Match Discussion Thread; Arsenal vs Chelsea

[Highway Penguin]

I figured we should discuss all the matches we play this season in here.

First up: Arsenal vs Newcastle

Little preview:

How times change. A year ago Arsenal were the “Invincibles” and the pundits were speculating on another unbeaten season for Arsène Wenger’s side. They emerged a little bruised from the campaign that followed but, en route, gained a Premiership record, the FA Cup and arguably the brightest set of youngsters in the Club’s history. Not bad for a supposedly mediocre campaign.

But the all-important Premiership title went to Chelsea. Now, on the eve of Arsenal’s last season at Highbury, Wenger is plotting to take it back. Those same pundits are now suggesting Jose Mourinho’s side possesses the same unbeatable aura that surrounded Arsenal this time 12 months ago. It is a fight for second place they say.

Wenger believes they are wrong.

“Somebody said to me that on the basis of the last two seasons it looks like you will have to go unbeaten to win the Premiership,” he began at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “I said ‘thanks very much, we have done that already’.

“It could be true but maybe you will be completely surprised and the champions will lose five games because the competition is higher.

“I believe that Liverpool, Manchester United and ourselves will be stronger this year. I only have to look at what I see on the training ground and the quality of the players I have. The challenge and the motivation are there.

“I love to win, I love to improve the team and I have the belief there is always a way to win despite the resources that you have and the resources that the other clubs have.”

Jose Antonio Reyes (suspended) and Sol Campbell (calf) are the only absentees in Wenger’s squad for the opening fixture. Then there is the large, Patrick Vieira-sized hole in central midfield. The manager believes Gilberto, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and the newly-acquired Alexandre Song can cover the captain’s departure. Arsenal’s assault on the title may hinge on their ability to fill the Frenchman’s sizeable boots.

Ironically, the opponents on Sunday have strengthened in just that area over the summer. It makes Newcastle a dangerous opponent in Wenger’s eyes.

“They are one of the teams who could be a surprise because they have added to their midfield,” he said. “They have already bought Faye last season and they already had Jenas, Bowyer, Milner and Dyer. They have brought in Emre and Parker so they have an impressive number of players in there.”

Wenger knows his side needs a flying start.

“With all the press we get it is even more important every year,” he concluded. “There is a lot of scepticism around us at the moment. But there is a lot of belief on my side and that belief will be shared by the side if we can start the season well."

With a trip to Stamford Bridge scheduled for next Sunday, those pundits might say a win in the final opening-day fixture at Highbury is essential.

Predictions? Line-ups?

TheMan, if you want to stick this and change the title each time we get a new opponent that'd be pretty tight.

[theman]

Will do Vic.
2-0. Comftorbale win, despite goals coming in last 10 mins.

[Highway Penguin]

Aye, Arsenal played well. Newcastle were unlucky with Jenas' red card and the penalty.

I'd have liked to see more from Hleb and Van Persie. His goal was pretty crazy.

Senderos seemed to be a little shacky still, but I'm sure he'll improve as we continue through the season. Gilberto pretected the defense well. Pires didn't have a great match.

Next week- Chelsea vs Arsenal.

[Highway Penguin]

Match report

New season, new captain, new shirt but the same old story.

Arsenal began their final campaign at Highbury with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

The goals, a penalty from Thierry Henry and super near-post strike from substitute Robin van Persie, arrived in the last nine minutes. By that time Newcastle had played 50 minutes with a man short after Jermaine Jenas saw red for a challenge from behind on Gilberto.

The visitors responded valiantly to their numerical disadvantage and, although were not at their fluent best, the home side kept playing football and plugging away.

This was never a classic but, with a trip to Chelsea just seven days away, Wenger knew he needed a win. All eyes now turn to Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

Ten of Arsenal’s starting XI had begun the last game of the previous season — the FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United. The exception was Henry, who returned to begin his first Premiership game as Arsenal’s permanent captain. The Frenchman came into the side in place of Jose Antonio Reyes, who was serving a one-match suspension for his dismissal in the last seconds of the game at Millennium Stadium. New signing Alexander Hleb had to make do with a place on the bench.

