Gunners Fire Blanks Once Again

Oh, boy!  Have we got a battle for Premier League unfolding in front of us? 

Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, it won't be one involving their team.  Chelsea has virtually ended any lingering title ambitions that Arsenal may have held with a thoroughly professional performance.

So what next for Arsenal?

I could sit here, and write another scathing report about how once again, when it mattered, they were simply not good enough.  But then what would be the point?  We all know about Arsenal's deficiencies.

I would much prefer to look ahead, and try to find a silver lining in this very dark storm cloud.

Indeed there may well be.  

That would be in the form of the Champions League.  A favourable tie against Porto in the last 16 gives them an excellent chance of progressing even further on into the competition.

Unfortunately, that's also where the hope vanishes.

The dominance of English teams in the competition in recent seasons suggests in order for Arsenal to achieve this, they are going to have to beat at least one, if not both of the other two remaining English teams.  (Manchester United and Chelsea.)

Which peculiarly enough brings us back to today, and although I said I wouldn't, those deficiencies.

Chelsea looked extremely comfortable against the wave of Arsenal attacks.  They were happy to let Arsenal have the ball, because they didn't fear being cut open by them.  They didn't fear Arsenal's Plan B.  Mainly because Arsenal didn't have a Plan B.

Arsenal lacked the cutting edge that Chelsea possessed.  Chelsea's two best chances resulted in goals for Drogba.  Arsenal's two best chances were squandered.

Chelsea were nowhere near their best.  Arsenal completely dominated the possession, and at times played some very pretty football.  Yet it was Chelsea who still came out on top.

And that right there is why Arsenal won't win the Champions League, or the Premier League.  Not unless things change.

We all agree that at times they play some absolutely sublime football.  Football that is probably only bettered by Barcelona.     

Arsene Wenger refuses to abandon his philosophy of 'total football.'  He believes that you can still win it all, and play attractive football.  And why shouldn't he? 

Barcelona won all six trophies that were available to them in 2009 by playing in that manner and nobody would doubt that they are currently Europe’s finest this season too.  Unbeaten in La Liga after 21 games, five points clear of Real Madrid, and in the last 16 of the Champions League, and all this while playing attractive, attacking football.

So why can't Arsenal do it?

The key difference is that Barcelona has the personnel and Arsenal don’t.

If you get dirty against them, they will gladly roll up their sleeves and get dirty too, and still look pretty doing it.  And we all know what happens if you just let them play. 

Arsenal will play you off the park all day if you let them, and they're ok getting into a scrap against the lesser teams who won’t hurt them when they are attacking.

As soon as you put a Manchester United or a Chelsea in front of them, they're suddenly not as potent up front, and their defensive frailties are magnified. 

Graeme Souness said on Sky Sport's that he feels Arsenal are only three established players away from being the finished article.  I presume he means a striker, a holding midfielder, and another defender.

On the evidence of today, until they do, they will always be in the shadow of Manchester United and Chelsea.  And nowhere near Barcelona.

Barcelona are Kings.  Arsenal are merely the Young Pretenders.