We Ain't Got No History - Chelsea finally win at home, defeating Arsenal 2-1Champions of Europe!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52884/21_SBN_002_We_Aint_Got_No_History_Favicon_32x32..png2013-01-21T16:42:30+00:00http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/rss/stream/36586972013-01-21T16:42:30+00:002013-01-21T16:42:30+00:00How Chelsea beat Arsenal
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Chelsea dominated the game in the first half, passing quickly and moving purposefully. Arsenal improved drastically after the break, but the home side hung on to take all three points with a narrow 2-1 win.</p> <p><a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a>’s 4-2-3-1: <span>Petr Cech</span> (1); <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> (28), <span>Gary Cahill</span> (24), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110687/branislav-ivanovic" class="sbn-auto-link">Branislav Ivanovic</a> (2), <span>Ashley Cole</span> (3); Ramires (7), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a> (8), <span>Juan Mata</span> (10), Oscar (11), <span>Eden Hazard</span> (17); <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> (9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a>’s 4-2-3-1: <span>Wojciech Szczesny</span> (1); <span>Bacary Sagna</span> (3), <span>Per Mertesacker</span> (4), <span>Thomas Vermaelen</span> (5), <span>Kieran Gibbs</span> (28); <span>Jack Wilshere</span> (10), <span>Theo Walcott</span> (14), <span>Santi Cazorla</span> (19), <span>Francis Coquelin</span> (22), <span>Abou Diaby</span> (2); Oliver Giroud (12).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044717/Formations.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044717/Formations_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Formations_medium"></a> <br id="1358780452317"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With <span>David Luiz</span> enjoying life just a little less due to injury, Rafa Benitez had other choice but to use Lampard and Ramires in the double pivot. I’m not sure if Ramires would have been picked otherwise, but the Brazilian made the difference in this game. His energy, pace and aggressiveness unsettled Arsenal’s midfield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Further forward, the trio of Oscar, Mata and Hazard buzzed around the attacking third behind Torres (OMFG!! HIS HAIRRR!!!). The same three attacking midfielders started against <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a>, but this time with a little twist: Oscar, who usually plays on the right, now operated mostly on the left, and Hazard swapped to the right flank. The three creative players often switched positions, but interestingly, the player in the middle tended to drift to the right while the one on the left stayed wide (more on this later).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Arsene Wenger</span> trusted the same team that started against Swansea in the FA Cup: Cazorla switched to the left, Wilshere put in the hole, and Coquelin partnered Diaby in central midfield. <span>Mikel Arteta</span> was not available for this game (possibly still dealing with post traumatic stress disorder instigated by Oscar’s relentless hounding in the reverse fixture) and Arsenal will miss the Spaniard’s calm passing and positional discipline. Cazorla and Walcott pushed up high and were of very little help to their fullbacks when Chelsea attacked in the first half. But Walcott’s diagonal runs from his wide position posed problems to the Chelsea defense in both sides of the break.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the kick-off, Chelsea stormed out with an intensity of a bull determined of buck off the rider on its back*. They pressed and chased the opposition down fiercely, and moved the ball quickly from defense/midfield to attack with great efficiency.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*This, y’all, is probably the most American/Southern metaphor I’ve ever come up with. Yeehaw! </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044733/Build_on_right__switch_to_left.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044733/Build_on_right__switch_to_left_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Build_on_right__switch_to_left_medium"></a> <br id="1358780597119"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chelsea had a clear pattern of attack in the first half and it is neatly illustrated by the passing charts of the influential Juan Mata. During the first 45 minutes, Mata received short passes frequently on the right flank as he worked together with Hazard and Azpilicueta, but he would then switch the ball to the left with diagonal passes. Buildup on the right, change point of attack quickly to the left. With Arsenal right-back Sagna pushing forward and the right-sided center-back Mertesacker moving at the pace of a depressed tortoise, Chelsea wide players on the left had the time and space to collect the long passes and attack the Arsenal goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another key point from the first half is the role of Ramires as the play-breaker in midfield. The Brazilian is not a great passer but his pace and energy makes him a perfect off-the-ball midfielder. He can press, chase and tackle with seemly endless