Fantastic atmosphere, fantastic game for the neutral and the PL is back at home. Most i've enjoyed a PL game for the actual play and match in a long long time. Football is very bizarre. I believe we were the much better footballing team and controlled lots of the match, but when Arsenal went forward boy they were dangerous.
Strange game is football, like last years league cup where we had buckets of chances and somehow lost the game, sunday was a flipped coin.
Kepa-5. Think people are being a bit harsh on him for the mkhi goal, was a great strike and he got a hand to it. Will get better.
Azpi-6. Had a tough match against iwobi. Was great last half hour though.
Rudiger-5. Not the best of games, game passed him by a fair bit and he switched off a fair bit. Reckon he could be a leader this season so got high hopes but was not his best game.
Luiz-4. Our worst performer, poor passing cut out on several occasions, didn't pick up his level and rarely sprinted. Let Aubameyang run off him with the simplest movements time and time again and lucky auba was offside for a dissallowed goal.
Alonso-8. Fantastic player and fantastic game. Defensively his lack of pace is an issue but got the goal and then defended like a madman for 10 minutes.
Jorgino-7. Midfield general. Still adapting to the Pl but reminds me of ballack.
Kante-6. Great energy and movement but still adjusting to his role, was part of some great moves but left us exposed first half.
Barkley-7. Good solid performance but needs to start grabbing goals or assists or could be second choice.
Willian-7.Great pace and part of some great moves, went past arsenal players like they were not there. Faded and got subbed.
Pedro-7. Great workrate and looks tailor made for this set up. Our best presser in the team. However due to Morata not pressing pedro got sucked in a lot and left A LOT of space which arsenal were using for their overlaps and chances. Needs to be looked at.
Morata-6. The goal saves him a bit. A bit better but it's sad to say our best play for periods was when he was nowhere near the play(like our first goal). In and out the game and lack of pressing is an issue.
Subs:-
Kovacic-8. What a cameo.
Giroud-6. Involved but should have grabbed a goal.
Hazard-8.Had them on toast. Got the assist.
Player ratings - Arsenal
posted on 20/8/18
Nick yes he was a bit wreckless but he was putting in the effort and played quite well and at tlmes looked the best Arsenal player on the pitch and yes he dis look like Luiz just like Kovacic looked like Christensen of Chelsea.
posted on 20/8/18
Guendouzi was one of our better midfielders. But when you have to contend with Xhaka that's not very hard to do.
posted on 20/8/18
comment by Serial WUManiser™© - In Unai We Tru... (U1410)
posted 2 minutes ago
Guendouzi was one of our better midfielders. But when you have to contend with Xhaka that's not very hard to do.
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Agreed. He was impressive. Flog Xhaka whichever club came from at a cut down price, he's a calamity player
posted on 20/8/18
I'm not really sure what people saw in Barkley's performance in all honesty.
He was energetic and pressed relatively well but he was far too conservative with the ball. Considering he has playing in the most attacking CM role, it was worrying to see Jorginho and Kante contribute more in attack than him. Aside from a nice dribble and shot I can't remember him doing anything too significant in Arsenal's half.
In terms of defensive contributions, as much as Jorginho has been criticised for poor positioning for the glut of chances Arsenal had in the last 15 minutes of the first half, Barkley was also nowhere to be found. But at least Jorginho had a significant hand in our opening goal.
The difference in our attacking play (from central midfield) was stark once Kovacic came on.
Barkley needs to do a lot more in attack to be a starter and at the moment I'm just not seeing it.
posted on 20/8/18
Yep Kovacic is a cut-above, especially tactically (offensively & defensively).
Barkley and Loftus-Cheek are fighting for a spot on the bench as it stands, until they can prove worthy competitors.
Willian for me was our worst performer on the day.
posted on 20/8/18
Yes Chelseamf I agree with you about Willian but I reckon that RLC and RB both need a few more chancea before judging them too quickly!
posted on 20/8/18
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
Yep Kovacic is a cut-above, especially tactically (offensively & defensively).
Barkley and Loftus-Cheek are fighting for a spot on the bench as it stands, until they can prove worthy competitors.
Willian for me was our worst performer on the day.
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worse than luiz?
posted on 20/8/18
I was of that view and judgement before Kovacic had even kicked a ball for Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek & Barkley will have to be more combative, tenacious and positionally aware than they've ever been before to displace Kovacic, who possesses all those qualities.
posted on 20/8/18
Luiz did some good things on the ball, even if he was suspect defensively.
Willian did nothing of note offensively and defensively, displayed poor body language.
posted on 21/8/18
Mf second half luiz gave away the ball a fair bit. And didn’t really do much for us distribution wise. First half I thought willian was very good spinning their defenders and running at them. Faded big time though.