Arsenal v Chelsea

Maybe we could have used Flamini next to Arteta but I think the the team we put out there could have got a result if it had tactically played the same way it usually does. I don't really think we have the players we did during the 2007-2010 season so playing a high-line and going for the jugular from the start is not going to work for this team except if we change a few players. Also, playing a high-line is a problem when your best defender is slow. It's the same as with Chelsea during AVB's time, as Terry looked very bad playing that kind of game. I am not sure why we did not take a safety first approach which suited us perfectly in many games before during this season, given how the two previous games against Manchester City and Liverpool went when we tried to go head to head from the start. I admire how Wenger wants to play the game and I enjoyed the sides during that 2007-2010 period but he either needs to keep the same shape of the team as we did throughout this season or look for the players that suit his idea of how to play the game. Playing a high-line, possession style game with this current team, especially with the missing players and against quick teams like Liverpool and Chelsea, is suicidal.

Another problem I think we have is that we tend to lose the ball very quickly when a team closes us down. This problem has been with us for some time now and I remember the game when Chelsea beat us with Torres scoring both goals, Arteta had a very bad time on the ball because he could not keep it when pressured and nobody offered him an easy pass.

I remembered a painful comment from a few years back.
"only Arsenal can finish 4th after being in a 2-horse race"
Can't say it's not true though.

I'm not sure about the 'high line' issue that I have seen discussed elsewhere.

It was plainly brought to our attention in the Tottenham game around this time last year, where attackers got in behind our defence easily with a little dink over the top.

The Chelsea goals weren't like that. No one-on-ones. They were counter attacks, with Kos and Per on the right side of the attackers, but outnumbered. And midfield runners coming through untracked.

firstly it was a bad idea having flamini on the bench..this is exactly the type of game we need him in..sit in the mid and break up as much of the play as possible...the high line does screw us over from time to time..but to be fair jose done exactly what was needed by setting up chelsea to hold us at mid and bunch us in the nuts when we broke up the field...everything that could go wrong..did...

but i will say this...i am getting a bit pissed off with these high scoring games against us..you dont let potential title teams stick that many goals past us...wenger was done for as soon as we kicked off....just wish i had slapped in that bet for us to let in 4 or more...said it on the facebook page we was going to get raided and that we did...lock stock and boots....

I'm not disappointed, so to say, with the Liverpool, Chelsea and City games in isolation. But what's disappointing is that, we were in a comfortable position to go for the league. Logic tells you we could have gone to those 3 places with a bit more caution and play for a draw with the hope of our attacking talent nicking a goal from somewhere if possible.
On the other hand, it could be a mental block against big teams(despite our assumed good tactical preparations for the game), may be we don't have an 'actual' leader who stands up in games like these, or there could be other reasons we can speculate about. Whatever that may be, it needs to be corrected. And that task belongs to Arsene and the group of players we have.
We'll bounce back this season, no doubt, as the pressure is off us now and we'll probably win most games from now on till the end of the season. Next season is going to be crucial for Arsenal and specially Arsene. He has done tremendously well to build a stadium and use the club's money wisely during our transition period. But the signing of Ozil was supposedly the end of our transition period and the beginning of a new era. I know great teams can't be built in a single season alone and he may need one transfer window more, but such heavy losses will naturally make one wonder. Hopefully these three results were a massive big bang before the universe was created and life came into place and all that. For now, we need to make sure we win the FA Cup and get 3rd so we avoid the slippery qualifiers and can concentrate on the next season right after the World Cup finishes.

Top 4 is a must after this Swansea result. Just terrible.