vigor, shifting between the "running" gear and the "running really fast" gear. He is not suited for the double pivot role when Chelsea needs to control possession (*ahem* foreshadowing *cough*) but he is ideal player to torment a newly assembled Arsenal midfield, untested by counter-attacking Swansea side in midweek. Ramires was the top tackler at half-time (3 successful/6 attempts) and at full-time (5/9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044741/First_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044741/First_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="First_goal_medium"></a> <br id="1358780636625"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This attacking pattern of switching quickly from right to left and hard-tackling from Ramires combined to create Chelsea’s first goal. Ramires plowed through Coquelin to win possession for Chelsea at the center circle. Azpilicueta picked up the loose ball and countered quickly. Torres, who was marked by Vermaelen, started to drift to the right wing. Meanwhile Oscar advanced forward from the center in a slight angle toward the right, drawing the attention of Mertesacker. With Sagna out of position on Chelsea’s left, Mata had the leisure of floating into the big gap between Mertesacker and Sagna. Azpilicueta’s delivery was great, Mata’s first touch and finish were even better. Just like that, the home side were 1-0 up.</p>
<p>Chelsea continued to boss the game until the break; another strong challenge from Ramires in midfield would set up the second goal for the Blues.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044813/Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044813/Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal_medium"></a></p>
<p>Day and night. Jekyll and Hyde. Scotty Parker and Mario Balotelli. Pick your favorite metaphor! The second half was the complete opposite of the first. There wasn't any tactical change from either side, but Arsenal came out of the break with more determination and their overall game improved. They passed better, moved more purposefully and won 50-50 challenges. This turn of tide is captured accurately by the passing timeline above. Chelsea's passing line dropping off after half-time and crossing Arsenal's like an 'X'. The Blues had 9 goal attempts before the break and 5 after; the Gunners 2 before and 10 after.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044885/Walcott_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044885/Walcott_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Walcott_goal_medium"></a></p>
<p>As highlighted in <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysis">the scout report by one handsome (and very smart) gentleman</a>, Walcott was the main attack threat during this Arsenal ascendancy. The winger, bravely fighting off a serious case of <i>Sturridgitis</i>, was handful on Chelsea's left. He often starts his run from the wide position and attempts to get behind the Chelsea line with diagonal runs. The home side's offside traps eliminated this threat in the first half, but the timing of his run was got better.</p>
<p>The first warning shot came around 48th minute. Wilshere, quiet in the first half, picked up the ball in a deep position and lobbed the ball over the Chelsea defense. Walcott, positioned between Cole and Ivanovic, slipped behind the line. His shot from a tight angle was saved comfortably by Cech. Almost exactly the same kind of move would split the Chelsea defense 10 minutes later. This time Cazorla was the provider, threading a delightful pass between four Chelsea players. Walcott again glided in between Cole and Ivanovic to collect the pass and smashed the equalizer* into the net.</p>
<p><i>*Intentional mistake to see if you are paying attention. Nah. Just kidding. I was just stupid. This is a correction or whatever.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1401589/0gH7V.png"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1401589/0gH7V_medium.png" class="photo" alt="0gh7v_medium"></a></p>
<p>In a big match like this, it is not unusual (or problematic) to be pinned back in your own half for part of the game, especially if you are already 2-0 up. But in order to come out as the winner, you must be able to defend well and (a) slow down the game through precise passing when you have the ball or (b) break quickly and punish the opposition on the counter. Lampard and Ramires were unable to do (a), the two combined completed 17 passes in the second half. This is because Chelsea had relied on Mata to help out the ball movement from the midfield. Usually, the players in the double pivot finish the game as top passers but this time, Mata topped the chart both at half-time and full-time. A calm presence of a <span>John Obi Mikel</span> in central midfield would have done Chelsea some good in the second half.</p>
<p>Upfront, Torres was also not a reliable outlet for counter attacks. He couldn't get onto the direct deliveries from the back (see chart above) and lost the ball constantly--the Walcott goal came when he was dispossessed in midfield. The sight of <span>Demba Ba</span> warming up on the touchlines spurred Torres on to make some outstanding runs but his end product, much like his haircut, was disappointing.</p>
