.
    The key is to make sure that the 5 sub option is utilised every match to reduce the load on high intensity players like the forward line and Partey.
    Got to say iam loving xhaka in his new left sided 8 role. Against Chelsea he had two goal contributions and was playing high near Chelseas box. I suspect his descipline has improved from the second half of last season when we was moved upfield. Since he has moved away from the second pivot he hasn’t had a red card and may it continue for the complete season this year.
    Exciting times ahead and looks like we will be ready for CP in 12 days time.

  • Madhu, I understand that that might be the lamest argument ever, but what would we do in the next 2-3 (summer) transfer windows, if – after sorting out all actual problems – we start to sort out the back-up and contingency problems?

    We have a squad now, where only 10 players are above 26. It might sound a lot, but out of those 10 Pepe, Bellerin, Mari, Rúnarsson and Leno are all expected to leave. Out of the remaining 5 (“planned seniors”) we have Turner, whose GK role shouldn’t be affected by age, Cedric, who is a utility full back with a calming presence in the dressing room, and 3 CM/DMs who are contracted us till 2024-25, and are indeed vital part of the system.
    So I think we shouldn’t reinvent our entire midfield, but implement a plan of 2-3 years that would mix the maturity of our young central midfielders (Lokonga, Azeez, Patino, Salah-Eddine) and external hires, and execute a conscious succession without demoting Partey to the cup games.

  • TA only issue that i see is with Partey’s role and since its so specific. The fact that last season we didn’t integrate Elneny or Sambi into that role meant that we broke Partey. Once he was broken, we didn’t have a natural successor and ended up losing 3 in a row until Arteta tried Elneny in that role. If this season, Partey is rotated adequately with Elneny/Sambi/Xhaka or anyone else who Arteta thinks can fill Partey’s role, then we will be in a better position in the eventuality. We have 5 subs and 1 sub in every game should be for Partey.

  • pbarany – The issue that i have is to decide on the backup for Partey and just make sure that we use these backups regularly and not wait for the inevitable breakdown of Partey. We keep the backups warm and then it wouldn’t such a big change when the inevitable happens. Other than this position, we are covered in other positions.

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