Chelsea (h) Instant Reaction - No Time For Bad Luck

“If we had avoided defeat against Brentford” shows just how low our standards have fallen. The brentfords and mid to lower table teams are where the big 6 traditionally win most of their points. If we’re to be serious again and see it reflected in the table we have to start putting teams under pressure and creating fear. Right now everything is so static and predictable. Teams can watch us play our patterns to get to the final 3rd and wait for us to give it away.

Don’t think we should jump on the public band wagon. The fixture list has been harsh on us, look at Liverpool playing Norwich and Burnley in their two games. If we had avoided defeat against Brentford, then this uproar wouldn’t exist. Let’s see after 10 games and hope we can get some first teamers back. If auba gets us 20 odd goals in the prem this season- then we will be competing, I think that has been the obvious difference last season to finishing from 8th to 4th

Thanks guys for the pod, needed this. Some thoughts: -I actually think the organization started to go because of the front three. Martinelli is so aggressive as a presser that he doesn’t act as a proper trigger for the rest of the team. I think thats why Laca, maybe even more than Auba, seemed like a big miss to me. -Saka’s starting to worry me a lot. Its not just today and last weekend. Anytime he plays on the left, he seems to be pretty ineffective. In general, I think teams are starting to figure out how to play him, but especially in the left he doesn’t add too much. I think this game could have used a Nelson as a inverted left winger. He would have been tidy and able to retain the ball effectively which I’m worried Saka’s starting to lose

Can’t help but feel Xhaka rigidness and his inability to move his hips/body quickly limits the progression of the ball down the right hand side either. Not to blame for yesterday but just something I’ve noticed when he plays in central midfield

Good pod and I don’t think you let yourselves drift into it’s all doom and gloom (which could have been easily done).

Lookin forward to the main pod, see what sir Clive, thought of Sambi . He looks another top prospect, in amongst the doom and gloom.

Looked every bit the ageing player in decline, Scott called it perfectly on the season prediction pod

From inside the ground Xhaka looked terrible, game played around him, wasn't even quick enough to make the fouls he wanted, slowed possession down,

I really dislike the idea that we have to expect to lose against city or Chelsea etc. Even smaller teams and relegation threatened teams can pull off results and we shouldn't go into the games expecting a loss just because. I really thought arteta got it wrong with his instructions to Tierney to come inside and allow James all that space on our left. I really have no faith in Arteta and I think we should move on before we get involved in a relegation battle

I feel like we have to play 3 at the back against city to avoid a massive defeat…. The Chelsea score is flattering should have been 4/5 nil….

Two games now. All about Pressing and one v ones in the most important areas of the pitch. Xhaka. Xhaka. Xhaka, Xhaka. Standing off, standing off. Letting the kids run. 2 managers down, 1 to go. He is poison to the teams performance.

Wonder your analogy of Jenkinson and Kolasinac hold true for Arteta as well. After his FA Cup win it's been frankly downhill

I think the fact Arteta has bought young players tells you he thinks his job is very secure

I agree Xhaka tried to lead by trying to be everywhere, I don’t know why Saka wasn’t tracking James, seemed quite unfit.

I want to say thank you. And also it’s a low bar 😂

Guys, nothing to do with the game…well, I guess it kinda does because of what we put ourselves through today. But just wanna say the new intro song deserves a team better than the one we have right now. It’s amazing. I’d have much rather listened to it on repeat than watch Lukaku beat the shit out of Mari for 90 today.

Daydreaming

I mean Elliot what was Cedric doing back there on the 1st goal?,,, 🤦‍♂️

Honestly pass it to Tierney has become a joke. It's making him look bad. There is no element of surprise mixing up and opposition knows it very well. Frankly Arteta is out of his depth. Give him Man. C team he will ground them tk death. I dont see us going forward with him. His football philosophy is Fifa game pretty robotic and nothing to write about. It's depressing to watch Arsenal nowadays.

Xhakas counting stats usually tell you he’s a good/great player. My eyes tell me that his positioning was a problem. If we are intent on sending tierney up the left wing and playing mostly in the opposing half then you need xhaka slotting in to cover

I imagine it would be nice to be a Chelsea fan . . . we can always dream to experience those highs again haha

😃

This is the most goofy and joyful I’ve heard Elliot being in a intro in a long time. Not gonna lie, it lifted my spirits.

I think Lukaku attached himself to Mari more so. Which made sense from his point of view.

It feels laughable that Arteta and his backroom team wasn't bigging Holding up for a man marking job on Lukaku. He lives for that shit. Long season ahead 😏

But the RBs seems basically interchangeable. None are very good.

Same

I hope Cedric isn't first choice.

I think that slightly let’s us off the hook. Saka, Pepe, ESR, Xhaka, Tierney, Leno, Cedric could all be first choice

That first eleven was more or less back up players. No need to analyse the game. When worst come to worst it’s all about the players. This isn’t the Arsenal we will we see this season, unless COVID keeps on messing with us. No need to panic because if this game.

He’s a weird player because some people see the limitations and other people see the things he’s does well. Last season I really think he was mostly excellent. Today I think his positioning was a problem. As Clive points out, when the going gets tough, Xhaka starts running around trying to be everywhere

Ive just looked up some of your precious statistics since you see football like we're in the matrix 😉. Xhaka had more touches, tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocked shots, dribbles, and key passes than Sambi (and fewer yellow cards). I dont see it like this. Sambi looked fantastic going forward. I just wonder if for all Xhakas flaws, teams would steam roll through the middle of us even easier if he wasnt playing (as demonstrated last year).

Jake Walker

Chelsea didn't get out of 2nd/3rd gear and Arteta tries to be too clever IMO.

And a half decent CB

Yes

Agreed…. We saw it differently 😃 😂 They created a ton (3.1-0.5 on xG and 22 shots). Really it was the first half that was demoralizing. Agree Tierney deserves criticism. Can’t make out what we were doing on the left.

Feel like I watched a different game today. Thought Xhaka looked great off the ball. Felt ESR was missing a lot as our number 10. Tierney was awful, which is uncool to say. No mention of the penalty. Holding missing a sitter. Chelsea werent great and we met expectations with a bad defence and inexperienced attack.

Jake Walker

Did not watch the game. Sounds like I skip this one??

This game shows why a CM/DM who is quick/ athletic/confrontational is very important in this team.