<p>It was pretty obvious that changes needed to be made, but the interim manager would wait very long to make them. <span>Ryan Bertrand</span> came on for tiring Oscar at 72nd minute and Ba for Torres at 81st minute. The defensive winger helped out Cole on the left and the Senegalese striker offered a viable direct passing option in Chelsea's attack. On a different day, Chelsea could have suffered a setback because of this delay in substitution.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Roman Abramovich's team scrapped by with a narrow win. Aside from the tremendous energy in the first half and the positioning of the three creative players, there wasn't anything particularly new Chelsea: Juan Mata is still the main man (although both Hazard and Oscar were brilliant in the first half); the midfield still can't control the tempo of the game when needed; Torres is toast. In this fine competition called "Who's Worse at Playing Football for 45 Minutes," Chelsea lost out to Arsenal by a small margin. But THREE POINTS!!!</p>
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https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/21/3897640/chelsea-vs-arsenal-match-analysis-tacticsLamin Oo2013-01-20T17:57:49+00:002013-01-20T17:57:49+00:00Schizophrenic Blues squeak past Arsenal
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Chelsea stormed to a 2-0 lead against Arsenal via goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard, and the visitors' 2nd-half comeback wasn't enough to prevent the Blues from emerging with a 2-1 victory and three vital points.</p> <p>Thank the football gods for <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a>, eh? After an incredibly poor run of form at Stamford Bridge culminated in Chelsea somehow coughing up a 2-0 lead to <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a> on Wednesday, a home win was required no matter the opposition. Fortunately, fate conspired to lead the Gunners to SW6, and that meant three happy (and snowy) points for the Blues.</p>
<p>With <span>Demba Ba</span> starting against both <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Stoke City</a> and Southampton, the stage was set for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> to try to make his mark in a big match. More surprising, perhaps, was the inclusion of all three of Oscar, <span>Eden Hazard</span> and <span>Juan Mata</span> for the second match in a row -- Oscar in particular had been out of favour under Benitez, and I wasn't expecting to see that trio again after the Southampton collapse.</p>
<p>This time, however, Hazard started on the right with Oscar on the left, a move that paid immediate dividends for the Blues. The latter had been virtually anonymous as a winger so far this season, but his move to the left paid immediate dividends, getting him involved in the game ahead of <span>Ashley Cole</span>. And on the opposite flank, Hazard was unplayable. Meanwhile, Arsenal were finding it almost impossible to get out of their own half.</p>
<p>For all that, it was the Gunners with the first genuine chance of the match. <span>Olivier Giroud</span> somehow found himself behind both <span>Gary Cahill</span> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110687/branislav-ivanovic" class="sbn-auto-link">Branislav Ivanovic</a> only to shoot wide with <span>Petr Cech</span> beaten. Oscar had already been denied what seemed like a fairly clear-cut penalty when <span>Abou Diaby</span> decided to rugby tackle him in the box with thirty seconds elapsed, but Martin Atkinson waved away <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea's</a> appeals for a spot kick.</p>
<p>No matter. The referee ended up doing us a favour shortly thereafter when Ramires caught Frances Coquelin trying to burst into Chelsea's half. Despite the Brazilian sinking his studs into the top of Coquelin's foot, the foul went uncalled and the Blues could break at speed. <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> picked out Mata -- <span>Bacary Sagna</span> hadn't bothered tracking back -- with a lovely crossfield pass and two perfect touches later <span>Wojciech Szczesny</span> was picking the football out of his net.</p>
<p>Chelsea weren't done after one goal, and Arsenal were looking completely and utterly hopeless. They couldn't hold onto possession and on the rare instances they emerged from their own half the Gunners completely failed to prevent quick transitions through Hazard and Mata. As it turned out, the Blues ended up getting Atkinson's help again.</p>
<p>Mata threaded a neat pass to Ramires, who danced around Szczesny and fell down as the goalkeeper made a rather futile challenge for the ball. It's pretty easy to see that one as a dive -- Ramires was already heading groundward when Szczesny's arm made contact -- but the referee pointed straight to the spot. Bizarrely, he then opted to show yellow rather than red for what should, after the penalty was called, been a clear red card offence.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a> was rather indifferent to the refereeing controversy, stepping up and slotting home for goal number 195 of his Chelsea career.</p>
<p>Still Arsenal neglected to do much of anything. <span>Theo Walcott</span> was lively but constantly offside, and the rest of the match was hilariously one-sided. With Wednesday's match in mind, however, Chelsea supporters would not have felt greedy in demanding another goal in order to feel completely comfortable.</p>
