Bloodied and Beaten

New manager, new ways. Sadly, the new way involved losing at the Emirates but, in keeping with the less confrontational style of Avram and his new 4-year deal, it seems important to this particular correspondent to be magnanimous in defeat. So our hats off to Arsenal, who played a good game in front of a surprisingly noisy crowd, and came through winners thanks to a header from – who else – William bloody Gallas, and a shocking flap from – who’da thunk it – the world’s best keeper. Nice timing, Mr Cech.

Not that things were all sweetness and light. Eboue kicked Terry. Terry kicked someone else. Joe Cole kicked Fabregas. Fabregas whined at the ref, and everyone kicked Ashley Cole. In the quiet words of the man presented with a 6in “Short” Subway sandwich, “Why can’t we get a Long?”

3 points dropped, then, but frankly Chelsea have far bigger problems at the moment. The absence of the captain for an as-yet-undetermined number of games is one. The fact that neither Shevchenko, nor Cole, nor Kalou, nor Pizarro, nor Wright-Phillips (absolute sitter… SITTER) could score past an indifferent Arsenal back line is the real kicker, though. If I were Roman Abramovich, I’d at this moment be writing a long, loving and thoughtful Christmas list for Didier Drogba, because without England’s best striker, his team are an attacking shadow. Pizarro may show a clever flick or two on the edge of the area and Kalou may have great pace and potential, but neither player is a game-changer. I’ll skip mercifully over my thoughts on the out-paced, out-thought Andriy Shevchenko. To his credit, he showed great character in releasing that fizzing shot. And credit where it’s due, because if I’d fallen so far so quickly I’d probably be sitting in a hot bath with a packet of Wilkinson blades in one hand and 400 Nembutal in the other. Still, I hear his handicap is nearly scratch. Silver linings, eh?

Comments

[Neutral]

"Eboue kicked Terry. Terry kicked someone else."
Excuse me? Is this a different game? "Terry tried to imbed his studs in Fabregas' thigh. Eboue kicked Terry."

[Rob]

I'm glad to see that you're flying the flag for the "It's Terry's fault he injured himself" camp.

Amazing, as even Eboue admits to kicking Terry. You must have a hell of a pair of Zeiss lenses there, cowboy.

[Rokola]

I think Andriy Shevchenko will improve given more starts. Remember how long it took Drogba to settle in and start his scoring.
Shevchenko has been a great player in the past. I believe he has more to offer, given the chance. Maybe his chance has come, now Drogba is out for a while.
Anyway, keep going Chelsea. Your fans beleieve in you.

[Nick Pearson]

"Eboue kicked Terry." Excuse me this is not true Terry stood on his own foot.