Arsenal v Chelsea Team Lineups

Predictable wasn't it?

This is depressing......has reached a degree of indifference

tell her keeper dont leave the 6 yard box be a lot safer

Let's not turn this into yet another summer thread - we have other places in the forum for that. The 1st and 3rd goals were bad luck. But buildup =/= goals. I feel like we're watching the Arsenal of 2006-07.

This is the sort of game that screams out loud for AA, and I'm screaming too.

Lou - we can't keep blaming luck on our ineptitude. There's a malaise through this team, a lack of real mental and physical toughness, that means we're unlikely to win anything for some time. It's not even down to individuals, this team is too focused on playing 'the game we love' rather than let's win this game and then do the nice stuff. Sorry, I know this is a bit of a rant!

Yeah even I can't keep defending Arsene on the steel thing.

A CB and even a DM please. I've been a long-terms supporter of Song and Denilson, and I think they've been excellent this season. BUT we are clearly best in a 4-4-2, and in order to dominate midfield and provide for our positionally advanced offensive midfielders (Nasri/Arshavin/Theo etc), we need a more dynamic type of DM. Our midfield was so much more balanced last season with Flamini, even than when we had Gilberto, who was excellent. Vieira, of course, was another example of a dynamic, dominating midfielder with whom our midfield thrived. Fabregas doesn't have the stamina, agression and overall physicality to really prevent an opposing team exploiting the space between our midfield and defence, and neither quite does Song, although his positional sense is such that he doesn't often need to make up much ground. Denilson is the opposite in that respect; he's got the energy and agression, but tends to wander forward at times and leave space behind him, space which the likes of Fabregas is unwilling to temporarily fill.

123 AA's out with flu. In a way the team's creative problems have to an extent been addressed, but that solution is ill today.

Is it just me who thinks Bendtner is our most efficient striker now?

I'm sorry guys, I know people do like and rate hime, but I'm also not completely convinced by Fabianski - he doesn't seem to have a calmness about him

I agree gooner_vin. I like his attitude, and he's got good reflexes, but doesn't have the pressence or confidence when it comes to claiming crosses. By the way, I'm really starting to curse my lack of pace. If I was as quick as Walcott, I might be an Arsenal player now! Sorry, I like the guy, but his technique is just aweful at times, and against top defenders such as here, he is very predictable.

This hurts

he was off side when ball was kicked off post

Quite an embarassing week in our history. Roll on the summer so I can watch some cricket and forget about this dreadful end to the season :(

The scoreline flattered to decieve, Drogba's antics, an offside goal and a penalty shout, but that doesn't negate from the fact that we have huge deficiencies.

Despite what Arsene says, we are miles away from Man Utd

That was truly dreadful to watch. The opening was so promising, then it all fell apart. In the past two weeks we've lost 8-2 in three games to our closest rivals. I think we're going to be in for a long Saturday at Old Trafford.

i think the difference was in finishing between us and Arsenel. You guys created a lot earlier on but didn't score while Chelsea took most of the chances and result is a flaterring scoreline. Anyway, you guys have a good team. Good luck next season. But hey, turn up next week a beat manure. I would rather see poo win pl then manure.

Best of luck for the next season

why was cesk up top again? why was diabi on the left............ again? why do we play van persie?

Seriously, I'd rather have Vela in LM than Diaby. Don't remember who said this: he tends to give us one great game every 5 flat ones. I don't know the reason why Arsene's sticking with him is that he's thinking he's gonna play a blinder this time. Sort of like me thinking at a bus stop, "The longer I've waited here, the closer I am to seeing the next bus come."

Please guys, we can talk about the players' merits or lack of them here. But let's try (a bit harder) to leave the summer targets out of this. There's transfer threads and wish lists already in the forums. Thanks.

We were let down by poor finishing (mainly from Walcott) and poor defending, but on the plus side we did create a lot of chances. We didn't deserve to lose by such a huge margin, but the team does lack a bit of quality in certain areas. I think a centre back has to be top priority but I'm sure AW already knows that and probably a defensive midfielder. I don't think we're that far away from having a great squad and I don't feel too down after that result.

Bit of a letdown really, we were perhaps unfortunate to be 2-0 down at half time, but I was really looking for a reaction in the 2nd half, the game was gone but I wanted a few players to stand up and show they are good enough. But we had to wait for Nicklas Bendtner to come on before we saw any player stand up and show some pride. Worth mentioning that he has as many goals fromopen play as RvP this season, not that he'll get any credit. Rvp, Toure, Sagna, I was looking for something from these more experienced guys and they were all a massive let down. I can't believe RvP and Adebayor weren't sparked into life by the fact that Bendtner came on and put them both to shame. Adebayor was loudly booed when he came on and had his car vandalised by Arsenal fans this week. He just has to go now, he doesn't get this football club one bit and he's totally lost it. His diving was more becoming of the opposition today, who are a real team of despicable characters. Ade belongs with them, cos he's a moron and I don't want him at this club anymore and neither does anyone else by the sounds of the reception he got today.

Spot on LD, Bendtner was the one who even tried as soon as he came on against ManU. Really looks to have some purpose. His finishing will improve, but he certainly gives us more than Ade now. I've had the same feeling about Ade for the past month or so now, that he has to go. I was a staunch defender of his, but he's been such an unbelievable let down this season, even though his stats look decent.

arshavin got flu?? did he catch it off vela??

He is a big moron. I just hope we have not lost the opportunity to sell him for a decent price now. He actually had a bit more running in him today and put some effort in, but let himself down with what looked like a dive. I am keen to see it on tv, but if it was a dive along with the laziness, Big ego, Arrogance and rubbish he comes out with then he can have a one ticket out of London.

Ade's car wasn't smashed up, but messages were daubed on it about him being lazy. Perhaps he'll get the message that he's not the deity he thinks he is.

and yal could of won if walcott could finish anhything and diaby didnt steal it from fabregas, that was rediculous

Springy...are you serious ???.....Outclassed ??....did you see the game ?...Chelsea scored 4 goals...that was their the only superior area....There were long periods in the game when Chelsea could not even get the ball. At times Cheslea were cut open like a kipper and if not for our inept finishing we could have had six. Don't kid your mate...Chelsea were not that superior.....just in the finishing...thats all...

lol Squiddy not that a chelsky fan would know what a 25000 crowd looks like and as for your new found friends, Hull, it looks like you have to go back to the championship to visit them next season.

armory, we will soon see what what a 90,000 crowd looks like!!

radar man, chelsea a a better team all round mate,get real!

You reckon springy? It's just Chelsea don't have a good record of selling out showpiece events. The semi final went on general sale.

"I think Arsenal suck" JT_daniel As we have already seen, your statements and opinions mean squat. We'll take this one with the pinch of salt it deserves also.......

It was made long before you apologised on the other thread so relax fella...It's all good.

I know what a 25000 crowd looks like, thanks. And thanks for lying about the semi-final going to general sale - simply not true as a few friends of mine know.