<p>Torres should have provided one just before the break after a free kick fell to him on the half volley only to see a bizarre effort fly off his ankle and into the stands. That chance proved to be the last of the half -- and the end of Chelsea's long spell of dominance.</p>
<p>After the restart, it looked like a completely different match. Arsenal had been tentative and toothless, unable to complete more than three passes without coughing up possession to a rampant Blues side. Now the roles were reversed.</p>
<p>A snap shot from <span>Per Mertesacker</span> miraculously found its way into Cech's arms barely two minutes into the second half. Then Walcott was denied after dancing into the box. <span>Jack Wilshere</span> was starting to come into the game by now, cruising past Ramires almost at will and pulling the strings as red shirts rushed forwards.</p>
<p>When the goal came, it was hardly a surprise. Torres miscontrolled the ball while backing into <span>Thomas Vermaelen</span>, and Arsenal pushed forwards at speed. Santi Carzola threaded an eye-of-the-needle pass to Walcott, and no linesman's flag was there to bail out Ivanovic and Cahill this time.</p>
<p>After 58 minutes of football, Chelsea led 2-1. It was a thoroughly uncomfortable lead, however -- whenever the visitors went on the attack the defence looked utterly flummoxed. Torres picked this opportunity to start getting back into the match, but despite a pair of brilliant runs, the striker managed to sabotage his own attempts on goal at the final moment.</p>
<p>The match called for substitutions to stabilise affairs, and Benitez opted to swap Oscar for <span>Ryan Bertrand</span> and deployed Ba in Torres' place. While Arsenal were still dominating possession, Chelsea were now looking dangerous on the counterattack* and nearly made it 3-1 when Ba rounded Szczesny only to see Vermaelen clear off the line.</p>
<p><i>*On one such counterattack, Wilshere attempted a cynical pullback on Ramires, and got an elbow to the face for his troubles. Atkinson seemed to think it was karma.</i></p>
<p>Most of the action, however, was coming at the other end of the pitch. The Gunners were desperate for a point -- a loss was going to see Chelsea open up an eleven point gap on their guests -- and surged forwards in numbers, putting Cech's goal virtually under siege as the match drew to a close.</p>
<p>Five minutes of injury time were marked with a cavalcade of Arsenal corners and some rather desperate last-ditch defending, the most impressive example of which was Cahill's vital intervention of Walcott just as the 23-year-old looked set to break Blue hearts. You could have cut the tension around Stamford Bridge with a knife.</p>
<p>Somehow, Chelsea muddled through. It wasn't pretty, but that doesn't make the result any less brilliant. Yes, the team needs to figure out how to hold possession and calm things down... but for now, let's just celebrate three vital points and a derby win against Arsenal.</p>
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https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/20/3896602/chelsea-vs-arsenal-final-score-result-2013Graham MacAree2013-01-20T15:23:52+00:002013-01-20T15:23:52+00:00Chelsea 2 - Arsenal 1: Initial Reaction
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<figcaption>Christopher Lee</figcaption>
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<p>Chelsea picked up a much needed home victory on Sunday, giving themselves a comfortable cushion as they look to secure Champions League football next season</p> <blockquote>
<p>"<a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a> don’t like playing against us."</p>
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<p>That was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-dont-like-playing-against-us-arsenal-star-jack-wilshere-taunts-blues-ahead-of-derby-8455325.html">what Jack Wilshere had to say</a> in advance of Chelsea renewing their rivalry with <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a> on Sunday. For the vast majority of the game, Wilshere's words just couldn't have seemed less true.</p>
<p>The first 45 minutes couldn't have been much more one-sided. Chelsea were in control from the opening whistle to half time, leading 2-0 at the break on the back of goals from <span>Juan Mata</span> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a>. A two goal deficit may have been a bit flattering to Arsenal as well, as they didn't look anything like a Champions League side for the vast majority of the opening frame.</p>
<p>The second half was a bit more evenly contested, as Arsenal made some adjustments that allowed them to get back into the game. <span>Theo Walcott</span> got in behind the Chelsea defense relatively early in the second half, and cut the deficit to 2-1. Unlike the <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a> game though, Chelsea would defend well and hold on for the three points.</p>
