Chelsea Have it All to Lose
05. May, 2007 
8 Comments
If you look at the needs, wants, and desires of tomorrows match with Chelsea, it is apparent which side has more to gain. Arsenal are in the Champion’s League next year without a doubt and the only thing we really stand to gain is a spot up on the table, putting Liverpool below us. A good thing no doubt, but it doesn’t compare to Chelsea’s potential benefits. Having just bowed out of the Champion’s League, Chelsea must win this game to stay in the title race. Beating Arsenal won’t give them the title, but losing (or drawing), will put it completely out of their reach.
That’s why I think we’re going to win. With all the pressure on Chelsea at the Emirates, they will most definitely make a mistake, or over-commit and leave a counter attack, to give us the edge.
I just hope Wenger doesn’t play Hleb. If he runs around in a cul-de-sac (as one user put it) and gives up the ball, Chelsea is the type of team, with Drogba up front, that will punish him unmercifully. I know Rosicky might be out, but even if that is the case I’d rather see someone… anyone else… on the pitch other than Hleb. Denilson?
Come on Arsenal!
Getting third would net us 500k, that’s probably Henry’s wages for a month (which considering we are still paying them is quite handy).
Let’s go out and thrash the bastards, they aren’t going to win the league anyway.
Yet another person jumping on the anti-Hleb bandwagon. It’s a shame and I disagree with you. Everyone is so sheepish and influenced by the media. The guy is pure class and we should all support him. Yes I get as frustrated at his occasional lapses as anyone, but as Sir Alex Rednose said of Ronaldo this year, you need players on the side who are willing to take risks and dribble to beat men. It comes with the territory. Hleb’s dribbling is sublime, he unlocks defenses and completes passes, and we are much better with him than without him. We don’t necessarily need everyone in the midfield to chip in goals, since he’ll never be a big goalscorer. If Rosicky and Cesc are putting them in, and Hleb is helping unlock the Defenses for them and for Eboue bombing down the wing, there’s naught wrong with that. Earlier this year Hleb- Eboue-RVP were making us all think that we were going to become a right-sided attacking team instead of the left-sidedness of the Cole-Pires-Henry troika. But RVP went down in January, and Eboue was hurt or suspended during the same period. Hoyte isn’t the same attacking/crossing option as Eboue, limiting Hleb’s options to cutting inside all the time, and when he did cut in he found Baptista instead of our brilliant Dutchman. Baptista unfortunately couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a whole string quartet, nevermind a banjo. So Hleb’s productivity slumped just as RVP and Eboue were gone. Mark my words, next year we will be seeing the attack down that right flank just as we started to see in the autumn this season.
Good post Devvil. Looking back on Hleb’s season (OK he was guilty of criminal negligence against PSV) he has been negatively affected by RvP’s absence especially and to a lesser extent Eboue. BUT and it is a massive but, he is a 3 or 4 touch player. Sure that’s better than being Baptista with no touch, but by the time he’s sorted out what he’s going to do, defences are back in numbers. I’m sure he has the talent to play the quick style but wish we could see more of it. Hopefully this afternoon.
Hleb plays every game like it’s 5-a-side, but without the safety blanket of the wall around the edge, and is absolutely terrified of penalty boxes. The guy gives away possession more than anyone else. I’m afraid that, at The Arsenal, our wide players need to be scoring 7 or 8 goals a season and not be afraid to shoot when a clear chance presents itself. They also need to keep possession simply – a la Parlour or Overmars – without running out in circles with their socks around their ankles. Goodbye Hleb – thanks for your immense personal contribution at turning us from a Top 2 side to a Top 4 side!! On the other hand Rosicky, if he stays injury free and doesn’t party too hard, can be one helluva player for us next season. We only need 2 signings this summer – one in defence (utility player) and one in midfield (wide right, Theo is more of a striker despite his excellent crossing abiilty).
I am woried about Baptista starting. He is not an Arsenal player. But you never know he gets into good scoring positions.
Hoyte at right back and Eboue in the wide midfield position is an interesting option with the beast on the bench to come on if we need a goal.
I just don’t understand how fickle some fans are, Hleb-Eboue were the reason for our Champ League run and now Hleb is awful?! I disagree totally on this i am all for Alex Hleb being in our starting XI. Oh and Hleb made us a Top 4 team from being a Top 2 team, what a load of toss? I suppose its Hleb’s fault we’ve been struck with injuries huh?
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