Kevin Whitcher
Rather foolishly, giving my occasional propensity to gamble on football, I neglected to back the two scorelines I suspected were the most likely outcome of yesterday’s London derby. I had the game down as a 0-0 or a 1-0 away victory. If nothing else, it demonstrates a belief here that when Jose Mourinho’s number one priority is a clean sheet for his side, more often than not, it will be achieved.
Yesterday, for Chelsea, the mission to accomplish was simply to ensure Arsenal did not win. If they won themselves, even better, and in fairness they did, on occasion, attempt to win the match, even if they started the game without a recognised forward on the pitch, Hazard and Oscar alternating in the role for the first 45 minutes.
The home side huffed and puffed, threatened occasionally, but clear chances were rarer than credible Arsenal title challenges after Easter in the last decade. Olivier Giroud, having played very well in the recent run since the home defeat to Monaco, was completely dominated by Chelsea’s centre backs. Good as Giroud is, he is not “top top quality” to quote his manager. Great squad man, but Arsenal do need to consider upgrading if they are to seriously compete next season. Against the best centre backs, he is generally found wanting.
Chelsea enjoyed the best chance to win the game when Ramires had just the keeper to beat in the first half. Arsenal came closest to scoring after the interval when Cazorla had clear sight of goal from the angle and near the death when Welbeck failed to control the ball when about three yards out. There were arguments for a Chelsea penalty a couple of times, but Michael Oliver – who refereed at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter final – declined them. Arsenal were probably a little fortunate there. The Cahill handball was worth an appeal, but if that had been given against Wenger’s team, I wouldn’t have been happy.
I was intrigued by the decision of Mourinho to withdraw Cesc Fabregas near the end. He had been frequently booed during the game in panto style. But the decision actually worked out quite well, as an initial crescendo of boos was overtaken by the majority of the stadium applauding the former Arsenal captain. It should always be remembered that Arsenal had first choice on him once it was decided he was leaving Barcelona. Arsene Wenger didn’t want him. His daughter and her mother lived in London while he was in Catalonia, so it was always likely he was going to return to the capital. He has always been respectful towards Arsenal, at least publicly, and I was heartened to see this reaction.
As for the individual that felt the need to shout out ‘Fabregas, you’re a c***’ during the minute’s silence for the Bradford fire disaster victims, there are enough CCTV cameras to identify this individual and the club should ban him from the stadium for life. Then again, this particular piece of lowlife scum is probably a form of pondlife so low it would have been able to slither under a turnstile rather than need a membership card to access the stadium. And we accuse Chelsea fans of having no class. It’s one thing to abuse Fabregas, quite another to take the opportunity in that particular context.
Back to the football, and the inability of Arsene Wenger to beat a Jose Mourinho side has grown into a rather large monkey on the Frenchman’s back. On the basis of yesterday, it appears to be one that is not going to go anywhere soon. The bottom line is that Wenger is a lesser manager than Mourinho, who knows what it takes to get results, to install a winner¹s mentality in his players and get them to do whatever it takes to win games. He also manages to set aside principle when needed.
I was told recently that Wenger was so appalled at the manner in which his team won the 2005 FA Cup Final that he determined in the future to ensure that his team did not play in such a fashion again, hence the tactics since the stadium move in which entertainment, rather than winning at all costs, has been to the fore. I take you back to St Andrews in late February 2008. The clock ticking down, Arsenal 2-1 up and Gael Clichy getting the ball deep in the left back position. The choice to try and pass the ball to a team-mate and retain possession in the modern Arsenal way or stick the ball as deep into the stand as it could go. He played it the Wenger way and the rest is history.
Thank goodness, almost ten years after the 2005 final, there finally seems to have been an acknowledgement that sometimes, what you achieve at the game’s end is more important than how you play it. People remember the great football if it is accompanied by trophies. The Invincibles played the odd stinker, but no-one crucifies them for it. Another Birmingham game to remember (or not!) – 0-0 at home the weekend after the title was won at the Lane? Talk about after the Lord Mayor’s show.
One hopes Arsene Wenger can take a leaf out of Mourinho’s book and Arsenal win the title in 2016. Doing the serious business at the start of the summer (as Chelsea did with Costa and Fabregas) would be a start. Beginning games with the intention of not losing them before you throw everything at winning them would also be a good tactical approach. Then, the result of these kind of late April fixtures might make a genuine difference to the destination of the title.
Last season, Arsenal finished fourth with 79 points and won the FA Cup. This season, they can make 82 points and will finish second if they do. If they retain the FA Cup, that will undoubtedly signify progress. Whether or not such progress continues next season will depend on the summer transfer activity.
Just a quick note to mention that we are recording the April Gooner podcast tomorrow, hosted by Piebury Corner.
Our panelists will be Steve (The Highbury Spy) Ashford, myself and David Oudot. If you have any topics or questions you wish the panel to debate, and get a namecheck in the process, please either…
Email them to [email protected]
Tweet them to @GoonerPodcast
or just leave them in the comments below this article. Thanks.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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