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Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
There are many occasions when managers criticise officials in an attempt to mask their side's shortcomings but Arsene Wenger's claim that Arsenal's defeat by Chelsea hinged on refereeing decisions smacked of desperation.
It is true that Andre Marriner's disallowing of Andrey Arshavin's second-half strike because of a foul by Eduardo on goalkeeper Petr Cech was contentious but the Frenchman's protests failed to mask the vast superiority the Blues enjoyed at Emirates Stadium.
Premature though it may be to consign Arsenal's title hopes to the scrapheap, Wenger set the parameters in which this defeat should be analysed with his bullish pre-match declaration that his side "should not be considered young any more" and that "their moment has come".
Against that backdrop, Arsenal failed in a most spectacular fashion and, bereft of Robin van Persie, there was painfully little prospect of the Gunners ever turning a preponderance of possession into a tangible return.
Most worringly for Wenger, the Dutchman's absence cannot solely explain the ineptitude that resulted in 55 per cent of the ball yielding just three shots in 90 minutes. It is a startling statistic given Arsenal's free-flowing form and their perfect home record prior to the recent defeat at Sunderland and, while also a testament to a hugely impressive Chelsea display, the Gunners had more than enough attacking talent on show to produce more.
Van Persie's understudy, Eduardo, failed his audition as leading man in comprehensive fashion, prompting his 57th-minute withdrawal, while the best his replacement Carlos Vela could muster was a half-hearted penalty claim.
Chelsea were left to expose the defensive frailty that was always in evidence, even during the Gunners' 14-match unbeaten run.
Injuries denied Wenger (left) the chance to field his strongest side but the overriding and seemingly annual feeling that Arsenal's squad does not match up against the best in the Premier League has surfaced again.
These are the concerns that the 60-year-old must address rather than focus his ire on perceived injustice.
"The score is a very unfair reflection of the game," said Wenger. "The turning point was the referee's decision, which personally I believe was not a serious decision, to disallow the goal.
"How can he see Eduardo kicking Cech when it was a Chelsea player who stops him from controlling the ball? It would have been a very important goal in this kind of game and that was a big mistake by the referee.
"The referees do not want video technology and it is difficult to understand why. Nobody knows why - maybe because they are scared to be intimidated and they are worried about being under pressure when looking at video replays."
Chelsea had already taken a firm grip on the game thanks in no small part to Ashley Cole, who shook off initial nerves amid predictable barracking from the home faithful to set up both first-half goals.
First Drogba expertly diverted a cross past a helpless Manuel Almunia before Thomas Vermaelen sliced Cole's cross into his own net four minutes later and Arsenal were irreparably undone.
Without Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas resembled an artist who has lost his muse and as the Gunners continued to falter, Drogba added a late third with a superbly struck free kick.
The Ivory Coast international has 10 goals in his last nine games against Arsenal and was irresistible at times, yet Wenger remained doubtful.
"Drogba is a great player," said Wenger. "Nobody can deny that. But you can't tell me that when he kicked the ball for the first goal he wanted it to go in like that.
"Chelsea can drop points and I'm convinced of that. Our title race has taken a big blow but before we speak about titles we have to win games."
The resources Carlo Ancelotti can call on were impressively underlined by his decision to leave Deco and Michael Ballack on the bench in favour of using Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel in a powerful central midfield with Joe Cole providing the incision. Defensively, the Blues were impregnable and everything is presently in place to secure the club's first League title since 2006 - on this evidence only injuries or the impending exodus to the African Cup of Nations can stop them.
"If you win 3-0 at Arsenal you have to do a good job," said Ancelotti. "In defensive positions we did that because all the players worked for the team.
"They worked to catch the ball in midfield and I think there is where we won the game. It is true that Arsenal kept the ball in the first half but we didn't concede an opportunity and when we had the possibility to make a counter attack, we did it very well.