<p>Chelsea are now comfortably clear of Arsenal in the table, although the Gunners do have a game in hand due to their Boxing Day game being postponed. Here are some thoughts I had while this one was unfolding:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Rafa Benitez had his tactics paired perfectly with this lineup to start the game. This was exactly the sort of high pressure system that <span>Andre Villas-Boas</span> was attempting to install last season with little success, but the combination of his starting eleven and his opponent seemed to be a perfect situation in which to play that system today.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">As much as Benitez has been nailing his tactics to start the game recently, he continued his trend of recent failures to proactively make adjustments that should be relatively obvious. The Ryan Bertrand for Oscar move was exactly what Chelsea needed when they backed off the pressure, but that would have made much more sense about 20 minutes earlier when we started sitting deeper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I like the fact that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> ditched the locks and got out the clippers. While it obviously won't impact his performance at all, he just looks a bit more "serious" now, and less like the player we all remember from <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a>. Now how about passing the manager a razor?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The first half was exactly how I'd like to see <span>Eden Hazard</span> playing going forward. He's so good with the ball at his feet that he just needs to drive at his opponent to cause the defense loads of problems.</span></li>
<li><span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Juan Mata looked exhausted in the second half of this one. I'm sure Rafa Benitez will start him against Swansea anyway, but i'd much prefer to see him started on the bench for Swansea and Brentford and rested for our Premier League fixtures.</span></span></li>
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https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/20/3896312/chelsea-arsenal-initial-reaction-ratingsStephen Schmidt2013-01-20T14:22:39+00:002013-01-20T14:22:39+00:00Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Second Half Thread
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<figcaption>And that's how the cookie crumbles. | Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>A solid 2-0 lead at the half. Seems familiar.</p> <p>Parts of the first half have been like a highlight show for the astounding talents of the Oscar - <span>Juan Mata</span> - Eden Hazard trio. Amazing how much difference it makes to not have young Oscar as the proverbial right winger! Also helps to have <span>Bacary Sagna</span> hot in the midst of a shocker. </p>
<p>But sequences of super and intricate passing have been abundant, <span>Eden Hazard's</span> flicks making knees weak, Oscar's backheels unlocking seven defenses at the same time. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> have jumped out to a quick two-goal lead, Mata's confident finish for the first (after a foul by Ramires in the buildup went uncalled - not the first missed call by the referee) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard">Frank Lampard</a> slotting home the second from the penalty spot for his 195th career Chelsea goal. Ramires again was crucial, winning the penalty after Szczesny slid into him. Ramires then wasted an excellent chance at a third as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> grew into the half and made somewhat of a contest out of it. A series of Walcott offsides is the most they can show for that though.</p>
<p>So, a solid 2-0 lead at the half. Seems familiar. Let's not fuck it up, yes?</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/20/3896388/chelsea-vs-arsenal-second-half-game-threadDavid Pasztor2013-01-20T12:44:31+00:002013-01-20T12:44:31+00:00Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Lineups & Game Thread
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<figcaption>Remember this? | Mike Hewitt</figcaption>
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<p>Brace yourselves; it's a home match.</p> <p>One win in the last seven home matches sound beyond terrible. Two-in-eight doesn't sound much better, but it does sound better than one-in-seven. And it sure sounds better than one-in-nine. That's cutting edge analysis for ya right there. So let's make it two-in-eight. Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, let's make it two-in-eight. I'm begging over here.</p>
<p><b><i><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> starting lineup (4-2-3-1):</i></b><br><span>Petr Cech</span> | <span>Ashley Cole</span>, <span>Gary Cahill</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110687/branislav-ivanovic">Branislav Ivanovic</a>, <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> | <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard">Frank Lampard</a>, Ramires | <span>Eden Hazard</span>, <span>Juan Mata</span>, Oscar | <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres">Fernando Torres</a></p>
<p><i>Substitutes from: </i><span>Ross Turnbull</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110645/paulo-ferreira">Paulo Ferreira</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110210/john-terry">John Terry</a>, <span>Ryan Bertrand</span>, Nathan Ake, <span>Marko Marin</span>, <span>Demba Ba</span></p>
