next weekend, we will get torn to shreds. Our midfield was gaping open at the back, especially in the first half and a better team would have been 2 or 3 up in the first half hour. Santi coming on and a slight shift in formation in the 2nd half gave us a little more control but we still looked extremely vulnerable, especially given that Mertesacker spend a lot of time pushed up beyond the centre circle.
Only Tottenham's propensity to be terrible saved us from that this time around.
The most perplexing aspect is that, for such a top heavy team, we create very few chances. For most of the game the movement from the front 5 off the ball simply wasn't good enough, so we would just pass the ball round predictably, then lose possession and be massively caught out at the back with Arteta, Mertesacker and Koscielny having to pick up the pieces - that's a disaster in waiting anyway, but when you consider that the first two of those couldn't even catch a bus it makes our tactics even more bewildering.
Wenger said 4-1-4-1 makes us defensively better, but if anything we are much worse. I am genuinely worried about next weekend.
If we play like that at Stamford Bridge
posted on 27/9/14
If Tottenham had had a final ball they'd have won. 3 or 4 times in first half they should have hit us on the counter.
Cesc will get at least 3 assists.
posted on 27/9/14
Chelsea have so much more power and height, they will walk all over us, pressing with intensity and having the killer instinct infront of goal, my prediction is 6-0 like last season
posted on 27/9/14
We were lucky to get a draw today. If those chances Adebayor and Chadli had were for Chelsea players, we could have been 3-0 down in the first half. I want the Coq play against Chelsea, at least he is more athletic than Arteta and Flamini, we need that against them.
posted on 27/9/14
comment by Elias - Bring Gervinho Back. (U3875)
posted 9 minutes ago
We were lucky to get a draw today. If those chances Adebayor and Chadli had were for Chelsea players, we could have been 3-0 down in the first half. I want the Coq play against Chelsea, at least he is more athletic than Arteta and Flamini, we need that against them.
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I haven't seen a lot of Coquelin in that role in recent years, but if he's anything like he used to be before he went out on loan, then I agree
One of the last matches he started for us in the role - that I can recall, anyway - was against Chelsea, and I thought he was one of our best players.
More mobile and also stronger in the air than Arteta or Flamini - important given the height Chelsea have at set-pieces.
I doubt we'll see him, but I hope we do.
posted on 27/9/14
Against Chelsea, we must park the bus and counter attack.
We have the speed up-top to hurt them on the break.
posted on 27/9/14
I get the impression that Wenger will only consider Coquelin as an emergency full back replacement. We'll see Diaby before him in CM I reckon.
I have to say though, the system remains the main problem - regardless of personnel we will be exposed and will concede clear chances, and that lies firmly at Wenger's door.
posted on 27/9/14
No chance, we will play the same way as we play all out games and will get counter attacked by Chelsea even though they are the home team.
The physicality of their team will be too much to handle
posted on 27/9/14
comment by Sömeday_693 - Källström will be our salvation (U8892)
posted 1 minute ago
I get the impression that Wenger will only consider Coquelin as an emergency full back replacement. We'll see Diaby before him in CM I reckon.
I have to say though, the system remains the main problem - regardless of personnel we will be exposed and will concede clear chances, and that lies firmly at Wenger's door.
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True, we always push both full-backs on, and 2 of our 3 central players up around their box, which generally leaves just one midfielder, Koscielny, and a very slow Mertesacker to cover the space in the centre of the park and down the channels.
posted on 27/9/14
DaStuDogg,
Like you said, Wenger wouldn't play him, only if Arteta doesn't recover and Flamini gets injured. Those two bring nothing to the team and playing Coquelin wouldn't be much of a risk imo.
posted on 27/9/14
comment by Elias - Bring Gervinho Back. (U3875)
posted 7 minutes ago
DaStuDogg,
Like you said, Wenger wouldn't play him, only if Arteta doesn't recover and Flamini gets injured. Those two bring nothing to the team and playing Coquelin wouldn't be much of a risk imo.
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Agreed. Particularly against a team with the counter-attacking speed of Chelsea, I really don't see how he could fare much worse than Arteta or Flamini.