Arsenal vs. Chelsea: Gunners Understudies Fail to Impress in 0-2 Defeat

This match was never a particular priority for Arsene Wenger. With the Gunners going well in a wide-open Premier League, the French manager is understandably keen to preserve their title challenge. 

With that in mind, the strength of the Arsenal XI Wenger named was, at first glance, surprising. Arsenal’s player of the season so far, Aaron Ramsey, started in an experienced midfield alongside Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky. Santi Cazorla was retained on the wing, and Laurent Koscielny partnered club captain Thomas Vermaelen at the heart of the defence. Of the 11 players picked to start, six had played some part against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The truth is that Wenger’s hand was largely forced. Ordinarily, he’d use this match as an opportunity to hand a start to promising youngsters. However, the likes of Yaya Sanogo, Thomas Eisfeld, Gedion Zelalem and Serge Gnabry were all absent through injury. Wenger was left with no option but to field a hybrid XI made up of first-team regulars and rusty squad players.

On the evidence of this game, Arsenal’s squad depth is not everything they might hope. 

By contrast, Chelsea’s reserve side would grace any pitch. Jose Mourinho was able to make 10 changes from Sunday’s game with Manchester City and still field a side packed with quality internationals. The likes of Juan Mata, Willian and Samuel Eto’o struggle to make Chelsea’s first team and yet would walk into almost any other side.

Ultimately, that’s what decided the game. Chelsea’s back-ups were superior to those of Arsenal.

Two of Arsenal’s deputies were culpable for the opening goal that handed Chelsea the momentum. Carl Jenkinson dithered under a high ball, allowing it to bounce dangerously. Both he and Jack Wilshere hesitated to control the situation before he ultimately nodded a tame header back towards his own goal. Lukasz Fabianski had not read the situation, and Cesar Azpilicueta ran free to score a simple goal.

The game was sealed by Juan Mata, firing home a fantastic strike with his supposedly “wrong” right foot from the edge of the box. The unfortunate truth that Arsenal have to face is that their own squad players—the likes of Ryo Miyaichi and Nicklas Bendtner—are simply not capable of that kind of audacious skill.

The big Dane was particularly guilty of falling short of Arsenal’s expected standard. Gunners fans could not hide their frustration, with several sections of the crowd booing Bendtner when he was eventually withdrawn for Olivier Giroud. 

This match was doubly frustrating for Wenger. Not only did he fail to secure progression to the next round, but he was also forced to use the likes of Giroud and Mesut Ozil in order to chase the game.

However, this defeat is no disaster.

Going into the match, Wenger would probably have swapped a Capital One Cup exit for three points against Liverpool on Saturday. For all their frustration in the stands tonight, many Arsenal supporters will feel the same way.

If Arsenal can beat Brendan Rodgers’ side this weekend, this will suddenly start to feel like a good week for the the Gunners.