<p><b><i><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> starting lineup (4-2-3-1):</i></b><br><span>Wojciech Szczesny</span> | <span>Kieran Gibbs</span>, <span>Thomas Vermaelen</span>, <span>Per Mertesacker</span>, <span>Bacary Sagna</span> | <span>Francis Coquelin</span>, <span>Abou Diaby</span> | <span>Santi Cazorla</span>, <span>Jack Wilshere</span>, <span>Theo Walcott</span> | <span>Olivier Giroud</span></p>
<p><i>Substitutes from: </i><span>Vito Mannone</span>, <span>Laurent Koscielny</span>, <span>Carl Jenkinson</span>, <span>Andre Santos</span>, <span>Emmanuel Frimpong</span>, <span>Aaron Ramsey</span>, <span>Andrei Arshavin</span></p>
<p>In other news, I spelled Wojciech Szczesny correctly on the first try. <i>WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE!</i></p>
<p>Willfully ignoring the team selection because...whoa. I mean. Just. Ugh. What in the actual...</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/20/3896136/chelsea-vs-arsenal-lineups-game-threadDavid Pasztor2013-01-19T20:12:24+00:002013-01-19T20:12:24+00:00Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Team News & Preview
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<img alt="Santi Clausorla brings the gift of a fat new contract for THEO. High five!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fbB67flecedIoKJPTviydCEqYHo=/0x5:3430x2292/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6790553/158477782.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Santi Clausorla brings the gift of a fat new contract for THEO. High five! | Scott Heavey</figcaption>
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<p>Another critical, cold, slippery London derby as Chelsea tenuously tries to hold on to third place while Arsenal learn all about how zippers work.</p> <p>Remember the 5-3? The 3-5? You remember how we thought it could never get any worse than that at home, at Stamford Bridge? Yeah. Wait, I'm sorry. This is uncalled for. What a horrible introduction. You deserve better. Rainbows and unicorns, rainbows and unicorns, rainbows and unicorns.</p>
<p>Since this is a football blog, we probably should be talking about, you know, football. But what we have here is a preview. And judging by comments usually posted in subsequent game threads (<i>What time does this game start? Is this game on TV anywhere? How old am I? Is Santi Cazorla related to <strike>Santa Claus</strike> Santi Clausorla? Was that previous joke a good month too late?</i>), nobody really ever cares about previews. And even if they did, all the important stuff has <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysis">already been covered</a> by Lamin. Thanks, Lamin! So go on, <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysis">read it now</a>. Now, I says! Go on. BYE!</p>
<p>I've recently been listening again (a lot) to one of my favorite albums from my formative years. It's not that I haven't listened in ages, but plenty of other albums and singles have grabbed crucial "DPeezy music-playing" time away from Queen's <i>Greatest Hits II</i>. Queen songs never go out of the rotation of course, but the album itself has been on the back burner for some time.</p>
<p>In any case, long story semi-short, one of my favorite Queen songs is <i>The Miracle</i>. Not only is it a fantastic listen, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DaY8-Mui0I">video</a> for it is quite excellent, too, with young kids dressed up as the band members in the beginning (including a young Ross McCall, i.e. Liebgott from <i>Band of Brothers</i>) and then the actual rock stars coming in at the end, dressed exactly the same. It was very early '90s cool. And I loved it.</p>
<p>On the Greatest Hits II album, this beauty of a song was followed by something called <i>I'm Going Slightly Mad</i>. For young DPeezy this was unconscionable. "Slightly Mad" was more than just slightly ugly. I hated that song. It was stupid and it made no sense and it grated on my ears. I tried wrapping my teenage head around just how they could group these two songs together on the album and just why they wanted to exact this sort of punishment on impressionable fans. In a way, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea's</a> recent form is a perfect analog to this dichotomy. Perhaps that's why I picked up the Greatest Hits II album once again.</p>
<p>Forced analogies away! I should mention that <i>I'm Going Slightly Mad</i> has become a huge favorite over the years. In fact, according to recent play count figures, it leads all other Queen material. I adore that song in more ways than one, from the baseline to the slide guitar to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14-vgB-4kmk">random video</a> to the hilarious lyrics to the fact that it was just about the last creative thing that Freddie Mercury got to do. And it's quite an apt representation of my current state of mind when it comes to Chelsea Football Club.</p>
<p><b>Chelsea: </b> As mentioned above, it's the thing, the entity that is driving us all mad with just one win in the last seven home matches. Unconscionable. I do like that word, unconscionable.</p>
<p>Outside of long-term absentees <span>Oriol Romeu</span> (done for the season), <span>Victor Moses</span>, and <span>John Obi Mikel</span> (both at the Africa Cup of Nations), the full squad is healthy and available. This includes John "Master of the Slips" Terry.</p>