This was start of an historic season as the club say goodbye to their home since 1913 before moving to Emirates Stadium. In keeping with the feeling of old and new, a number of former players paraded around the pitch before kick-off then, shortly afterwards, the present crop trotted out in their new-style redcurrant shirts. It was a little strange not to see the team running out in red and white but, as Arsenal fans will see when they take up their seats in a fabulous new arena 12 months from now, change is good.

The game started in bright sunshine and with the passion you’d expect of a top Premiership clash on the opening weekend of the season. In the first 15 minutes, Henry cracked a rasping drive at Shay Given and Alan Shearer dragged a shot across Jens Lehmann in the Arsenal goal.

However the game fell into a slumber after that and only woke up, albeit with a bang, 13 minutes before the break. There was effort and energy from both sides but little in the way of incisiveness. Then, in the 32nd minute, Jenas scythed down Gilberto in central midfield and referee Steve Bennett deemed the challenge bad enough to warrant a straight red card. Gilberto hobbled off for treatment but returned a few minutes later. Jenas, however, took a one-way trip down the tunnel.

Three minutes later, Ljungberg lofted a free-kick to the far post. Stephen Carr’s clearance cannoned off Senderos and the swivelling Toure lashed in a rasping shot toward Given at the near post. The Irish keeper batted the ball behind for a corner.

Shearer did have the ball in the net a few minutes later but the referee had whistled for offside. Still the tide was turning Arsenal’s way. Lauren’s deep cross found the stretching Henry at the far post. His header flew over the bar.

The teams emerged after the interval with very different ambitions. Newcastle were now happy to settle for containment in the hope of grabbing a point, Arsenal knew nothing less than a comfortable win was sufficient.

As you might expect the home side dominated in terms of territory and possession but, in the opening stages, the best they could manage was Ljungberg’s sliding effort which was diverted wide for a corner.

Henry went clear but could not convert then Pires darted to the byline before Given saved sharply from Toure. It was starting to be one of those games when Arsenal huffed and puffed but the visitors just would not let them in.

In the 67th minute a typically crisp move saw the home side carve out their best opportunity of the game. Ashley Cole knocked the ball into Henry on the edge of the area and his first-time touch sent Ljungberg scuttling clear. The Swede got his shot away but Given was out quickly and blocked with his body.

A few minutes later Wenger brought on Hleb and Van Persie for Bergkamp and Fabregas. Dutchman replaced Dutchman up front and the Belarusian slotted in on the left with Pires joining Gilberto in midfield. Arsenal would play out this game with a surfeit of skill in midfield.

They continued to work themselves in to excellent positions but too often the final ball went awry or players misread the intentions of others. Also, credit where it is due, Newcastle were defending stoutly.

But their resistance was broken 10 minutes from time. Ljungberg again burst into the area but this time he was clipped by Charles N’Zogbia as he pulled his leg back to shoot. Referee Bennett pointed to the spot and Henry sidefooted the penalty into the corner.

A few minutes later Ljungberg ended a sweeping move by racing to the byline and cutting the ball back to near post. Van Persie arrived on cue and somehow squeezed his host between Given and the post. Lauren nearly added a third but 2-0 was more than enough today.

It was perhaps hard on Newcastle after their battling display but it does get Arsenal off to the best possible start in a very important season.

Arsene Wenger Discusses His Opinions On The Match....

...on the performance
"We knew before the game it was a tricky one, they had a competitive advantage on us because they have started the season already. I saw after 10 minutes we needed to be patient and not to make a mistake at the back. And when Jenas was sent off we needed even more patience. We knew at half-time that we could win the game in the last 20 minutes if we didn't make a mistake."

...on Jenas' sending off
"It looked a dangerous tackle to me. Now if you ask me have I seen people getting away with that in the English league, I would not say to you 'no'. But when he brought his right leg in, you know, and took the standing leg of the player, I don't like that. That was a very anxious moment. It looked to me a dangerous tackle, and unneeded one, but we didn't want him to be sent off."

