Arsenal Home – View From In Front Of My Screen
So, after our battling midweek win against Zagreb and more defensive injuries, we face a tough London derby vs Arsenal, who had the luxury of resting more players than us and bring a fully rested squad to the Bridge.
Auba is upfront for us, let’s hope the former player curse comes back to haunt the Gunners.
To be honest I am a bit concerned about this game and would be happy with a point at this stage.
The minutes silence is well respected.
Arsenal pressing early on, then a weak foul from Cucurella on Saka brings a dangerous free-kick, Cucurella makes amends by clearing it.
Arsenal win another free-kick but its easily cleared.
Mendy then kicks a great long ball to Sterling who passes to Havertz who makes the wrong choice of cross and it goes out for a throw in.
Ben White then has a shooting chance but puts it wide.
Arsenal having a lot of room down Chelsea’s right.
Chelsea then put a couple of balls into the Arsenal box, but they are both cleared by the head of White.
Another free-kick for Arsenal given away by Cucurella
Martinelli then has a dig from distance that goes over the bar.
Comedy moment as Zinchenko fluffs a throw in as the ball drops at his feet
Still Arsenal pressing and asking more questions of the Chelsea defence.
RLC then loses the ball to Jesus on the edge of the area, but his shot is well blocked by Silva, who sends Chelsea on the attack but it comes to nothing.
Arsenal players going down way too easily and keep getting the free-kicks.
Odegaard bundles Sterling over in the centre circle to stop a Chelsea attack.
Arsenal then want a foul, but the ref lets play continue, Chelsea win a free-kick on the left but its cleared.
Mendy again under pressure after a pass back pumps the ball away, that is worryingly reminiscent of his previous mistakes .
Ben White is then caught late by Auba, who gets the 1st yellow card for that tackle, Arsenal players surround the ref complaining.
28 mins Martinelli whips in a great cross to Jesus who heads it wide with the goal begging.
Havertz wins our first corner, Mount finds the head of Silva who heads wide under pressure.
Sterling finds Havertz who puts in a weak cross/shot easily gathered by the goalie as Auba threatened.
A good corner from Saka is headed over.
Chelsea a little bit more settled in their play now, both sides having chances.
Saka is fairly barged off the ball by Cucurella, Arteta is doing his nut on the sidelines at that, then Saka is booked for a petulant foul back on Cucurella
Arsenal still finding lots of joy on Chelsea’s right.
1 additional minute, Martinelli wins a corner, cleared at the near post.
Half time, what can Potter do to up the Blues game? Arsenal seem to have the edge.
No subs at half time and a minute gone Cucurella needlessly barges over Saka for a free-kick.
Silva clears it for a corner, easily cleared by Auba
A rare Arsenal mistake and Auba wins a corner, its cleared for another one.
Azpi then wins the ball cleanly and is harshly booked as Martinelli kicks him and injures himself.
Partey is lucky not to be booked for breaking up a RLC attack.
Mount sends a ball into the box but again an Arsenal head is there first
Mendy does well to punch away a good cross into the box.
The game pauses for a medical issue in the stands.
59 mins Chalobah is booked for taking out Jesus after another Cucurella mistake.
Broja is warming up
Silva is taken out by Jesus whose shot is blocked by Mendy for a corner
64 mins and from the corner from Saka the ball goes straight through at least 3 players and Gabriel puts it in the net. 1-0 and on the balance of play deserved.
Broja on for the ineffective Auba and Gallagher for Havertz
Chelsea on the ropes a bit.
Arsenal well organized and Chelsea seem to have no ideas how to break through their defensive lines.
Jesus fouls Silva again as Kovacic strips off, The Arsenal fans in full voice.
A good counter attack from Arsenal sees Odegaard put the ball over the bar.
Chelsea trapped in their own half and can’t keep the ball.
77mins. Several changes see Tierney, Kovacic and Pulisic on for Zinchenko, Mount and RLC.
Ben White booked for delaying taking a free-kick
Cucurella then is fortunate not to give away a penalty after a review from VAR.
White gives away a throw in after a good run and cross from Sterling.
Chelsea have increased their pace finally.
82mins and a Chelsea corner from Gallagher is cleared.
85 mins and Gallagher is booked for dragging back Tiernay
86 captain Odegaard is replaced by Elneny
Good defending by Arsenal stops a promising through ball to Gallagher
Sterling then booked for a pull back
5 minutes of extra time
Xhaka then gets involved with Chalaboh in front of the Arsenal fans as he stops him giving the ball back to Mendy leading to a scuffle, he’s lucky not to get booked after a chat with ref Oliver.
Arsenal then make a time wasting sub Holding on for Martinelli. The whistle goes and it’s back to back defeats for the Blues.
Arsenal go back to the top, 3rd straight win against us, and deserved.
We are lacking pace and width at the moment and are definitely missing Reece James. Cucurella still looks like a fish out of water and is a liability.
Chelsea man of the match for me was Silva again for his defensive work, for Arsenal you could choose pretty much any player, as they all fought hard and played well wanting the win more than us.
Jack Russell
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