Chelsea ended Arsenal’s unbeaten premier league run with a 2-0 victory at SW6. Hazard converted a penalty gifted by Koscielny in the 1st half before Costa made it too in the 2nd half from Fabregas’ assist.
Match Report. Arsene Wenger’s comment. ESPN FC Player Ratings.
The Five :
1. Unbeaten Ends.
Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier league season came to an end in Stamford Bridge. The gunners had 4 draws and 2 wins from the previous 6 games but tasted their first defeat of the season in thr League to Mourinho’s Chelsea. 2 wins from 7 is bad, 10 points from 21 is below average. The gunners will have to do better to mount a better challenge if they are to be taken serious.
2. The Fear of Whitewash
The 6-0 drubbing last season still hung over the gunners and gooners worldwide. Many conceded defeat even before kickoff, hoping on diety to save Arsenal. With the acquisition of Costa and Fabregas, this Chelsea team looked more capable of repeating the whitewash but a 2-0 scoreline was a respectable defeat scoreline compared to 6-0. What we feared befell us but we must rise.
3. Arsene Should Have Signed Fabregas.
Fabregas was given the Man of the match award after he racked in his 7th assist of the season for Costa’s goal. Arsenal had the 1st option to buy their product back from Barcelona but the presence of too many 10s made Wenger to overlook the option. Wenger should have brought Fabregas back atleast for the sake that he was going to add much quality to his rivals. Welbeck will surely have benefited from Fabregas ‘ assists but it may have relegated Ramsey to the bench.
4. Yellow or Red?
Tackles went flying at Stamford bridge with Cahill choping Sanchez off from behind in the first half. Atkinson deemed it fit to give the Englishman a mere yellow card for a red card offence. Koscienly escaped being sent off as he gave away a penalty. Was he the last defender as he brought Hazard to the turf? Yellow or red? Calum Chambers walked a tight rope a through the game, bagging a yellow card and will count himself lucky to finish the game despite an above average display. Chambers will definitely miss the next game due to accumulated yellow card suspension. How flamini finished the game without a yellow is a mystery for Zeus and co. Welbeck will count his stars that his two footed challenge was just yellow carded. Fabregas will be grateful that his handball was overlooked in the box.
5. Wenger’s Shove but awaits his first Jose Win
Arsene Wenger shoved Jose Mourinho as their long-running feud turned physical in a 2-0 win which saw Chelsea take a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Wenger refused to take a backwards step in the 20th minute after leaving his technical area following Gary Cahill’s tackle from behind on Alexis Sanchez. Mourinho told the Frenchman to “back off” as their rivalry endured another ugly episode, with the Gunners boss firmly planting two hands on the Portuguese’s chest – risking Football Association disciplinary action – and the pair also eye-balling each other in close quarters.
No, what is there to regret after that? I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome. B was Alexis, to see how badly he was injured.
…I can try to push you and when [I do] you will see what my [pushes are really like]. It was a little one. – Wenger on Shove
Wenger may have won the shoving contest but he awaits his win over Mourinho. When will that be?
It is the international break. Away from Arsenal. The gunners can lick their wounds and unleash their vernom on Hull. For now, my heart goes to the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they take on Sudan in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.
Enjoy.
SoccerGunz 