...on the opposition
"I am convinced that this Newcastle team will take points away from home, because they have a good midfield, they can keep the ball, they have a good work-rate, and you need to be really physically strong because in the middle of the park they play always two versus three."

[theman]

The rule is, an intentionally dangerous tackle is a red, and if you watch closely, you'll see Jenas put his other leg into the tackle, which he didn't need to do.

[Dundons]

Did you see the dopes on sky trying to blame Gilberto for jenas getting sent off? If that happened to Ronney there'd be war, the tackle was off the charts bad, my life flashed in front of me when he clattered into the great wall know as Gilberto as he is the most important midfielder we have at the minute.

Why does sky hate us anyways.

[Highway Penguin]

Yeah, he got ball with the first leg, but it was his other leg and how he allowed it to come in that got him the red. Shame he was sent off as Newcastle were playing well and the man down seemed to pretty much end any chances of them scoring.

All in all, if he'd have kept his other leg out of the way, it'd not have been a red.

[Highway Penguin]

I was thinking, what are your opinions on who should start? I'd love to see RvP and Hleb play.

..............Jen.............
..........Kolo..Send.......
.Lauren..............Ash..
........Hleb....Berto......
.Ljun..................Pires.
................Vp............
..........Hen................

THoughts?

[Bigpapa42]

Reyes is back, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him get the nod over RvP or Bergkamp.

The performance of Chelsea against Wigan showed that Chelsea are capable of playing very mediocre. But that match could also serve as inspiration for Chelsea's players against Arsenal.

It think the Gunners might have some problems if they don't try to put a few more shots on goal. They can pass and create, but they need to put a few on goal once they get into the area. If Newcastle's defense could do a relatively impressive job of stiffling once they got that close, what is Chelsea's going to do? I'm not saying they should fire it in from everywhere. But turn and shoot a bit more often.

[theman]

Reyes needs to step up his game, he hasn't been playing well.
Van Persie has been playing well, scored against Newcastle, and should get a first team place, in my opinion.

[theman]

Chelsea v Arsenal

Stamford Bridge
Sunday, 21 August
Kick-off: 1600 BST
BBC Radio Five Live

Arsenal have Jose Antonio Reyes back after a one-match ban, but he faces a battle to displace Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires or Dennis Bergkamp.

Sol Campbell is still ruled out with a calf injury, meaning Philippe Senderos and Kolo Toure will continue.



Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Lauren, Hoyte, Eboue, Cole, Clichy, Senderos, Toure, Cygan, Gilberto, Fabregas, Flamini, Song, Pires, Ljungberg, Reyes, Hleb, van Persie, Henry, Bergkamp.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA against Arsenal is the first London Premiership derby of the season, and simply the most significant early season match-up regarding the title race and a fitting fixture for Arsene Wenger's 500th competitive match in charge of Arsenal. The Frenchman has never lost a Premiership match against Chelsea, although the reigning champions knocked the Gunners out of the Champions League the season before last and they have the psychological advantage of a 2-1 victory in the Community Shield earlier this month, courtesy of a Didier Drogba double.
Jose Mourinho's men were given a wake-up call by Premiership new boys Wigan last Sunday. Chelsea were being held to a goalless draw, before stealing all three points by virtue of a stoppage time strike from Hernan Crespo. The Blues will need an improvement if they're to win this 137th League contest against the Gunners (all top flight), and end a 19 match winless streak against them.
The champions have not lost either of their opening two fixtures in any of the last four Premiership seasons. They're unbeaten in 30 top flight engagements since last October, and have conceded no more than a single goal in any of their last 22 League outings. This is Mourinho's 40th match in charge in the big League, and so far he's masterminded 30 victories.
The Blues have won only three of the 26 clashes with Arsenal in the Premiership. Last season's two meetings were both drawn. Victory in the Community Shield was Mourinho's first win against Wenger and only Chelsea's second in 21 League and Cup skirmishes against their north London rivals.
ARSENAL have done the League and FA Cup 'double' twice and won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in the nine year reign of Arsene Wenger. As the Frenchman selects a side for the 500th time, he can be rightfully proud of a record that's seen Arsenal always in the top three, and not out of the top two in eight years. Arsenal go to Stamford Bridge knowing that they were the last club to win a Premiership match there.
The FA Cup winners are unbeaten in 34 London League derbies. They've won 24 and drawn 10 since a home defeat by Charlton in November 2001. Chelsea have not been beaten in 12 capital clashes, winning nine and drawing three since Arsenal's 1-2 win at the Bridge on 21 February last year. The Gunners have not lost an opening away match in a Premiership season, since going down 1-0 at Sunderland on 19 August 2000. They've won three and drawn one in the four subsequent seasons. They also won the first four in their unbeaten Premiership season of 2003/04, and chalked up five victories on the spin from the outset of last season's campaign.
The deposed champions last lost a league game to Chelsea 1-0 at the Bridge on 30 September 1995. They've won four and drawn five of the nine subsequent League visits. Apart from the Community Shield, Chelsea's only victory in 21 clashes in all competitions was 1-2 at Highbury in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on 6 April 2004.
Referee:

Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

CHELSEA

Club stats
Fixtures
This season: 6th 3 points
(Last season: CHAMPIONS 95 points)
Not lost an opening home Premiership match since the 1-2 reverse by Blackburn in 1993. Of the 10 subsequent seasonal League openers at the Bridge six have been won and four drawn.
Won five of the last seven in all competitions - spanning last season.
Lost only one of the last 10 competitive matches.
Won 24 and drawn six Premiership matches since suffering their only defeat in the title winning season (away to Manchester City on 16 October).
Undefeated in 25 home League clashes. Won 18 and drawn seven since the 1-2 loss to Arsenal on 21 February 2004.
ARSENAL

Club stats
Fixtures
This season: 3rd 3 points
(Last season: Runners-up 83 points)
Won 11 of the last 14 Premiership matches.
Failed to score in just one of the last 16 League outings.
Kept clean sheets in six of the last eight top flight clashes.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

CHELSEA

Squad profiles
Frank LAMPARD needs one goal to take his tally for Chelsea to 50.
ARSENAL

Squad profiles
Thierry HENRY is a hat trick away from equalling Ian Wright's club scoring record for Arsenal of 185.
If he plays, Kolo Habib TOURE will be making his 100th Premiership appearance for the Gunners.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
20 April 2005 - Ref: Steve Bennett

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Chelsea 37 wins, Arsenal 57, Draws 42
Prem: Chelsea 3 wins, Arsenal 14, Draws 9

HEAD TO HEAD at Chelsea
League: Chelsea 21 wins, Arsenal 23, Draws 24
Prem: Chelsea 3 wins, Arsenal 5, Draws 5

[theman]

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal


A fluke goal from Didier Drogba handed Chelsea their first Premiership win over Arsenal since September 1995.
As Drogba attempted to control a cross, the ball struck his knee and went into the net, ensuring Arsene Wenger's 500th game as Arsenal boss ended in defeat.

Freddie Ljungberg cleared a header from Asier del Horno off the line in the second minute, while Jens Lehmann made a good save to deny Arjen Robben.

Thierry Henry forced a save from Petr Cech but Arsenal rarely threatened.

In truth the season's first blue riband fixture was a largely uninspiring contest.

Both sides cancelled each other out for long periods and clear-cut chances were at a premium.

That will not worry Jose Mourinho, whose Chelsea side have not lost in the Premiership since last October, a run that now extends to 31 games.

The match started at a thunderous pace, with Ljungberg's goal-line clearance at one end and Henry curling a shot wide at the other inside the opening three minutes.

