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16 12 2007 Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0
This was not as bad a beating as we thought it would be. The talk before the game was that this was a team Jose had
never lost against - would Avram continue the recent tradition? Well for the first half it looked like Chelsea would be
annihilated. The Blues only mustered one effort on target, and Arsenal looked far superior and dangerous on the ball.
It was only a rare error from Petr Cech that allowed Gallas of all people to score from a corner just before the break.
The team came back in the second had with more vigour and purpose, but still could not hit the back of the net. SWP
should not really be allowed to play again for missing a sitter from three yards out. There is only so much Grant can do
off the pitch, and when you miss such chances you do not deserve to win the game. Sheva should have scored with a
header too.
On balance, Chelsea deserved a draw. However, you did feel that without Jose at the helm, the bigger sides are less
scared of playing us. It also didn't help not to have our bigger players in the side - Drogba, Carvalho and Essien out and
then Terry stretchered off for a tackle from Eboue that should have earned him a red card.
Arsenal as a stadium still delights - lots of room in your seats and easy to get served. The atmosphere in the stadium
from the home fans is dead, however. Speaking to a friend before the game, he pays £1,300 per year for his season
ticket: this is one of the cheaper ones so you can see what kind of clientele Arsenal wishes to attract. It is still a bitter
and twisted club - before the game a man was selling a cd which only had anti-Ashley Cole songs on it! How sad can
you get? But the moment of the day came on the Victoria Line on the way to the ground - an Arsenal fan asked me
(even though I was wearing a Chelsea cap!) which was the best tube station to get off for the stadium... tourists 'r' us!
never lost against - would Avram continue the recent tradition? Well for the first half it looked like Chelsea would be
annihilated. The Blues only mustered one effort on target, and Arsenal looked far superior and dangerous on the ball.
It was only a rare error from Petr Cech that allowed Gallas of all people to score from a corner just before the break.
The team came back in the second had with more vigour and purpose, but still could not hit the back of the net. SWP
should not really be allowed to play again for missing a sitter from three yards out. There is only so much Grant can do
off the pitch, and when you miss such chances you do not deserve to win the game. Sheva should have scored with a
header too.
On balance, Chelsea deserved a draw. However, you did feel that without Jose at the helm, the bigger sides are less
scared of playing us. It also didn't help not to have our bigger players in the side - Drogba, Carvalho and Essien out and
then Terry stretchered off for a tackle from Eboue that should have earned him a red card.
Arsenal as a stadium still delights - lots of room in your seats and easy to get served. The atmosphere in the stadium
from the home fans is dead, however. Speaking to a friend before the game, he pays £1,300 per year for his season
ticket: this is one of the cheaper ones so you can see what kind of clientele Arsenal wishes to attract. It is still a bitter
and twisted club - before the game a man was selling a cd which only had anti-Ashley Cole songs on it! How sad can
you get? But the moment of the day came on the Victoria Line on the way to the ground - an Arsenal fan asked me
(even though I was wearing a Chelsea cap!) which was the best tube station to get off for the stadium... tourists 'r' us!
