PL: Arsenal vs Chelsea | Sunday 29th December | KO: 14:00 GMT | Sky Sports

[Sniper Mik]

VAR should create a big shift in coaching.

I've noticed it a few times times this season and yesterday for Sp**s was one of the more obvious examples. Defenders drop off for safety and comfort but with VAR they should be pushing toward the ball the smother the attack. If Alderweireld done that yesterday all Norwich attackers would have been offside and he stops the attacker running forward.

If the defence smother they push the line forward. To play against that both the attacker and ball player need to react in sync and if they arent VAR will catch them.

Luiz and Mustafi (unsurprisingly) shat the bed for the 2nd goal. Could hear Arteta throughout the 2nd half telling them to push up

 

[krengon]

Arteta post match comments?

 

[CJJ]

Arteta post match comments?

I just hope he manages to keep it cool unlike me. I'd be fuming. Still am.

 

[A_G]

Arteta post match comments?

Arteta on Jorginho's possible red card
“I think that’s up to you guys. For me it was very clear.”

Arteta on the result
“I am really disappointed with the result. I’m pleased with a lot of things I have seen and how they buy into what I want.”

Arteta on Freddie
“It’s physically tough to maintain the level Chelsea had with young players. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to do it.

“I wanted Freddie to have a different view from us and have a different angle which is important”

Arteta on Xhaka
“He played well at Bournemouth and after he started to feel ill and the last two days he’s been in bed.

“I hope he doesn’t leave.”

Arteta on Chambers
“The first signs are not positive.”

 

[Sanis]

So unlucky, players gave it all, first 30 minutes looked so promising despite all the injuries. Feel sorry for Arteta, this squad just doesn't have enough quality despite all the progress.

 

[NieThePiet]

Tactical fouls always should be yellow.

Jorginho had no chance for the ball, just wanted to stop the counter. It's crazy how much influece and ref has.

 

[TornadoTed]

The 2 key moments were the Jorginho pull back and the Willock miss. We could have easily been 2-0 up against 10 men. I think we could have comfortably seen the game out. They didn't go our way and we ran out of legs, Chelsea just looked stronger and fitter the last 25-30 minutes.

Deeply disappointed but I feel OK and positive still, that is as well as we have played in quite a while.

The injuries are a worry though, gutted for Chambers if its serious. We need Holding, Kola and Bellerin back as soon as possible as well as a quick replacement if Xhaka goes.

Edit - I forgot about Ceballos and Martinelli too.

 

[Vinci]

Hopefully Martinelli holding Ceballos and bellerin stop being assessed and get back to utd game

This assessing is taking even longer than considering to be preparing a bid.

 

[Dutch D]

Luiz and Mustafi (unsurprisingly) shat the bed for the 2nd goal. Could hear Arteta throughout the 2nd half telling them to push up

One of them should've immediately pushed up, make a foul if necessary.

 

[Eaststander74]

I'm coming with you bro, no weapons, just hands.

I have to do this alone cuz. Can't have man sniffed up leaving clues.

 

[Riou]

As others have said though, as frustrating as that game was, we still played very well which is encouraging...and we aren’t going for the league on even European football really, I will genuinely take 17th place this season, as long as we show improvement/structure than recently!

Shame to get only 1/6 points out of the last two, but at least we are playing well...keep doing this and the results will come, need some ****ing luck though!

Arteta has made a difference in such a short period, and that is very positive.

 

[Giroud12]

They should seriously consider scrapping VAR from next season. Not only does it take time and all that, but the refs have somehow been even worse than in the past this season. Today and the Sokratis one vs. Palace is some of the worst decisions I´ve ever seen, and this is with all technology they could want at their disposal. 1-0 up and 11 v 10 for 17 minutes and we´re winning this, no doubt.

 

[9jagooner]

We don't have better players than Chelsea specially in defense and midfield thier youngsters are miles better too

On paper, we do.
The players are playing well because they have been managed/coached well. Those same players in Arsenal of the past few months will deliver same results our players have delivered in same period if not worse.

I've supported Arsenal long enough to know that there's no season we don't complain of playing personnel. I can't imagine what would happen if we had a transfer ban.

 

[Goonerozil33]

Really angry to lose the game like this. Premier league referees are the worst.Three observations, 1) Our fitness levels need to improve. Players like Özil and laca were running on empty since 60th minute 2) We need players who can cover the ground more, especially in the midfield. Someone like Ramsey would have been great in today's match 3) With Özil we will always struggle to dominate a 3 man midfield used by top teams.

 

[Eaststander74]

Did you watch the game ?, or do you just have some weird agenda against Nelson.

I thought he looked much more promising without penetrating. Looked just a touch away from going clear and beating his man on a number of occasions. I'd still be using Martinelli or Pepe over him though. Mikel must be seeing stuff.

 

[Sapient Hawk]

United H
Leeds H
Palace A
Chelsea A

With the exception of the FA Cup tie vs Leeds, which I hope is our saving grace, I suspect we'll be hovering around 15-16 by early February.

 

[ptrcopp]

They should seriously consider scrapping VAR from next season. Not only does it take time and all that, but the refs have somehow been even worse than in the past this season. Today and the Sokratis one vs. Palace is some of the worst decisions I´ve ever seen, and this is with all technology they could want at their disposal. 1-0 up and 11 v 10 for 17 minutes and we´re winning this, no doubt.

The refereeing would just be as bad. It’s the decisions not given by VAR that are the problem.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

United H
Leeds H
Palace A
Chelsea A

With the exception of the FA Cup tie vs Leeds, which I hope is our saving grace, I suspect we'll be hovering around 15-16 by early February.

Fixture not getting easier ffs

 

[ptrcopp]

We can moan about the refereeing all season long but we’ll be be here in August 2020 talking about decisions made in in August 2019.

The team has to get out of the system these individual errors.

 

[Red London]

Fixture not getting easier ffs

They all look hard when you're crap. To a good side away games to teams out the top6 are tricky but winnable, and so are home games to the top6...