<p><b>Arsenal: </b> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> injury list includes two of their better players, <span>Mikel Arteta</span> and homeboy <span>Tomas Rosicky</span> both sidelined with calf injuries. Arsene's Puffy Coat Zipper was not listed, but I'm sure it'll undergo a late fitness test or two.</p>
<p>There's a small chance that this match gets postponed, should weather conditions "<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3046360/title/chelsea-v-arsenal-latest">significantly worsen</a>." ALL HAIL SNOWMAGEDDON!</p>
<p>The Blues have three away ties after this one: cup trips to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/swansea-city">Swansea City</a> & Brentford ("trip") followed by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/reading">Reading</a> in the league. So there's absolutely no reason not to go all out for this one. It's a rivalry, a London Derby, a chance to reassert some home field advantage. Chelsea need to lay down this marker, right here, right now. No excuses.</p>
<p><b>Date/Time:</b> Sunday, January 20th, 13:30 GMT; 8:30 A.M. EST; 7:00 P.M. IST</p>
<p><b>Venue:</b> Stamford Bridge, SW6</p>
<p><b>TV Information:</b> Sky Sports 1 (UK); Fox Soccer (USA); ESPN (India)</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/19/3893294/chelsea-vs-arsenal-team-news-preview-watch-tv-informationDavid Pasztor2013-01-18T20:22:49+00:002013-01-18T20:22:49+00:00Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Opposition Scouting Report
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<img alt="Just an awesome picture. That is all." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/brQQP6he2q4go3iL9Lutq5W6YMY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6747335/153023551.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Just an awesome picture. That is all. | Richard Heathcote</figcaption>
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<p>In my youth, I used to play this tactical first-person shooter game called Counter-Strike. In a tournament set-up, it's a five versus five game, terrorists against counter-terrorists. Basically, you win by killing all your opponents and/or completing your mission, which involves detonating/defusing a bomb . I did it semi-professionally: I had a team; we competed in competitions; we won some; we lost some.</p>
<p>My team was not the most talented bunch but we made up for it with complicated strategies. We came up with specific tactics for each map; we had our Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and Plan D. This gave us an edge over most teams, but not all.</p>
<p>There was this one team (DAMN YOU TO HELL, STAR CLAN!!!) that was made up of all the best players in town, guys who can kill you with a head-shot before you even thought of pulling the trigger. They didn't have complicated strategies like my team, but they didn't need it: they were good at shooting; they improvised and problem-solved as they went. Long story short, my team always came out second best against them.</p>
<p>The morale of this story from my misspent youth is that tactics can only go so far if you don't have good players*. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have struggled this season, and there may be some tactical reasons for this. But these two London neighbors would certainly have done much better if they had a quality striker leading their attack. A player who can turn the game with a deft touch, with an intelligent run, with an unstoppable finish. A player who is good at what he is supposed to be good at. Arsenal sold their best striker and Chelsea kept their worst as the main man.</p>
<p><i>*You probably know this already, and my story certainly made this intro much longer than it should be, but what the heck!</i></p>
<p>And here we are, fighting for scraps as the two teams from Manchester keep on marching ahead of the pack. Whoever the manager is and whatever his tactics are, if you don't have good players, you are just going to have to fight for scraps. And after awhile, you will rationalize (because we always do). And finishing fourth will start to feel like winning a trophy.</p>
<p>Downplaying tactics is an unusual way to ease readers into a tactical piece, but whatever. Let's take a look at Arsenal, our fierce rival in this hunt for an imaginary silverware.</p>
<p><b>Tactics and stuff...</b></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036087/Arsenal_shapes.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Arsenal_shapes_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036087/Arsenal_shapes_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>Shape/formation/tactic-wise, Gunners aren't that different from Chelsea. They too defend with two banks of four, use a free-moving attacking midfielder as a connector between attack and midfield, and allow their fullback to bomb forward and join the attack. They like to control possession and attack through clever movement and passing.</p>
<p>But in order for this system to work, Arsenal needs <span>Mikel Arteta</span> running the show in central midfield. <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/9/30/3432062/match-analysis-arsenal-chelsea-Oscar-Torres-Cazorla">Oscar's diligent marking, pressing and tracking of Arteta</a> earlier in the season played a crucial role in the Blues' 2-1 victory. This time around, the Spaniard will be absent through injury. This is good news for Chelsea. Wenger's team is worse off, both in defense and in attack, without Arteta.</p>
