Finally, this had to happen. Our unbeaten streak against Arsenal has come to an end after nearly four years. After signing a brand new 4-year contract, this is certainly not the next best thing to happen for Avram Grant. We played very well and made Arsenal look second best for most of the time at the Emigrants stadium. It was pleasure to see Arsenal putting eleven men behind the ball for 45 minutes hoping for a counterattack. If any gooners are reading, let them know that ‘the better team lost’. Playing at home, all men behind the ball is nothing to be proud of. Anyway, that made certain things clear!

A draw would have been a very fair result for the game but luck was on Arsenal’s side which meant they take the three points. Arsenal owes some amount of their current state to Chelsea as they got our William Gallas who was a captain material and brought them the Chelsea spirit and determination. Billy was the first one to admit that they were lucky:

I was really surprised to see the ball come onto my head but sometimes you have to be lucky. Today I was a little bit lucky as Petr is usually a good, good goalkeeper.

We started rather quietly but went about nullifying them with some ease. If Arsenal had two shots on goal in 45 minutes at the Emigrants, then you can imagine. They were never going to break the Chelsea defence. The timely tackles and brilliant interceptions by the Chelsea defence and midfield meant Arsenal could not even get half chances. The only way they were going to score was by a defensive error. Otherwise, I was completely sure that we had the measure of their predictable game and would never allow them to have a sniff at the goal. Petr Cech made a rare error of not collecting the ball when he had to. Also Ben Haim thought standing still would help him control a diving Gallas.

I love the ‘Chelsea vs Arsenal’ encounters to see how our defence and midfield decimate their attack. Suddenly their one-twos and one-touch football would have deserted them. Just like the way you screw up with your card trick when the whole party is looking at you. While the gooners were saying that they would teach us a lesson in football at the Emigrants, surely they were expecting Chelsea to put them in deep defence for 45 freaking minutes!

When the final whistle was blown, Arsenal must have been playing with just nine men. Eboue must have been sent off for that malicious and criminal foul on Terry. No arguments. Based on the red cards given to Mikel against Man Utd and Essien recently, the referee must have sent Eboue off. It was only football karma that Eboue had to be stretchered off later on. Towards the end, classless Fibreglass must have been red carded for that disgusting, unprofessional, unsportsmanlike, stinking scissors tackle from behind on Ashley Cole. Of course, Alan Wiley must have sent off Fibreglass, only after allowing Ashley to have his chance of giving him a tight slap. Surely this is a coincidence that these two players are from my hate list. I just HATE them, always! Don’t ask me why!

Finally, let me put it this way. Arsenal are good but look very ordinary against the teams that can shut them off tactically. They pass around when they are allowed and cannot do much against a team that can defend and understand the game better than them. Arsenal are simply riding their luck, of late. The most impressive team in this league so far is Man Utd and they are the team to beat. Okay, my rant on Arsenal is over.

Tactically, we played Arsenal the same way we have been playing them of late. Ended up with 8 shots on target to Arsenal’s 5 shots. Some of the chances in front of the goal were not very well taken (read ‘Shaun Wrong Phillips’). Almunia had a great game. We did not play to our advantage of using the long range shooters. Too often we were passing around in the attacking third, when there were occasions of space and time for a scorcher. Guess the ‘beauty bug’ has bitten us. When we are trailing, our first priority is to equalise, everything else, I mean everything else, should take a backseat.

Avram’s starting line up was debatable. SWP should not have started. Going by his current form, he can’t even be on the bench. I don’t know why Grant relied on him so much for this big match while most of his (few) good performances have come only against smaller oppositions. He is not a big match player, for that matter, he should not have started even if we were playing only Derby County.

I thought the substitutions were delayed. Trailing by a goal at half time, we should have reacted immediately instead of another 20 minutes. I would have preferred a double
substitution by half time. That sends a message out to the opponent that we are going to take the game to them. Also that kind of brings the game alive for us. Moreover, there were a couple of players who were playing poorly. In the half time, either they must have been given a kick in the backside or should have got subbed. It did not take 75 minutes for me to realise that we are going to get nothing from SWP today.

When Terry was going off, I would have brought on Belletti as the right back and moved Paulo as the centre back. These guys are big match players and are much better players by quality or form, over Ben Haim. Ben Haim was supposed to mark Gallas and probably we had about 10 seconds to go for the first half whistle. Arsenal corner. What would you expect Ben Haim to do? Defend like his life depended on it. What did he do? Watch Gallas score a header from a best possible viewing angle. Yes, Cech made the primary error but he has earned too much credit over the last few seasons to be really pulled up for an one-off error. Europe’s best goalkeeper just showed that he is human.

And finally, time to eat some humble pie. I was wrong about Shevchenko’s desire to play and to contribute in this match. He played very well by his Chelsea standards and on another day could have scored a goal. He was good but was not commanding his area like he should. He certainly showed the interest and commitment and tried as much as he can. Joe Cole is slowly going back to his pre-JM days. His contributions are becoming smaller by the day. Ashley Cole did fairly well today. He was very good at times but made a couple of silly errors but he did not disappoint me in this match.

Two players who deserve special mention were Mikel and Lampard. Mikel today was almost flawless. Amazing understanding of the game and tremendous composure and conviction. Lampard was very impressive and inspirational and played a major role, alongwith Mikel, in ensuring Arsenal could not even shoot in the first half. But Lampard was playing a defensive role which did not do justice to his strengths. Lampard did not try to shoot even when he got the ball in his zone. That part was disappointing. That’s his strength – tried, tested and found successful.

Avram Grant said this after the match:

We played the first-placed team today with all their best players and there was no difference from us to them. I think we deserved at least a draw. The first-half we defended very well. We held the ball and they didn’t create even once chance, not even the goal. Second-half was even better. We created two great chances but Alumina today was good. He made two great saves so we deserved more and I am disappointed. In these two games against Man United and Arsenal, it was disappointing because I think we could have had more than we did – but the gap is six points and six points in this time of the season is not the end of the world. We can do it. It will not be easy but it is possible.

We are currently at No.4, trailing Arsenal by 6 points. Not a disaster. Both Man Utd and Arsenal would be losing points and we still have to play them at Stamford Bridge. We will catch ‘em up. One thing is for sure. We need replacements. I’m sure Grant will be given the freedom to buy the players he wants. Most of the available quality players from top teams are cup tied. Still if Avram is keen on the league, he should look at Villa, Eto’o, Quaresma, Dani Alves and the like. One consolation after the defeat. Avram Grant did not say anything about our ‘new’ football style and how we win and play good football, ‘unlike before’. Oh yes! I know why!