By Walter Broeckx
The 6th game was the game it happened. It could have been the name of a thriller. And in a way it was a thriller. But one with a bad ending. Not that there were a lot of chances with both defences mostly on top during the game. But in the 6th league game we lost our first game.
With all 3 centre backs fit it was interesting to see who would start. Koscielny got the starting place and Per Mertesacker was on the bench. Last season Koscielny was our best centre back so nobody really could complain about this. It also was thought that against the quick dribblers from Chelsea Koscielny would be the better choice. Koscielny who last season had made a few top strikers look like débutantes would surely be up for the task was the general consensus before the start.
Sometimes things that you think are reasonable and very wise can suddenly be turned on his heads by events on the field.
The first bad thing happening was Diaby going off after only 15 minutes. It lead to a few changes on the field and before we would we really set ourselves we found ourselves 0-1 down. A Mata free kick was poked in by Torres at the far post after a tussle with Koscielny. Suddenly you could hear a few thousands goners think: would Per had dealt with this better? And would the height of Diaby could have prevented the ball going that far?
Because the calmness we have seen in the first games of the season was out of the window in the centre of the defence. I know a lot of people have been very critical (over critical) about Mertesacker. I rather like having him in defence and was it a coincidence him not on the field resulting in not enough rest in defence? Of course we will never know. But maybe with the experience from Mertesacker he would have had more an eye for the ball as now Koscielny seemed more interested in tussling with Torres.
Chelsea then could revert to their favourite tactics and kept lots of people behind the ball. Arsenal missing the big (height wise) guns in the team tried to play over the ground and this resulted in a well taken goal from Gervinho. A low cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain, a control and turn from Gervinho and an excellent finish from the Ivory Coast striker. 1-1 at half time and this was a fair result between two teams that kept each other in balance for most of the time.
The second half started disastrous for Arsenal. A foul on Torres resulted in a free kick in the same area as where they scored from in the first half. And again Mata whipped in the ball and a slight deflection on the shin of Koscielny made sure the ball ended up in the net.
More than half an hour for the Gunners to score an equaliser. And they came close a few times. A header from Podolski brought up a great save from Cech. A shot from Giroud that got a deflection was somehow saved by Cech.
After a foul on Arteta we headed against the post and for some strange reason the assistant signalled offside so game stopped. A very strange decision as the only Arsenal player to have been offside was Gervinho and he never was near to the ball.
And in extra time Oxlade-Chamberlain gave an excellent ball to Giroud who half rounded the keeper but his effort ended on the wrong side of the goalpost in the side net.
So what can we say about this game? A loss against the league leaders. The league leaders couldn’t score a goal from open play and had to rely on their free kick taking. We had more possession, more shots on and off target, won more duels, had a better passing accuracy. FT Stats Arsenal v Chelsea Shots 17-10, On target 4-3, Fouls 14-14, Duels Won 51%-49%, Pass Accuracy 88%-84%, Possession 51%-49%
But Chelsea made the most of their free kicks and we didn’t defend them well enough. I wonder who the AAA will blame for this. The new found defensive organisation was something they praised Bould for. Will it now be Bouls who gets the blame? Maybe Koscielny was still a bit rusty. After all he has been out for a few weeks and hadn’t started a game until last week. And he can’t have become a bad defender over night.
And we must understand that we cannot play Mertesacker each weak as this also would lead to him getting injured. So I thought the choice for Koscielny was all right at the start of the game but it somehow backfired with us conceding from two free kicks.
We didn’t deserve to lose this game. I think a draw would have been a fair result for both teams but the league table isn’t about what is fair. It is about taking your chances. Chelsea was the better team in this (if you can call those free kicks chances) . That is how football goes sometimes
6 games gone. We played away at Man City, Stoke and Liverpool. Played against Chelsea. So all what are very difficult away games for us and one home game against a top team out of the way. Now it is time to show that we can make a run in the league when we play a few of the teams that we should win from.
The next 3 games in the league are against West Ham, Norwich and QPR. If we manage 9 points from these games we could be close to the top teams as they will start to play each other. So let us move on and look forward to the next game and make sure we take our chances a bit better when they come.
Was so dissapointed with the game. It was awful with the way we play. I’m still feeling down about it cuz this Arsenal team is way better than that. Just why can’t we impose ourselves onto the game ?
1.Is it consistency ?
2.Or was it tactical prob ? Desigunner said Arsene want us to press high up the field but the players didn’t … or couldn’t ?
