Arsenal set for season-defining showdown with Chelsea
Arsenal have one final shot at glory
For all the talk about the crisis that Arsenal currently find themselves in, the fact that they could still win a major trophy this season at the expense of Chelsea’s historic double, does tell you that it’s not that bad after all. They might have been a shambles all season, but the sillage of the FA Cup trophy promises a breath of strong-scented air at The Emirates Stadium, one of optimism and sanguinity.
It could yet be Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur; it may yet be that Arsenal run clear of the European (Division 2) Champions Manchester United as the competition’s most successful team in one of their worst seasons in recent memory; it may yet be that Arsene Wenger rewrites history, going one ahead of George Ramsay as the FA Cup’s most decorated manager in his toughest year in England.
Before the historical triumph, however, stands Antonio Conte’s Chelsea – a winning team with a winning mentality that’s ruthless in its pursuit of success. The sheer brutality with which they have gone about their job portends a calamitous Wembley outing for Arsenal, as indeed it was when the Gunners were trounced at the Stamford Bridge. The 3-1 scoreline won’t reflect the degree of difference between the two that afternoon.
Notwithstanding that embarrassing hiding, there’s every reason for Arsenal to believe. In a one-off, it doesn’t matter whether you are the Champions of England or the Kings of Europe. If you are better on the day, you run away with the honours and that’s that. Of course, Arsenal will have to play out of their skins to get a result against Chelsea, but keep in mind that this is one of those occasions when all that matters is the day itself – it’s a cup final at Wembley.
Talking Tactics: Contain the Wing-Backs
The key to Chelsea’s success has been their use of the wing-backs. One moment, they are playing a back five, the other they have four in the midfield and within a second, that effectively changes to five up front. Underrate Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses as much as you like, but remember that they are one of the major reasons behind Conte’s title triumph.
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As is obvious by now, the Gunners’ first job is to contain the two, thereby forcing Chelsea to find another way. So how do they manage to accomplish it? Match their shape, i.e., stick to the 3-4-2-1.
Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin/ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have fit in pretty well in the new system, so there’s no evidence as to why they may not outperform their opposite numbers, come Saturday. Certainly, it’ll mean additional responsibilities for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez as well, who’ll have their roles to play if pushing the opponent wing-backs is what you are looking to do. Not easy at all but then again, nothing is in this game.
Line-up
Arsenal’s injury situation has got Arsene Wenger in all sorts of trouble. With the unavailability of two of the three first-choice centre-backs in Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, it’ll be interesting to see if the Arsenal boss deploys a 3-4-2-1 anymore, in which case, the back three would be Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal.
The old 4-2-3-1 appears a much safer and better option considering the available personnel, although the current system gives Arsenal a greater chance to match Chelsea and eventually better them. Decisions to make, Arsene.
Starting XI: Cech; Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Gibbs, Xhaka, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck.
Quotes
“Early on in the week we’ll probably see some clips or try to work on something on the training ground on where we can get into dangerous positions to hurt them,” Aaron Ramsey told Arsenal Player. “We’ll be working on that, and we’ll also be working on where they’re strong and how we can nullify that.
“But we’ll be focusing mostly on ourselves and how we want to play. We’ll have a chat with some of the staff for what is expected of us. We’ll all be ready and tuned in to what we’ve got to do to stop that.”