<p>Against Manchester City last Sunday, <span>Jack Wilshere</span> and <span>Abou Diaby</span> partnered in midfield, but their natural tendency to press hard against Javi Garcia and <span>Gareth Barry</span> left a gap between the Arsenal lines. <span>David Silva</span>,<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jan/13/david-silva-service-gift-wrapped"> as Michael Cox points out</a>, exploited that space in front of the Arsenal defense effectively. This should make <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea's</a> free-floating attacking midfielders like <span>Eden Hazard</span>, <span>Juan Mata</span> and Oscar jump with joys like starving hobbits who have just been invited to a free buffet with endless supply of ale. (Lord of the Rings reference. <i>Check!</i>)</p>
<p>Against Swansea in midweek, Wenger changed it up: <span>Francis Coquelin</span> and Diaby played in the double pivot, Wilshere pushed forward into the hole, and <span>Santi Cazorla</span> stepped aside to the left wing. Did it work better? Yes. Kind of. But they were also playing against a Swansea team who were happy to sit back and play on the counter, just as they did against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. So, add salt to taste.</p>
<p>Another weakness in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> armor (not to be confused with <a href="http://cadfael.tv/image/src/1356803575108.gif">the zipper on Wenger's winter coat</a>) is their defense on flanks. <span>Bacary Sagna</span> and <span>Kieran Gibbs</span> often get little defensive cover from their wingers, especially in quick transition. And these fullbacks like to go forward themselves, often getting caught out when the team loses possession. (Hmmm... I swear God I know a team that has this very same problem. They may or may not know what they are and they may or may not be Champions of Europe. Their name is escaping me right now. Will get back ya.)</p>
<p><b>Player to Watch</b></p>
<p>Remember how I highlighted Jonathan "Ronald McDonald" Walters in this section of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> scout report? That worked out well, didn't it? I'm expecting big things from <span>Theo Walcott</span> this time around. Now that the t's have been crossed and the i's... um there are no i's in his name to dot, unless he put "striker" in parentheses next to his signature, on the shiny new contract, Walcott can go back to being an inconsistent player that he was before. But in case the contract-form Walcott sticks around for this coming game, here's a couple of points on the Arsenal man.</p>
<p>After his team were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Bradford City, <span>Arsene Wenger</span> said 'why the heck not!' and allowed Theo Walcott, who's suffering a rare disease known as <i>Sturridgitis</i>, to start as the central striker. The experiment looked to have worked as the striker-turned-winger-now-back-to-being-a-striker scored a hat trick against a very poor <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> United. But as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> had shown in their 1-1 draw, an organized defense can isolate Walcott up front and not even care about crosses coming in from the wings. So now, the French international striker, and part-time porn star, <span>Olivier Giroud</span> is back leading the attack with Walcott pushed back to the right wing.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036635/Arsenal_Counter.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036635/Arsenal_Counter_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Arsenal_counter_medium"></a></p>
<p>Walcott's pace has caused problems to the Chelsea defense in the past, and it likely to be the case again come Sunday. In the last game, we saw Southampton did damage against Chelsea down the flanks; the wingers failed to help out the fullbacks who were also culpable in both goals from the Saints. Walcott will be especially dangerous on the break, just as he was against Swansea in their midweek 1-0 victory.</p>
<p>Here you see Arsenal defending with two lines. When Swansea made a mistake, Diaby was quick to release Walcott down the right. The striker-wanna-be-but-settling-as-a-winger-again breezed past the last defender and was one-on-one with the keeper in no time. He missed. But the point is that he gets into positions like these and will be a threat. Will he also score two own goals and then miss a penalty? Well, let me just say that legends like Jonathan "Kicks Ball into His Own Face" Walters don't with every generation. But one can hope.</p>
<p><b>Into nothingness</b></p>
<p>Baseball's Gabe Paul once said, "There is no such thing as a second place. Either you're first or you're nothing." An inspirational quote that demands winning mentality from a team; a quote, sadly for both sets of fans, out of place in this fixture. For Chelsea and Arsenal, even finishing second doesn't seem doable at this moment as they dwell in nothingness and fight for an non-existent trophy that is finishing fourth.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysisLamin Oo