First, what a game! Chance after chance for both teams and a well-played game overall. At some level, a game of two halves, as Liverpool dominated the opening 45 and Chelsea looked constantly menacing in the second until Glen Johnson’s brilliant run and finish. Yet watching the game I became increasingly hopeful that Arsenal could be on the cusp of reaffirming their spot in the top four. And in a surprising turn of events, it could be at Chelsea’s expense. A lot of people will call me crazy, and it must be remembered that they had a terrible run of form around this time last season before rebounding, but this team really looks old and creaky even with the second half rebound that came up a little short.
One could argue that if they don’t figure out the problems with their back line, they might be in for a prolonging of what’s becoming a tough stretch. A team that was among the best defensive squads in the premiership last year is just too prone to errors, a step or two slow and often quite average on set pieces. The reality is that John Terry has lost a step (and committed surprising errors under pressure), Ashley Young is getting older, David Luis seems like a lost child (Alex the much better choice in my opinion) and even Cech not the same goalkeeper he’s been for so long. Going forward, this is also not the team of the past few years who had a beautiful flow that could get the ball seamlessly from one end to the other for open crosses and shots. Yes, they were more menacing in the second, but based primarily on getting in good crosses on slow builds.
So what is the problem? Well, it appears to be the age of the team more than anything. Drogba and Malouda are both a step slower, Lampard is on a good run of form but certainly getting up there, the aforementioned age of the back line troubling and a host of other starters and supporters closer to the end of their career than the beginning -- all adding up to potential trouble. Mata is a great young player that might be the heart of a rebuilt squad, Meireles has played really well lately (and one wonders why he didn’t start), Sturridge shows real quality and a bright future and one assumes that Torres will again find the form that made him one of the best strikers in the world (even as the question “when” becomes more dire with each passing week), but after that I think there are as many questions as answers. Given the mercurial nature of Abramovich, one wonders if the wunderkind coach might be feeling real pressure of a looming sack, particularly as serious tactical and selection choices can be asked this week. Among them, why not start the two ex-Liverpool players that might shine against their old squads? Why wait so long to bring Torres in? For a guy that appears to have serious confidence problems, not starting him here can’t help. Villa-Boas might have been moved to a pressure cooker too soon – particularly with a number of older players that have already tasted success (and maybe the best living coach).
Liverpool
Obviously a great win, pulling them even with the Blues (and us). One issue for this team appears to be putting the ball in the back of the net if your name isn’t Suarez (remember it looked like a goalless draw against Arsenal until Frimpong was sent off). But the forgotten man, Maxi Rodriguez, slotted in the first goal, the rejuvenated Glen Johnson (after an injury) the second and the quality going forward for this team is unquestionable. Oddly Liverpool appears to play best against quality opponents and really drops in form against the lesser opponents of the Premiership (Swansea and Norwich to name two). I’ve also noticed them dropping in form in the second half of several games, letting other teams get back into it (even as they then sometimes grab the winner late). This is a dangerous team that probably should secure a sport in the top four, though you never know.
What is clearly the case is that the competition for the top four is more open this year than in a long time. The two Manchesters seem secure (even as Man Poo just doesn’t seem that great), but no one else has firmly ensconced themselves at the top. In fact, we are tied on points for fourth (only behind on goal differential with the 8-2 loss in the mix) and I sense Newcastle is about to come back to reality. It’s heartening to see the Gunners form in the past two months, but it is clear we have to keep on winning to find our way back to the Champions League next year. The really good news is Wilshire, Gibbs and Sagna should be back in January and that maybe the youngsters Oxlade and Ryo will have a chance to shine with the first squad soon (particularly in January when we lose several players to the African Cup). The other good news is the top squads are all playing each other in the coming weeks and our only remaining game in the first half against a top club is Man City.
Following up on my post from yesterday, I think one challenge for Arsene and Arsenal this winter will be convincing players to join with Van Persie’s future still in question. We have already been rebuffed by a number of players including Mata (though that appeared to be partially related to our unwillingness to pay a fair price), but many including long term targets Hazard and M’Villa are uncertain of whether they want to take a chance with a team that hasn’t won silverware in six long years or go the Spain or big spender route. Arsenal used to be the go-to place for young talent, but now the money and allure of instant success seems to be stronger. So are we in a Catch-22? I don’t think so, really. We might not bring in the top prospects in Europe (which would be a pity), but we have so many players on our radar, I hope we bring in a few of them. Ideally for me, it would be two Germans (Goetze and Podolski), a Belgian (Verhoeven – who, by the way, is very versatile and can play in the centre, right wing or as a defensive midfielder) and a Frenchman (M’Villa). I also wouldn’t find a few other names being bandied about including the “Russian Messi” or Pato (though that seems less likely than Podolski). The chance we might have with the top players is the guarantee of first team play, which is harder to come by at Real Madrid or other top clubs. On a related note, rumors of Song going to Barcelona seem absurdly exaggerated and one wonders what he is really holding out for. I am not convinced that Coquelin and/or Frimpong wouldn’t be better long term prospects and/or that M’Villa would add an element moving forward that Song doesn’t always deliver. Don’t get me wrong, he has played quite well for us this year; it’s just the number of passes he doesn’t complete going forward that bothers me (the assist yesterday was lovely). Go Gunners!
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