The problem in the first half here was to do with mentality. Both sides were happy with keeping it tight, and in their respective situations it’s not hard to see why. Arsenal, having been thrashed by both Chelsea and Manchester United in their past two games, were content to prevent a whitewash. Liverpool, on...
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It’s been the story of the last three or four seasons in Arsenal v Chelsea clashes – a difference in physique. Didier Drogba has long had the measure of the Arsenal defence, seemingly regardless of which centre-backs he’s up against, but all over the pitch Chelsea tower over Arsenal.
Games between well-matched sides often comes...
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Gael Clichy’s form over the past 18 months has been a real cause for concern for Arsenal fans. When Ashley Cole left for Chelsea in 2006, the consensus amongst Gooners was that Arsenal hadn’t done too badly, because Clichy stepped into the first team and was playing consistently well. And indeed, better than Cole...
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After Arsenal’s 1-2 defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season, Arsene Wenger made a point of singling out Darren Fletcher for criticism:
“There are other points that, for me, are more urgent – players who play only to make fouls, who make repeated fouls and are never punished. They get out of the game without...
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It’s one thing to go out, play to your manager’s orders and get results. It’s an entirely separate thing to go out and score great goals.
And when those two come together, you have perfect football. This doesn’t happen too often – playing to your manager’s orders is often associated with defensive, negative football –...
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