What was most depressing was that it was self inflicted. Sloppy passes giving possession away, leaving few defenders against very slick attackers.
Chamberlain’s poor pass was punished by Eto’o, Cazorla’s poor pass punished by Schuerrle … we just kept setting them up.
The referee contributed his offering to the day’s surrealist edge, sending off Gibbs for the Ox’s handball. Hazard dispatched the penalty with ease and the day was done. Unfortunately, Arsenal needed to see out more than seventy minutes a man down.
Chelsea added a fourth before halftime and two more in the second half. Salah broke the offside trap and Luiz scored a goal Szczesny would rather forget.
Again Arsenal fall apart against one of the big boys. To win the title they need the help of others. The title is no longer in their hands.
Player Ratings:
Szczesny 5. Could he have stopped the first if he had moved a fraction earlier? Maybe, I thought when I looked at a slow motion replay. The second shot seemed less dangerous, but he saw it late. Wojciech doesn’t do well on penalties, so Hazard’s goal was always going in. He really should have stopped Luiz’s goal, but the game was already won.
Sagna 6. Caught upfield on a couple of the goals. He played okay for most of the game, got forward a number of times, all to no avail.
Mertesacker 5. Last week’s hero was exposed for pace several times. A game to forget.
Koscielny 5. Was left exposed by our ineffective midfield. He too was left lunging at shadows a number of times. Left the game at halftime, hopefully not badly injured.
Gibbs 4. Was also caught upfield on the first couple of goals. Was sent off, a victim of mistaken identity.
Arteta 4. Not strong or fast enough to deal with Chelsea’s midfield. Wenger should have paired him up with Flamini to start.
Oxlade-Chamberlain 3. His passing led to two Chelsea goals. Why he stuck out his hand I’ll never know (the shot was going out). His worst game ever as a Gunner.
Cazorla 5. He set up Chelsea’s second. Was bullied off the ball a number of times and his shots were usually charged down.
Rosicky 5. He too made a number of poor passes. Tried hard to get something going, but the game was already over.
Giroud 4. He had our best chance which he scuffed and Cech made the save, all prior to our third goal. Had no support and was left isolated. His game has been lacking some spark as well.
Podolski 4. Did he make any contribution before he was substituted?
Subs:
Vermaelen 6. Played first as a left back and then as a centre back. Got forward a couple of times, but was culpable on Salah’s goal.
Jenkinson 5. Did little of note.
Flamini 5. Stabilized the midfield a little.