Boxing Day Massacre Good selection Walcott we must press on

This was an overwhelming and comprehensive victory, but that wasn’t immediately obvious at 43 minutes, indeed it was so frustrating for the committed fan that the Gunner next to me led a one man walk out on 42 minutes. He was so frustrated by the lack of real chances up to that time that he decided he would prefer an early break to enduring the tension.

 Most fans however did not follow suit, and there were probably less early half time departures than for a very long time. Indeed the fans were in good form and let the team know how much beating Chelsea meant to them.

For much of the first half Arsenal seemed to be determined to walk the ball into the net. With nine of Chelsea’s midfielders firmly behind the ball it seemed that the Gunners tactics would fail, as Arsenal players tripped over each other, or the crowd of men in blue. Most of the “walking in” occurred outside of the box. As much as Arsenal had dominated, apart from one great save, they had not forced that much out of Cech.

Mythology has it that after the Polish Cavalry were defeated by German tanks in 1939 the Polish high command ordered more horses. Arsenal having failed to score by walking the ball into the net sent in more walkers. Unlike the Polish Cavalry (an event that never actually happened), sending in more players to try and walk the ball in succeeded.

On 44 minutes the crowd were urging the team to shoot, but Jack and Alex Song were happy to keep on passing back and forth between themselves, finally Song put us all out of our misery and put the ball past Cech into the net, thus proving that “walking in” can work.

The crowd celebrated wildly, certain that Chelsea were going down to defeat. At the half time post mortem we were all quietly confident, although only one goal up the feeling was that Chelsea had not created very much at all, and that Arsenal were defending well.

The defence, with Djourou, looked solid, and the mobile midfield was performing well. On 50 minutes our optimism was justified, a Walcott pass to Cesc was comfortably passed into the net. The celebrations were so wild that the bloke in the row behind me fell into our row and had to be dragged out from under the seats.

We had hardly stopped celebrating before Cesc laid on a pass for Walcott to score on 53 minutes. Three nil up after 53 minutes, we could hardly believe it, nor could Chelsea, who finally, at being 3-0 down, started to fight back. Four minutes later Chelsea pulled one back from a poorly defended free kick.

It seemed as if we would have to endure a squeaky posterior session, but this Chelsea team is so poor that apart from a clearly offside goal they created little of note. Meanwhile Arsenal squandered at least three very good chances that should have settled it once and for all.

The greybeards started a chant of “keep the ball”, sound advice which paid off, it’s a good job we were there to help these youngsters at a time like this. Now the crowd were twirling their scarves continental style, very few left early as they acclaimed the team, and jeered Cole. The score of 3-1 flattered Chelsea.

Wenger’s team selection

There is no doubt that this is one of the poorest Chelsea team’s in a long time, having won only one of its last eight games, and suffering the worst defeat at Arsenal since 1996, but credit where credit is due Wenger got his team selection 100% right.

When the team sheet went up the guy next to me agreed that this was a well balanced team, it was built for mobility and speed, the answer to tanks isn’t more horses, but faster tanks. This team was so mobile that it made the Chelsea team look old and ponderous, which for the most part it is.

True the lack of a target man, or a real goal scoring striker seemed to be a weakness for the Gunners, but the midfield was full of potential goal scorers. Walcott, Fabregas, Wilshere and Song can all score on their day, and for most of them it was. It also meant that Song did not have to be over adventurous, even though it took his goal to break the deadlock.

Meanwhile Djourou ensured that the defence was proactive, going to the ball rather than waiting for it to arrive. Apart from the free kick the defence, including Clichy, had a solid game, they did not crumble at 3-1.

The selection also meant that players such as Arshavin, Chamakh, Rosicky and Diaby were available, there was firepower to spare.

Walcott gets it right – press on

Normally, I hate to hear footballers yak yak, it’s usually rubbish and its pride before a fall, but Walcott got it right after the match, his explanation for the victory was that Arsenal never gave up pressing. He is absolutely right, but it will mean nothing if Arsenal do not keep up the pressing game in every match they play. It’s when they stand off teams that the results go pear shape.

Chelsea clearly thought it was enough to turn up, Arsenal fought for the right to play, now they have to do that at Wigan this Wednesday, and again at Birmingham on Saturday, anything less will make a mockery of this fine victory.

Arsenal have finally proved they can beat a big team, but now they must beat the rest.