Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3- Real leader Terry is so influencial as Blues romp home
30 Nov 2009 - 01:46:59
To be fair to those chaps who have made such a mess of trying to maximiseJohn Terry's commercial potential, they got it half right. Their man is influential.
Not quite among 'the world's most influencial (sic) people' but hugely influential within the boundaries of a football pitch.
Chelsea's captain was immense here at the Emirates, and actually more deserving of the man-of-the-match champagne than the guy he later awarded it to.
Didier Drogba was terrific, scoring two quite brilliant goals that took his tally against Arsenal to 10 in nine matches. But he would have been the first to recognise where this encounter was won and lost.
Lob-star: Didier Drogba strikes the opener for Chelsea
It was won in the areas where Chelsea crushed the life out ofArsenal, in a manner that exposed the home side's enduring frailtiesand demonstrated how difficult it will be for anyone to stop CarloAncelotti's team running away with the title.
Enlarge It was Terry who set the tone. Terry who marshalled an impenetrableChelsea back line that simply smothered every elaborate Arsenal attack;Terry who even made the surging run from deep that led to Drogba'sfirst goal.
Against Terry and a team who were faster, stronger and moreeffective in every department, Arsenal were reminded of where theystill need to develop before they can consider themselves seriouschampionship contenders. Even if they might yet point to the absence ofRobin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
This was a painful experience for Arsenal, and not just becauseAshley Cole delivered the crosses for the first two goals. It waspainful because, for all their possession, they made so littleimpression on a Chelsea team they now trail by 11 points.
According to the statisticians, indeed a deluded Arsene Wenger, theydeserved more based on the fact that they successfully executed 479passes to Chelsea's 378. But Chelsea used the ball with ruthlessefficiency and never let Arsenal pass the ball around when it was intheir third of the pitch.
In truth, Arsenal were hugely disappointing.
They deserve credit fordonating their wages for the day to Great Ormond Street Hospital but ona weekend when Cesc Fabregas said Arsenal fans were 'proud' to pay £40to watch them, they might want to reimburse their disgruntledsupporters too.
Unlucky Thomas: The ball cannons off Arsenal defender Vermaelen (third left) and flies into the net for an own goal
They were alarmingly ineffective up front, Eduardo and AndreyArshavin delivering the kind of performance that suggested flair andfinesse had never been part of their game.
It was bizarre, Eduardo seemingly possessing the touch of a semi-procentre half and Arshavin strangely hesitant in front of goal. Beforethe diminutive Russian had a goal disallowed for Eduardo's highchallenge on Petr Cech, he squandered a brilliant opportunity to strikeby taking two or three touches and so inviting Branislav Ivanovic towin the ball.
Leading the way: John terry snuffs out Eduardo in a typically inspirational display at the heart of Chelsea's defence
Wenger might have tried to rewrite history later but the four-letterexpletives must have been flowing in response to the sight of hisplayers making so insignificant an impact against such brilliantlyorganised opposition. After criticising FIFA for failing to punishChelsea on Friday, the world governing body might want to respond.
For Wenger, the truth will hurt. While his side have now lost toChelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City this season, not tomention Sunderland, Chelsea have claimed the scalps of Arsenal, Unitedand Liverpool.
One team look like champions. The other most definitely do not. Chelsea ooze class and confidence.
Long shot: Drogba (far left) fires a free-kick towards goal for Chelsea's third
In defence, where Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole form sucha formidable barrier; in midfield, where Ancelotti can afford to leaveMichael Ballack on the bench; and in attack, where Joe Cole excelledand Nicolas Anelka shone almost as brightly as Drogba, so outstandingwas he in terms of industry and invention. It was his super reverseball that invited Ashley Cole to cross for the second goal.
Jumping for joy: Didier Drogba celebrates the clincher
Their first came just four minutes earlier, four minutes before theend of an absorbing opening half and largely as a result not only of animpressive Terry run but also a pass in to the feet of Cole that wasexquisite.
And one of a number of Bobby Moore-style passes he delivered here in the pouring rain.
From Terry's delivery, Cole also did well, creating enough space forhimself to guide a cross past Bacary Sagna that Drogba then met with aquite brilliant volley that he guided cleverly beyond the reach ofManuel Almunia. The kind of finish that gets better the more times youwatch it, not least because it is the deftest of touches that divertsthe ball into the top corner of the Arsenal net.
The second goal was similar in that it again came as a result of across from Cole. But it differed in the fact that it was the merepresence of Drogba that created a sense of panic and so forced theerror.
After William Gallas had failed to get a touch, it fell to ThomasVermaelen to deal with the danger, but a defender who has beenbrilliant since he arrived in north London contrived to guide the ballpast Almunia into his own net and extend Chelsea's lead.
Beanie man: Ashley Cole leads the celebrations against his former side along with hat-wearing manager Carlo Ancelotti
Their disallowed goal aside, Arsenal offered little in responseafter the break, even after Wenger had sent on Theo Walcott and TomasRosicky from the bench.
Chelsea were comfortably in control, increasing their advantage whenDrogba followed a foul from Fabregas on Michael Essien by scoring witha stunning free-kick.
Ancelotti was delighted and almost as excited by the victory as hewas by the prospect of meeting his 'favourite singer', Elton John, whenChelsea face Watford in the third round of the FA Cup.
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