"Our objective is to stay in all the competitions until the end of the season. Then after that, if we can win things, we will try to do it."
Reader views (18)
What a lot of drivel from the usual gooner suspects. You're finished as a top four team and you know it. All your spiteful bleatings just make us laugh.
And when did Chelsea get 8000 for a match?????? i remember the early 80's, us in the bottom 3 of the old second division, we had crowds of 18,000 not 8000.
I love to see the gooners cry, second best to Rottenham. nowhere near Chelsea.
- Kerry Trubee, Purley, 01/12/2009 15:09
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Terry - You still seem incapable of comprehending my comments, as usual. We will, of course, qualify for the Champions League and have had a reasonable season. We have reached the last 16 of the Champions League, are 4th in the Premiership with a home match against Bolton in hand, are in the last 8 of the Carling Cup (although I believe Man City's first team will prove to strong for our weakened squad). My comments in respect of acquisitions are based on the fact that in order to challenge the likes of Man U & Chelsea we need a top class keeper, at least one 6ft 3 inch centre back, a tall defensive midfield player & a top quality striker. We seem to have a large collection of smallish similar type of player... Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin & Fabregas.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 01/12/2009 12:27
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Fially some comments with sense - Arsene is in the biggest battle of his career - Top 4 may not happen - very interesting to see what if anything he does in the January Transfer window as if nothing improves soon think this could and should be his last year at the Gooners.
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 01/12/2009 11:47
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It seems something more contagious than swine flu is sweeping parts of north London - Wengerites - Symptoms are, detached from reality, hitting out at all around, living in the past, an inability see the obvious, and delving back to past fading glories. The bottom line is that Arsene inherited a suberb back four and keeper but has never replaced them. It's a mansgame and that is how Chelsea played it. Arsenal have no plan B when they come up against a team who out think them.
Jeff
- Jeff, London, 01/12/2009 01:13
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Rob the Gonner, where are you and your patronising comments when we need you.
Another season without silverware for the Whinging one and his French African 11, men against boys yesterday, still you might scrape into the Europa League if you are lucky, what will be this season's excuse? bad refs? pitches? negative tactics against his boys? we wait with baited breath!
Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.
- Terry, London, 30/11/2009 22:18
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Arsenal major sareholders are both billionaires too - the only difference is Roman invests in all areas of the club and you have put everything into your stadium at the expense of your side - Spurs could finish above you this season - you like Arsene seem to be talking about outside issues insead of concentrating on your own - world class strikers - 0 - world class midfielders - 1 - world class defenders - 0 - world class goalkeepers - 0 - truth is you like Arsene realise that the side is nowhere near a Championship winning level so all you can do is resort to petty tactics of complaining etc when the truth is you need players of a world class level if you are to win anything! Blues making history - Gunners are history!
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 30/11/2009 17:41
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Without the height of Bentner, Van Persie & Abu Diaby in our side, we were clearly overpowered by a physically strong Chelsea outfit. I would like to see Arsenal sign a top class keeper, 2 tall strong centre backs, a tall strong defensive midfielder & a tall centre forward. We seem to have too many small touch players at present, which look great on their day, but are not strong enough on a windy rainy November day.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 30/11/2009 17:10
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Last time Chelsea won 3-0 at Arsenal was 1969 - 40 years ago. In the 33 years between then and 2003 (when Abramavitch bought the club) Chelsea lost 17 out of 25 league matches at Highbury, and won only 2. The reason there were so few matches during that period can be explained by the 8 years Chelsea spent in the 2nd division after their 3 relegations.
My point is that without the Russian's financial doping, Chelsea are a two-bob, yo-yo club who, when they do manage to get in the top division, turn up at Arsenal for a regular spanking before scuttling back to west London to plan their relegation battle.