3.Or was it Diaby getting off the field that turn us off balance ?
4.Or was Kos the reason we lose tonight ? Or was it Mannone ? 5.Confidence ? Impossible, we were flying high.
I know it’s just one lost game, but I was praying to god last week for us to get an equaliser, no need for anything else cuz I just want us to stay unbeaten. I was so heartbroken, i was still so down during work today. Couldn’t get into mood at all. Just start to get into twitter a few hours ago cuz I don’t want to see anything Arsenal, it just broke my heart. It’s only one game. That’s all it is and what I keep telling myself. I hope that’s all it is.
For the Author, you really went the distance in being understanding and trying to bring context to the Koscielny selection. Fair enough, from my view, from every angle the selection was a mistake. I donesn’t mean Koscielny is suddenly a poor defender, or Wenger a poor manager, but he made a pretty obvious mistake here imo.
Re: Justifying it because of the mobile/quick threat posed by Hazard, Mata, Ocar etc., the mobile threat of Aguero, Tevez, Silva and company is erm, pretty decent, and Mertersacker coped just fine the week before with an equal if not better (from being more settled)mobile/quick threat from small creative players.
Consider that and consider that Mertersacker was in great form, and Koscielny has played very little and has been injured and it doesn’t make sense.
Moreover, Koscielny and Vermaelen in my opinion at least, are not very complimentary in style because well they are too similar, they haven’t ever been really consistenly dominant as partnership, quite the contrary actually.
Lastly, justifying the selection based on needing to rest Mertersacker? Wouldn’t it make more sense to rest him with a string of October games that are easier (on paper of course), immediately following this Chelsea fixture? And wouldn’t those game likewise be a bit less intense for Koscielny to be eased back in? I mean our next game is a CL group game at home against Olympiacos, wouldn’t that be a good spot to rest Mert and reintroduce Kos? And the following two game are league games agaisnt WHU & Norwich, not underestimating these teams but logically these are better fixtures for resting/reintroducing Mertersacker and Koscielny respectively.
Wenger made a mistake with the selection. It happens.
And contrary to what you wrote, actually around the gooner blogoshpere there were no shortage of opinions questioning the selection from the start (for the above reasons and more), and not just reacting to the result. Generally, from what I have been reading from a wide variety of sources, there were more people saying from before the game that by the very least based on form, that Mertersacker should start, as opposed to those thinking Koscielny should start (per your reasons above).
Just my take.
Also it’s pretty irrelevant as to how many “Per Metersacker lovers critized Wenger for buying him” or “Koscielny was our best defender last season”.. I can accept both of those points, and also say that depsite personally being underwhelmed by Mertersacker and him being singed last season, and personally rating Koscielny as our best CB last season…that anyone can see that Metersacker was in great great form and has had immense presence so far this season. Regardless of my personal feelings and ratings, go with the form player everytime!
Hey likewise I can say that I was super-critical of Wenger signing Jenkinson, and super-critical about Jenkinson’s play last season, and still (despite the good season so far) have my doubts about him at this level…but regardless of that, and regardless of my opinion that Sagna is clearly a step up in class and readiness, I would say the same thing that it would be a mistake to drop an in-form Jenkinson just because Sagna has resturned to fitness.
EDIT: …. I would say the same thing that it would be a mistake to drop an in-form Jenkinson just because Sagna has resturned to fitness, regardless of opponent.
..
Very balanced article Walter.
I thought the same about Koscielny maybe being a bit rusty after being out for a while.
The stats showing the areas where we were superior were good to have, even though it is still disappointing to lose. And Gervinho’s goal was great.
Anyway, it’s our first loss this season so we just need to bounce back. With the team spirit we have I’m sure we will.
By the way, I’m still happy from being at the 6 – 1 victory on Wednesday. And at a cost of a mere £10! What a bargain!
Good to see Andrei Arshavin back on the pitch and getting a goal and man of the match, and to read what he says about his fitness being his best since he’s been at Arsenal. Hope to see him again soon.
