Chelsea Vs Arsenal Super clash

Goal · 03-21-2008, 03:41 PM

Giants of English football have shown too much respect for each other on the pitch and they cancel each other out.

But every time I commentate on Grand Slam Sunday I just keep thinking 'this might be the weekend where they just unleash themselves and go at it'.

The potential is there for us to be in for a treat and I for one won't be disappointed whatever the games are like because they'll be proper football matches - and I can't wait.

But it wouldn't surprise me if come Monday morning we are in the same position as we are at the moment as, like Sir Alex, I can see this title race going to the wire.

Having led three times at White Hart Lane in midweek, it will have been a real blow for Chelsea to drop two points heading into another crucial London derby with Arsenal.

The defending was very un-Chelsea like; they don't usually concede goals from set-pieces and defend as poorly as they did on Wednesday night.

I was really surprised with that, especially when I kept hearing that they were in the lead while I was commentating on the Man Utd-Bolton match.

Each time I heard they were in front I just expected them to go on and win the game.

Question marks

Until Chelsea start to win big games under Avram Grant there will always be question marks hanging over him. He has lost massive games against Man Utd and Arsenal away, and drew against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the League.

He also lost the Carling Cup Final and was knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

A draw at Tottenham is not a bad result, but having taken the lead so many times they should have won the game and questions will remain as to whether they can go on and win big games under Grant.

But they have a chance at Stamford Bridge, where they haven't lost for 60-odd games, so he has a great opportunity to put that record straight.

For Chelsea in many ways it's very much in their own hands. Unlike the other three of the top four, five of their last eight matches are at home where they have that amazing record.

Two of those matches are against Manchester United and, of course, Arsenal on Sunday. If they get six points from those two games it puts a completely different complexion on the title race.

Bad spell

This is not the stage of the season where you want to be drawing four matches in a row, but every team has a bad spell at some point in a season and it just happens to be now for Arsenal.

I haven't seen anything in those four matches that suggests that they are not creating goalscoring opportunities.

If I was Arsene Wenger I would worry if Arsenal were not creating anything, but they have had chances in all four of those games and with better finishing - and a slice of luck - they could have picked up more points.

They have a bit of last-season-syndrome at the moment where they are missing a lot of chances. But I just think that it's against the big teams that Arsenal come to the fore because Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool will attack them and then they can pick them off.

They are much better suited playing against teams that have a go at them.

I think Arsenal have a problem against the likes of Wigan, Birmingham and Middlesbrough who pack their defence, make life hard for them, ride their luck and then pick their pocket on the break.

I think this type of match suits Arsenal although it won't be easy beating Chelsea on their own patch - not many teams do.

Gallas

Wenger seems to be quite happy with William Gallas but his attitude hasn't been my cup of tea. I thought his behaviour at Birmingham was not befitting of a captain. Certainly if I was one of his team-mates I wouldn't have been happy with him.

Passionate or not, that's not the way to go about it in a team with so many young heads.

I can see why he has felt so upset at losing crucial points at such a vital stage in the season as Gallas is the one of the few players in the squad who know what it is like to win a title.

So maybe Gallas has felt too much pressure as the one that the boys look at to come up with the answers, I don't know...

He is volatile, he is emotional; he wears his heart on his sleeve, but now is the time for calm heads.

03-21-2008, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Goal Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 51,195	Chelsea Vs Arsenal Super clash Giants of English football have shown too much respect for each other on the pitch and they cancel each other out. But every time I commentate on Grand Slam Sunday I just keep thinking 'this might be the weekend where they just unleash themselves and go at it'. The potential is there for us to be in for a treat and I for one won't be disappointed whatever the games are like because they'll be proper football matches - and I can't wait. But it wouldn't surprise me if come Monday morning we are in the same position as we are at the moment as, like Sir Alex, I can see this title race going to the wire. Having led three times at White Hart Lane in midweek, it will have been a real blow for Chelsea to drop two points heading into another crucial London derby with Arsenal. The defending was very un-Chelsea like; they don't usually concede goals from set-pieces and defend as poorly as they did on Wednesday night. I was really surprised with that, especially when I kept hearing that they were in the lead while I was commentating on the Man Utd-Bolton match. Each time I heard they were in front I just expected them to go on and win the game. Question marks Until Chelsea start to win big games under Avram Grant there will always be question marks hanging over him. He has lost massive games against Man Utd and Arsenal away, and drew against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the League. He also lost the Carling Cup Final and was knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley. A draw at Tottenham is not a bad result, but having taken the lead so many times they should have won the game and questions will remain as to whether they can go on and win big games under Grant. But they have a chance at Stamford Bridge, where they haven't lost for 60-odd games, so he has a great opportunity to put that record straight. For Chelsea in many ways it's very much in their own hands. Unlike the other three of the top four, five of their last eight matches are at home where they have that amazing record. Two of those matches are against Manchester United and, of course, Arsenal on Sunday. If they get six points from those two games it puts a completely different complexion on the title race. Bad spell This is not the stage of the season where you want to be drawing four matches in a row, but every team has a bad spell at some point in a season and it just happens to be now for Arsenal. I haven't seen anything in those four matches that suggests that they are not creating goalscoring opportunities. If I was Arsene Wenger I would worry if Arsenal were not creating anything, but they have had chances in all four of those games and with better finishing - and a slice of luck - they could have picked up more points. They have a bit of last-season-syndrome at the moment where they are missing a lot of chances. But I just think that it's against the big teams that Arsenal come to the fore because Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool will attack them and then they can pick them off. They are much better suited playing against teams that have a go at them. I think Arsenal have a problem against the likes of Wigan, Birmingham and Middlesbrough who pack their defence, make life hard for them, ride their luck and then pick their pocket on the break. I think this type of match suits Arsenal although it won't be easy beating Chelsea on their own patch - not many teams do. Gallas Wenger seems to be quite happy with William Gallas but his attitude hasn't been my cup of tea. I thought his behaviour at Birmingham was not befitting of a captain. Certainly if I was one of his team-mates I wouldn't have been happy with him. Passionate or not, that's not the way to go about it in a team with so many young heads. I can see why he has felt so upset at losing crucial points at such a vital stage in the season as Gallas is the one of the few players in the squad who know what it is like to win a title. So maybe Gallas has felt too much pressure as the one that the boys look at to come up with the answers, I don't know... He is volatile, he is emotional; he wears his heart on his sleeve, but now is the time for calm heads.