When the Russian gets bored with subsidising the club, Chelsea will return to their natural level. Their main ambition will go back to seeing if they can finish above QPR, and all the Rupert-come-latelys will find another bandwagon to hitch their hollow, meaningless lives to. Meanwhile Stamford bridge will return to hosting "crowds" of 8000, just like the good old days that the Ruperts know nothing about.
- Steve, London, 30/11/2009 16:42
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well what would you rather watch? a load of hefty giants heaving the ball hoping that a huge guy would get his foot in there somehow, or a team passing the ball playing football as it should be played. at least arsenal fans can enjoy the football, chelsea can only enjoy the power. I know which team I would pay money to watch!!
- Tony, london, 30/11/2009 16:35
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As well as chelsea played it was only Arsenal's 2nd team.
- Tony, Hove England, 30/11/2009 16:12
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There is no doubt the blue noses will win the premiership, but if they're as good as their blinkered supporters beleive, how come the mancs have won the last three titles. Even abramovitch has had to pull in the purse strings. poor soul, he's down to his last ten billions. How many players, other than terry have come through chelsea's ranks. This is their time, but it won't last.
As for the Gunners, who haven't got any money to talk about, wer'e not good enough and all supporters know that. The one galling thing is, the supporters have had the piss taken out of them for too long. Fabulous ground and supporters, but **** board of directors. I don't blame Arsene for one second for what's gone on, he's worked miracles.
Let's see abramovitch walk away from chelskie and all those overpaid posers follow him out of the door. they will not have a pot to **** in. Remember how much debt they were in before the ruskie came along and by the way blue noses, he's only lent the money he's spent.
- Ray Mummery, London England, 30/11/2009 16:10
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That's what we love about Wenger. Can't see what is right in front of him and carries on predictable pretty pretty, tippy tappy football. In Arsene we trust, dead right and you won't win anything that matters.
- Bluetooth, London, 30/11/2009 14:28
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Though not a chelsea fan I thought they were brilliant yesterday, as for the rest of us,we can only pray for a mini slip up by Chelsea between now and may to have any chance at all. Wenger really is becoming a pain in the bum, it really did look like boys against men at chelsea yesterday. Where Wenger saw all the injustice is beyond me.
- James Hennessy, Manchester England, 30/11/2009 13:46
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Where are all the Gooners today,as usual after a defeat they keep quiet.when they win,its amazing Wenger and his fab so called kids...they have no fight, no height and are NOT the real deal..
- Phil, berks, 30/11/2009 13:15
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I see Wenger is still blind. He didn't watch a replay of the rugby tackle on Anelka in the penalty box 4 or 5 times did he??
- Tojo, Hythe, Kent, 30/11/2009 12:48
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The last five seasons with AW have been dreadful. He doesn't know what he is doing any longer.
His latest gem was saying that he didn't need to replace Adebayor because he had Vela.
His time is up next May..........please!
- Harry Jones, Barnet, 30/11/2009 12:37
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When selling big players have consistently not replaced them with players of a high enough standard - there build up play yesterday was sometimes great but in the final third they have no one of top quality - is so rare for them as over they years they have had top draw strikers - Wright, Bergkamp, Henry, Adebayor but come on apart from Van Persie would any of there other options even come close to making it into any of their opponents first X1 - no way - come on Arsenal everyone knows what you need - STRIKERS!
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 30/11/2009 12:27
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Ancelotti is a humble person, whereas Wenger sounds like a resentful old man who just cannot see the 'wood from the trees'.
Wenger Quote:"Chelsea can drop points and I'm convinced of that. Our title race has taken a big blow but before we speak about titles we have to win games.
Even if Chelsea do drop points, who, in their right mind, believes Arsenal will be winning theirs. I fancy Tottenham and Man City to progress more in the second half of the season than Arsenal and will make the 'big four situation very uncomfortable for both Arsenal and Liverpool, and possibly Manchester United.
With the exception of Chelsea, this will be a taxing season for the supposed big four.
- Kevin, London, 30/11/2009 10:49
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