Arsenal vs. Chelsea - The Emirates Diaries: The Arsenal Perspective, Part 1
On December 28, two heavyweights of English Football, Arsenal and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, met at the Emirates Stadium in a highly anticipated Premier League game – both sides aspiring for the title, both sides boasting a diverse fan following.
While the on-field theatrics were accessible via a simple television set, here is an in-depth look at how the game was ‘perceived’ from the eyes of the everyday football fanatic, in this case a die-hard Arsenal fan.
Arsenal, a side heavily criticized for being pleasing on the eye but not producing results when the situation demands, had a lot to prove not only to football critics, but to its own fans. It had to prove that, rather than just
being the eye candy that seems to slip away just when it’s time to make footballing supremacy count, it could indeed actually win trophies.
Arsenal started off this season on a strong note. The Gunners were knocking on the number one spot, with rivals dropping points at regular occasions. However, after losing to Manchester United, the side’s title credentials were
questioned yet again. Arsene Wenger’s men had to come up with a result at home against their London rivals. Chelsea have been, in recent history, a taboo side for the Gunners.
The game started off to a patchy start for the home team – Chelsea’s past record still ringing in their ears maybe. The unit looked shaky and clearly lacked self-confidence – what would http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044 do, “AGAIN”?
However, the balance of play seemed to tilt in the North London side’s favour. Cesc Fabregas and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 were starting together for the first time since August and were looking to find their feet in the early stages of
the game, slowly making their inclusion in the starting eleven pay dividends.
As Wenger’s side began to pull the strings, Chelsea’s midfield looked out of sorts. The first goal of the game came just at the stroke of halftime when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-Song-c4804 scored from inside the box.
As both sides headed back to the dugout, Arsene Wenger and his men were clearly the happier of the two sides. The inclusion of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463 were orchestrating
play in the middle of the park.
The second half saw Arsenal sharper than ever – effective halftime pep talk from Wenger, maybe? The Gunners took advantage of an apparent lapse of judgement on the part of a slow Chelsea midfield. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Walcott-c34873 capitalized and went
straight for the Chelsea goal. On finding http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Petr-Cech-c29837 at his mercy, he passed a square ball to Fabregas who had to tap in from close range. The Emirates exploded with delight – 2-0 against Chelsea? How many times had that happened in the past few years?
Things were going to go from sweet to sweeter when, owing to a similar mistake from an Ancelotti team that was evidently shell-shocked and struggling to find its feet, Arsenal were clinical once again. This time, the Arsenal captain
was able to retain the favour, intricately passing the ball to Walcott, who finished coolly and put Arsenal 3-0. It was one delightful sight to put two past Chelsea, but scoring thrice against the current Premier League champions was unbelievable. The Arsenal
faithful burst out in song, rejoicing in the moment, putting behind years of frustration over a cup-drought that had haunted them for five straight years.
Chelsea then scored almost immediately off a Drogba free kick. The Ivorian striker’s kick from nearly 35 yards out found the head of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lukasz-Fabianski-c22910. The 3-0 hammering suddenly turned
into a potential 3-1 comeback - same old Arsenal? Losing concentration at key moments, being naive in the face of a possible Chelsea counterattack?
Despite the two-goal cushion, the Emirates Stadium was relatively quiet at this point.
To be continued…
The article is based on the viewpoint of an Arsenal fan.
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