Tuesday 29th
October from The Emirates:
Arsenal 0 – 2 Chelsea
I said to myself I would start going to more away games this
season. First stop was the Emirates; which is much closer to my office than
Stamford Bridge but an away game nevertheless. Arriving there I wasn’t sure
we’d get in. The tickets looked like they were for a raffle, not a football
match. But they were real and as we entered the Emirates the singing began. It
didn’t stop the whole night.
I think the Emirates is a fantastic ground. I’d be proud if
Chelsea had something similar, but larger size does mean less of an atmosphere.
The modern architecture is plastered in history. I especially like how their
trophies are etched around the stadium’s interior. It allows us the chance to
double check our math before we remind every last fan how long it’s been since
they last saw silverware…and confirm that Ashley Cole has indeed won the
European Cup.
I love when Chelsea
shut Arsenal fans up. I don’t necessarily hate all Arsenal fans, but they seem to
have more annoying followers than any other team. To prove my point; take the
three most famous followers of the North London club. They are Fidel Castro,
Piers Morgan and Osama Bin Laden – and I’m not sure who’s the worst person in
that trio.
Chelsea’s squad was exactly as I predicted. Arsenal’s however
was much stronger with Ramsey and Wilshere in the centre. We established
ourselves well, controlling possession like the home team and winning all our
individual battles. That being said; the game was flat and it looked like only
a mistake or stroke of genius would break the deadlock. We received both. We
broke from an Arsenal corner and received another gift (2 in 3 days) as
Jenkinson messed up his header to allow us to poke home. We broke so quickly I
couldn’t tell who scored. It looks like Dave, but it couldn’t be. It surely
wasn’t Dave. No, who else is on? Who scored? Dave? DAVE!! Fantastic to see that
hunger to get so far up the pitch and get his first goal. Azpilicueta – we’ll
just call you Dave. 1-0 at the break.
The second half was as one-sided as the first. Bertrand and
Luiz were exceptional at the back and Willian was my man of the match. We’ve
definitely got the depth to win this competition, something Arsenal have not.
Bendtner might as well have been sitting with me all game and Ryo didn’t get
past Bertrand in several attempts. Then entered potential game-changer Mesut
Ozil and the home crowd could finally be heard. This was to be brief.
3 minutes
after the German’s arrival mustered what appeared to be a fight back, Juan Mata
controlled Willian’s header with that golden touch of his and unleashed a
curler into the corner of the goal. 2-0 and the singing got louder. Giroud came on after and did more in 5
minutes than Bendtner had done all game but it was too little too late.
Schwarzer had a quiet evening but superbly answered every late question he was
asked to ensure we kept a clean sheet and control of the game. The match ended
2-0 and now we move on with Wembley and hopefully more silverware beckoning.
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