But a streaker ran on to the pitch and the lengthy interruption that followed seemed to take the sting out of the contest.
The game became fragmented, characterised by a series of ambitious passes that all-too-often landed at opposition feet as both teams attempted to find a way through the other's defence.

A poor pass created an opportunity for Hernan Crespo but he could not shrug off Kolo Toure, while Claude Makelele appeared to clip Ashley Cole inside the Chelsea penalty area but the Gunner's appeals went unanswered.

Ljungberg then reached a low Henry cross across goal but, under pressure from Del Horno, shot over the crossbar from a tight angle.

And shortly afterwards Wenger's ploy of deploying Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Ljungberg as an attacking trio was brought to a premature end when the Swede was withdrawn.

Ljungberg had injured himself when colliding with an advertising hoarding and was replaced by Robin van Persie.

A delightful teasing cross behind the Arsenal defence from Frank Lampard shortly before the break created the best chance of the half but Robben made poor contact at the far post and Lehmann made a good block.



Henry controlled a raking pass from the impressive Alexander Hleb but drilled his shot over the crossbar as the game became increasingly stretched.

Drogba, brought on at the break for the ineffectual Crespo, then wasted a decent chance for Chelsea, blazing high and wide.

Mourinho tried to seize the initiative, introducing Michael Essien for his debut and Shaun Wright-Phillips with half an hour left.

And with 73 minutes gone Chelsea broke the deadlock in the most fortunate of circumstances.

As Drogba attempted to control a looping pass from Paulo Ferreira the ball hit his knee and eluded Lehmann.

Arsenal tried to respond straight away, with Henry forcing a save from Cech, but the best opportunity of the final minutes fell to Drogba, who should have lobbed Lehmann but tamely shot straight at him.

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Del Horno, Makelele, Robben (Wright-Phillips 58), Lampard, Duff, Gudjohnsen (Essien 58), Crespo (Drogba 45).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Huth.

Booked: Gallas, Makelele.

Goals: Drogba 73.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Senderos, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg (Van Persie 26), Fabregas (Flamini 85), Silva, Hleb, Pires, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Bergkamp, Cygan, Almunia.

Booked: Van Persie, Senderos, Cole.

Att: 42,136

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).


ANNOYING.

[nachi88]

It was a boring game, with lot of rough play.Arsenal didnt play that bad. Ashley cole was denied a penalty, in what must be one of the most obvious cases of penalty kick ever. Sonderos messed up many times. the Drogba goal was his fault totally. he didnt even attempt to make a move while Drogba got the lucky goal. Even in the dying moments of the match, He did an awful backpass, and Drogba almost scored another one. The Arsenal backline looks real shaky. Apart from Ashley Cole, the rest of the defenders are not the type who will take a team to Premiership/ CL glory.

[theman]

For the first 20 minutes I reckon the defense was solid, but I agree, Senderos had a nightmare with Drogba.
We were bland, and didn't really create any chances.
Robben and Del Horno were denied, and I agree, that was a penalty, but it was just one of those days.

[Bigpapa42]

The good news is that it was a relatively solid performance from Arsenal, and it showned that they aren't really behind Chelsea on the pitch. The bad news is that it was a loss.

It was a garbage goal, but they still count the same. And yes, Senderos should have made a quicker move, but Lehmann didn't look like he was exactly making every effort to stop it, either. Senderos just doesn't seem to match up well against Drogba (and it doesn't help when Drogba gets away with a rather nasty elbow to Senderos' head at one point), so something needs to be done. Either switch Kolo to cover Drogba, pray that Sol comes back, or bring in someone new (there is still time). Nice great ball movement at times, but it didn't result in near enough goal-scoring chances. They need to turn and fire on goal a few more times when they work it close, rather than trying to keep passing and work it closer still. And there were about two or three decent crosses that had no Arsenal player to make a run onto - there needs to be someone doing that, because they would have been great scoring chances. I liked what I saw from Hleb at times. Henry seemed to drop a bit too deep, and he might be trying to do too much. Fabregas seemed invisible for spells, and I'm not sure if thats good or bad.