Mandy Dodd,@12:58
Yes, Guardian’s sports blogger chimes in – right on cue – openly endorsing Fergie’s demand that FA take something so important as deciding on add-on time away from the referees (that is, those referees that are not HIS timekeepers):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/sep/30/manchester-united-tottenham-time-wasting
Surely the march to RedNose XX is back on the boil; as the wrath of his Sauron will have been felt in the Hives of Riley (or will it?) No, it’s never whinging when Don Fergus rattles the chains of his sleepy minions. The Restoration (of Fergie Time) is demanded. Indeed, will His Will be done? That is the question.(Surely Mancini the Usurper must now be on high alert.) As for the rest of the Shire and its hopes for fair play for all (well, maybe for those who are slightly less than total tribalists): let there be Vigilance!
This is a game that we lost. The real test will come now….HOW we respond. The the real character of the team will show up in the coming weeks.
As for the game….If I had to pick some one at fault, I would point my finger at Vito. My experience as a goalie tells me, the first goal could have been saved. The second was a beauty…….a goal keeper can only dive towards the ball and hope for the best.
A pretty poor performance post Diaby and yet we only lost by one goal (and a pretty special one at that) to the league leaders…
Is there room for improvement, hell yes. Are there any real causes for concern, no not really.
I was watching the game on ESPN and the commentator noted that 12 times the ref has refereed Chelsea and Chelsea won each time so I knew Arsenal would not win this game.
Interesting but slighty rose tinted views.
The first free kick was not defended, your defence was all over the place. Torres did what normaly defenders do without fear of having a free kick against. The second was put amost in no mans land very very difficult to defend. No luck there.
Yes you had more chances but come the keeper had only two saves to make one was a delection off Luis and the other was a header which was a reasonable save but wont feature in save of the season.
Chelsea had a game plan closed you down a lot quicker and forced mistakes.
Chelsea arent the finnished product by any stroke of the imagination but comparing the results this season with last years results against the same teams then we are 8 point better off.
An interesting view Mike T. Saying Torres committed a foul. As if he knew he could get away with it.
But I must admit you did better than that other rich guys plaything club last season. They only manage one shot on target in 90 mins.
Italian managers know how to defend an advantage that is for sure
Walter
According to how refs seem to see things from free kicks then no it wasnt a foul I guess you could say Torres got his retailation in first.
In reality 99 times out a 100 the ref will not give a free kick or penaly in similar situations. Stoke get away with it time after time.For me its a area that needs addressing
If you want me to be brutal I think your manager is amazing in spotting a player and in setting up offesive teams but I dont think he pays enough attention perhaps even respect to other teams. He is too predicatable.
As for how teams play at your ground well you are the home team and the onus is on you to take the game to the oppossition and score more goals.
It always seems to me that you dont seem to be able to change the point of attack with any great success or make the most of your technical players. On Saturday your plan b was to bring on Forrest Gump (apologies but thats the best way I can describe Theo) A player that showed so much promise but shows no sign of improvement
Finally just to correct comments re Atkinson. The last 12 games think is rubbish for instance last season he officiated in 4 of our games. We won 1 and drew 3.
Mike T,
“For me its a area that needs addressing” I couldn’t agree with you more on this. And certainly in the PL where some refs are totally blind for this. In the rest of the world and Europe you see refs paying attention to pushing, holding, shoving much more. People accept it as almost allowed but the last time I read the rules those things are forbidden everywhere on the field.
So I can accept what Atkinson did (even though refs have to punish pushing) and feel that Koscielny was paying too much attention on his dancing paces and Torres was the smartest one and kept his eyes on the ball.
Bringing in Walcott against a team that likes to defend deep is not the best thing. But he can score a goal at times so when you need goals you have to do something. I do think that losing Diaby was the hardest part. One sub gone and when he is fit he is the person who can make things going. Alas the staying fit let him down again… but that is just the way it is…
Interesting what you say about Walcott. For me he is better deployed when the opposion are looking for a goal and go short at the back or play a high defensive line. I will watch with interest when both you and us play Spuds as I am not sure thaey have the personnel to deal with electric pace running at their back four.
I have no doubts that we will do better than last season and both you and Man City will also be there or thereabouts but having seen them on a few occasions already I really think that we are now starting to see the end of the Ferggie era and if I were a betting man I wouldnt be at all surised to see them finnish outside the top 4
Still very very early days
Walter,
Yes, losing Diaby [and for how many weeks?] was the hardest part, and there was/is no midfielder of that calibre – outside of Alex Song – to step in now and do the necessary business. N’est-ce pas? Arsene said in today’s postings that yes, it was a big gamble to bet heavily on Diaby’s well-being while others were returning from injury and to form; and that we would see whether the gamble would pay off at the end of the season. Well, perhaps by January?