English Premier League: Player ratings for Arsenal vs http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 (Part 4)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 was added to the Chelsea line up for the match against Arsenal by Ancelotti and his addition was greeted by a sigh of relief by the Chelsea fans as they expected the English midfielder’s inclusion to add some creativity
to the side. However, as the match quite rightly highlighted, Lampard was low on fitness and even lower on confidence.
It was quite saddening to see Frank perform below his usual standard but it just typified the way Chelsea performed on the night. Lampard was easily controlled by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-Song-c4804 who had been trusted by Arsene Wenger to restrain Frank
Lampard. The Cameroonian was successful in the quest that he was tasked with but it can be argued that Lampard was just too off the pace for most periods of the match.
Alongside Lampard, Obi Mikel started the match for Chelsea. The Nigerian youngster was given the responsibility of keeping Cesc Fabregas quiet but the midfielder was unsuccessful in this task. Fabregas adopted a deep lying play-maker's
role in the first half of the match and Obi Mikel showcased his lack of experience as he didn’t improvise to counter the Spaniard’s renewed and reshaped threat. This prompted Carlo Ancelotti to make the first change of the match at the half time break as Ramirez
came on for Obi Mikel but the Brazilian was equally unimpressive as Chelsea were ineffective on the whole.
Lampard and Obi Mikel’s laid back approach was complimented in theory by Michael Essien’s tough tackling and robust attitude but in practice, this attitude never came to the fore as Chelsea suffered greatly due to Essien’s defeatist
performance. Right from the start, Essien’s counterparts looked hungrier and more pumped up. The Ghanaian midfielder failed to push forward as in the end Chelsea failed to win the match.
On the right wing for Chelsea, Solomon Kalou started the match instead of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nicolas-Anelka-c27786. The Ivorian striker’s inclusion was thought to be a tactical one as he is renowned for his pace. However, Kalou was a mirror image of his
teammates as he failed to impress against an equally unimpressive Gael Clichy.
The defender's job was eased out by the fact that Kalou rarely adopted a direct approach and when he was left in space, his crosses lacked accuracy and pace, two factors which were needed on the night to trouble the likes of Djourou
and Koscielny. More surprising was the fact that Carlo Ancelotti was reluctant to substitute the striker despite his lack of effectiveness. Kalou’s indecision came back to cost Chelsea at several times during the match and at the end, it was evident that the
Blues needed a more direct player at the right wing berth.
Up front, Chelsea’s expectations were laden on Didier Drogba’s shoulders. The striker failed to carry these expectations despite his wonderful record against the Gunners. Drogba was easily tackled by Djourou as Wenger used the
more physical centre back to man-mark the tough centre forward. Not only that, it can be argued that Chelsea were quite woeful in the midfield area and thus Drogba lacked the sufficient service that was required to make a strong impact on the match.
Drogba’s only contribution of the match came in the second half as he was tasked by his teammates to take a free kick. The Ivorian target-man didn’t disappoint with his delivery as his perfectly weighted ball was slotted home through
an Ivanovic header.
Chelsea’s defeat in the end has just added another twist to the title race story that keeps on taking unexpected turns through various results in the 2010-2011 season. Arsenal, who won the match by three goals to one, climb to
the second place spot through the win whereas Chelsea remained grounded at the fourth place spot just one point above the fifth place side, Tottenham Hotspur.
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